Please consider attending! --

ALSC/ASCLA's One-day preconference in Washington DC

Even if you cannot register for and attend the entire ALA conference inWashington, D.C., don’t miss this one-day preconference.

Did you know?"A fifth of Americans have disabilities; everyone knows people with disabilities; and anyone can acquire a disability at any time. Everyone has a stake in these findings."

"Even if you currently are not serving patrons with disabilities, chances are you will at some point in the future. It is essential that all libraries plan for and provide excellent library service to ALL patrons including patrons with disabilities. ALSC/ASCLA's one-day preconference will introduce you first hand to this client group, so often underserved, as well as to the materials andservices that will best serve them."
Alan A. Reich, National Organization on Disability founder andpast-president, commenting on the 2004 National Organization onDisability/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities.http://www.nod.org

Here are more details about the Preconference:
ALSC/ASCLA preconference to focus on library service to individualswith disabilitiesThe Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), divisions of the American Library Association (ALA), invite all librarians from Washington D.C. and surrounding areas to register for the preconference“The Underserved 20 Percent: Children, Teens, and Adults with Disabilities” on Friday, June 22, 2007, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Washington D.C.

Harriet McBryde Johnson, a leading disabilities rights activist ,lawyer, and author of Too Late to Die Young and Accidents of Nature, isthe keynote speaker. Morning panel discussions will focus on patrons with disabilities addressing services and materials they would like from libraries as well as successful programs and projects that have made a difference to library patrons with disabilities. Afternoon breakout sessions willaddress assistive and adaptive technology; learning disabilities in the library; people of color with disabilities in the library; patrons with Autism Spectrum Disorders; programming and outreach to people with disabilities; and portrayal of people with disabilities in literature. A disabilities resource fair also will be held. Closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Katherine Schneider, a retired clinical psychologist who has taught, counseled, supervised and trained psychologists at four universities. She established the Schneider Family Book Award four years ago to recognize books for children and youth that deal well with disability issues. A reception immediately follows thepreconference. All local area librarians from the District of Columbia and other neighboring states are invited to register for the ALSC preconference,and do not need to be registered for the ALA Annual Conference to take part.

Separate registration and fee are required for the preconference: $235, ALSC or ASCLA member; $275, ALA member or nonmember; or $141, student/retired member.

Advanced registration ends May 18, 2007.

For registration information, visit www.ala.org/alsc, click on“Events & Conferences,” or contact the ALSC office at1-800-545-2433, ext. 2163.


This sounds like a great continuing education opportunity. Is anyone interested in going?

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Blessings,
ing :)