Robert Withers, Miami University

ALAO’s 35th Annual Conference was held on October 30, 2009 at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. Despite this year’s economic downturn, attendance was consistent with the previous year’s conference. Keynote speaker, Dr. Rush Miller, from the University of Pittsburgh led off a successful day of programming which received many favorable evaluations.

We have received supporting materials (PowerPoint presentations, handouts, supporting web sites) from over three quarters of our conference presentations and have linked these from the ALAO web site. Supporting materials for many poster sessions have been provided and linked from the web site, as well.

One comment we often receive on conference evaluations is ‘but what about Columbus?’

Past President Karen Wilhoit addresses site selection issues familiar to members of the conference planning committee in her column below.

With the signing of insurance papers, our transition from the Ohio College Association (OCA) to SWON Libraries as our fiscal agent is now complete. We’re fortunate that SWON was able to so ably step in and assume the bulk of the tasks previously performed by the OCA.

Moving forward, I plan to focus on how we can better employ technology to manage membership data, communicate with our membership, and allow our membership to interact with ALAO.

Karen Wilhoit, Wright State

Conference Site Selection

ALAO held its annual conference at the end of October at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington.  This was the second consecutive year that the conference was held at this location, and as many of you filled out your conference evaluations, you asked about the choice of the site.  In fact, every year many of the comments on the evaluations center on various aspects of the conference site:  location, convenience, facilities, food, temperature, and many others.  The Board thought that the membership might be interested in having more information about the conference site selection process.

How does ALAO choose the city that the conference is held in?  When I first joined ALAO, the conference was held in Columbus every year.  Columbus has the advantage of being centrally located in the state, so it is not too great an inconvenience for anyone.  However, people in the corners of the state always had to travel, and people lucky enough to be in or close to Columbus (as I am) always had a short drive.  The ALAO board felt that we should try moving the conferences to other locations in the state, so we have had conferences in the Cleveland area, in Ashland, in Akron, and for the past two years in Wilmington.

Our goal is to alternate years – every other year in Columbus with the alternating years in other parts of the state.  So, as announced this year, the 2010 conference will be in Columbus.  The 2011 conference location is not yet determined, but should be somewhere other than Columbus, assuming that we can find an appropriate site.

What does ALAO require in a site?  Our space requirements are:  a room that will seat 350 for the lunch and the general session, 5-7 breakout rooms, as well as space to accommodate registration, vendors, IG tables, and poster sessions.  The biggest challenge in finding appropriate space is identifying a site that can accommodate 350 people for a meal.  For example, when we were looking at sites in Columbus for the 2010 conference, several sites could combine ballrooms to accommodate 350 for the meal, but in order to provide adequate breakout space would have needed to break that space back down for the concurrent sessions.  Since we have a general opening session, followed by breakouts, then lunch, then more breakouts, this would have meant reconfiguring the space three times during the course of the day.  Logistically, we didn’t see how this could possibly work smoothly.

Other things we look for in a site are a little harder to quantify.  The facility needs to be laid out conveniently.  One Columbus site, for example, has large meeting rooms at ground level, and smaller breakout space on an upper (sixth or seventh) floor served by one elevator; again, this just doesn’t work for our group.  We need convenient (and preferably free) parking, internet access at a reasonable cost (preferably both wired and wireless), adequate electrical connections, and appropriate and reasonably priced food choices.

We also need a pricing structure that is clear and reasonable, a sales staff that seems willing to work with us and accommodate our needs, and in the case of hotels, a facility that is willing to commit meeting space in advance without a guarantee of a large room block for overnight stays.

ALAO remains committed to selecting locations that alternate between central Ohio and regions which represent the geographical diversity of our membership. We welcome your help – if you know of a facility that might meet our needs, please pass on contact information to us and we will investigate. Your input may be just what ALAO needs to identify a site for one of our upcoming conferences.

Stephena Harmony, University of Cincinnati

The ALAO Continuing Education Grant is awarded once a year to support the cost of participating in professional development opportunities. Current members are eligible to apply for any library related educational opportunity occurring during the 2010 calendar year.

To ensure a fair review, applications are submitted to the Executive Director of ALAO’s fiscal agent, SouthWest and Neighboring Libraries (SWON), who will forward all applications with names removed to the ALAO Professional Development Committee (PDC). The PDC will select the application(s) that best explain how the grant will further the applicant’s professional development. The amount of money available for the 2010 Continuing Grant Program is $2,000 which may be awarded to one individual or divided among two or more top ranked applicants. The PDC will take into consideration the amount of funding the applicant’s employer will provide for the request, as well as what the employer provided during the past fiscal year. The PDC will notify the award recipients and will arrange payment. Within sixty days of the educational event, the recipient must submit a brief report to the PDC confirming proof of attendance.

Please complete the application form and provide the required documentation including a description of how the continuing education opportunity will further your professional development and an itemized list of associated costs. The deadline is January 15^th, 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact the PDC Chair, Stephena Harmony at: Stephena.Harmony@uc.edu.

——-

Ann M. Watson, Ohio University Lancaster

Apply NOW for ALAO’s Legislative Travel Grant to Attend Library Advocacy Day - June 29, 2010
(for one year only – held during ALA annual conference)
Award amount $600.00 for travel, lodging and food.

For one year only, Library Advocacy Day will replace National Library Legislative Day (NLLD).  On June 29, 2010, library advocates from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will meet at Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds.

The event, which will begin at 11 a.m., will feature guest speakers, photo ops, and a chance to cheer on libraries!  After the rally, participants from Ohio will meet with their elected officials and their staffs.
As a member of the official Ohio delegation, the winner of this grant, along with  the ALAO Government Relations Liaison, will meet with the members of the Ohio delegation and attend the rally on Capital Hill.  After the rally, participants will meet with their elected officials and their staffs.

It is easy to apply.  Simply send a letter or email expressing interest to:

Ann M. Watson, Ohio University Lancaster, Hannah V. McCauley Library,
1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster, OH  43130. (watsona2@ohio.edu)

Include in your letter a brief description of any advocacy experience you’ve had and/or political issue involvement through ALAO or other civic organizations. Include also the name and phone number of a reference who is familiar with your advocacy efforts and interest.

Even if you have limited experiences but have the interest in learning more about legislative advocacy, you are encouraged to apply.

The deadline for applying is March 19, 2010.
The winner will be named in plenty of time to make travel plans.
The ALAO is looking forward to hearing from you!

Kathryn L. Venditti, Ashland University Library

Save the Date!

The Instruction Interest Group and the Distance Learning Interest Group will be co-sponsoring a Spring Workshop on Friday, March 12, 2010.  The Interest Groups’ planning committees are in the process of firming up a fun, interesting program on the centrally-located campus of Ashland University.  Stay tuned for updates.

Kenneth J. Burhanna, Kent State University

The ALAO Diversity Committee would like point out the following opportunity at Kent State University. Please consider sharing this with your student workers and other colleagues pursuing advanced degrees in Library Science.

Kent State University Libraries is offering an Academic Librarian Diversity Internship for a fall 2010 appointment. The program is designed to introduce students from underrepresented backgrounds to careers in academic Librarianship.

The Academic Librarian Diversity Internship is a 12 month appointment with pay to work 20 hours per week within University Libraries at the Kent Campus.

The position will afford the student intern a variety of introductory experiences of a large research library. Mentoring and other professional development experiences will be available.

Follow this link for more information and application guidelines.