NEWS For Immediate Release May 7, 2013

Contact: Mary Mackay

CHICAGO - Continuing last year’s theme of Mapping Transformation, 2013 ALA Virtual Conference offers a two-day program (July 24 and 25) that last year’s attendees said was enlightening, engaging, insightful, amazing, interesting, new, great, inspiring and fresh. The interactive Web sessions, conversations and insights focus on experimentation and innovation, with presenters highlighting how new services are transforming both their libraries and their communities. The sessions in this affordable event offer starting points for discussion as well as practical ideas for moving forward and trying something new.

Keynote speakers are Kylie Peppler (“Make to Learn Symposium”) and Steven Bell (“Transforming the Library Starts with Mapping the Journey”).

Other speakers include Krista Knapp, Susan Brazer, Sarah Loudenslager, Chris Woodall, Bridgette Sanders, Judy Walker, Amy Price, Nate Hill, Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, CJ Lynce, Olivia Hoge, Carolyn Schwartz, Laura Wilson, Megan Hodge, Suzy Szasz-Palmer, Ashley Parker-Graves, Scott Nicholson, Maureen Sullivan, Cheryl Gorman, Peter Brantley, Robert Wolven and others. Their topics cover: transformational community engagement; new directions for libraries and digital content; finding your first librarian job; iCloud for patrons; iPods, Games and other innovative instruction ideas; improving student learning spaces; building a knowledge alliance; iPad administration  and apps; making creative community space; loud programming in the library and why it’s good; meaningful gamification in libraries; and more.

Back by popular demand are the 30-minute author lunches hosted by Booklist editors and expert interviewers Brad Hooper (in conversation with Marie Arana) and Donna Seaman. These sessions offer a relaxing and lively way to get to know selected high-profile authors.

The archive of ALA Virtual Conference will be available free to registrants for up to six months; log-in information will be provided after the event, which is fast gaining a reputation for being one of the best bargains in continuing education in the library world today.

Individual registration is $70 for ALA members ($80 non members) and group registration for up to 15 IP addresses is $325 for ALA members ($350 for non members).

You can register and get more information about the speakers, topics, and overall program at www.learningtimes.net/ala13.

Everyone is encouraged to join the conversation around 2013 ALA Virtual Conference on Twitter: #alavc13

ALA thanks Virtual Conference sponsor Armen Melikian, author of Journey to Virginland (the first in a trilogy).

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