We know you love to read our blog coverage of conferences, and now PLA is offering a new way to participate in and enjoy conferences, even if you can’t be there in person on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28. Individuals who register to attend PLA 2008 in Minneapolis will automatically receive access to the Virtual Conference as part of their registration.

The Virtual Conference will feature panel discussions, poster sessions, interactive workshops, and chats with colleagues, all from the comfort of your computer. So while you’re keeping up with our content here, you can also participate in sessions like:

• Weeders Attract More Readers – Helping you with the process of removing books and other materials that are dilapidated, outdated, not being used or just don’t fit the scope of the library’s collection.
• What Does it Take to be Good at Reference in the Age of Google? – What do we, as reference professionals, need to know to maximize our effectiveness in this new enviroment?
• Why Do We Dewey: Redesigning for a Customer-centered Experience – Eliminate frustrating library jargon and appeal to your customers’ needs using their everyday language.
• Off Your Seat and On Your Feet! Proactive Reference Customer Service – How the Columbus Metropolitan Library got rid of reference desks, approached customers, and abandoned their chairs to improve the everyday quality of service.
• Dangerous Ideas: What if Libraries…? – The title says it all: exploring dangerous ideas and how they could really work in the library.
• Handling Upset Patrons: From the Irate to the Insane – Recognizing a patron’s levels of emotion, and how to safely and effectively respond.
• Gamers in the Stacks – Why video games matter to your library in terms of entertainment, culture, learning, literacy, and youth development.
• Technozoo – Show and tell presentation of new gadgets, gizmos and games.

The schedule is still being finalized, so keep an eye out for new additions between now and the conference.

Virtual Conference Exclusives also include:

A Conversation with Nancy Pearl
Thursday, March 27, 12:30-1:30pm
Don’t miss this exclusive virtual Q&A session with Nancy Pearl, the living model for the Librarian Action Figure and author of Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason!

Inside the Author’s Studio
Each day, Donna Seaman of Booklist will interview notable authors exclusively for the Virtual Conference audience!

You can read more about the first ever Virtual Conference, and register online.

Special thanks to WebJunction for supporting the Virtual Conference.