This week, we’ll be highlighting various ALA events that might be of interest to our readers, whether you happen to be attending ALA, or just keeping up with the conference here on the PLA Blog.

Swap & Shop: Celebrate PR!
Sponsored by LAMA
Sunday, June 24
11 am – 1:30 pm
Washington Convention Center Special Events Area
Library professionals will have the opportunity to fill their free tote bag full of the very best ideas in library public relations (annual reports, newsletters, reading promotions, and more). More than 850 library professionals attended Swap & Shop in 2006.

Ignite Your Library’s Public Relations and Outreach Using Hot Technologies
Sponsored by LAMA PRMS
Monday, June 25
10:30 am – 12 pm
Washington Convention Center, 146C
Looking for fresh marketing ideas for your library? Trying to lure those illusive teens to your branch? Want to get undergraduates to think beyond Google and check out your collections? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this program is for you! “Ignite Your Library’s Public Relations and Outreach Using Hot Technologies” will feature Helene Blowers
(Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County), Steven Bell (Temple University) and Michael Stephens (Dominican University GSLIS) talking about strategies for using current technology to promote libraries. After their presentations, participants will break up into group discussions led by the speakers.

Leverage Technology to Enhance Fundraising
Sponsored by LAMA FRFDS
Monday, June 25th
10:30 am – 12 pm
Room 202A, Washington DC Conference Center
FUNDRAISING, a dirty word these days with so much at stake and so little funding to go around, is still the key to raising the library’s profile in our communities, while supporting sustainable services. Does technology offer any solutions to make this difficult job easier? Attend this session to find out.

Since many of us were also bloggers, we headed off to the OCLC Blogger Salon at the Sheraton, which was a bit tight and warm, but offered lovely snacks and time with old friends. I wasn’t there long (definitely long enough to end up in, and “at fault for,” an interesting photo with an extra long tag dedicated to me ), before I was off to the ALA New Councilor’s Reception in one of the fancy, large rooms.

There amidst the lovely deserts and ever plenitudinous Starbucks and Tazo bevies, I mingled with new and experienced councilors alike, and met Joseph Eagan, who works for the Montgomery County Public Libraries, and also serves as Chair of the Council Orientation Committee and the Maryland Chapter Councilor. Ever the intrepid social butterfly with a digital voice recorder and headphones at the ready, I was able to conduct a quick interview about what it takes to orient new councilors, how aspiring councilors can get involved, the focus of upcoming work, and his excitement about new, young councilors being added to the mix.

Thank you, Joe, for taking the time to speak with me!

And to hear more about the ALA experience first-hand from a new council member, check out Heidi’s post.