A little introduction

Each year, 40 lucky students in graduate library science programs across the country get to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference for free -- that's right, folks, free -- in exchange, that is, for our labor. (Who said anything in life is truly free?) Each program can send one student; it is up to each program to choose which student to nominate for this experience. I feel pretty lucky that the College of Information at Florida State University chose me for this experience. (Thanks, Christie and Pam!). 

ALA is covering my conference registration, hotel stay, and provide $200 for incidental expenses; the College of Information agreed to pay for my airfare and other costs, up to $350. In exchange, I will work approximately 16 hours during the four days of the conference. Not a bad deal at all!

Each student is assigned to work with a particular part of the ALA organization; I will be working with the Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). It looks like I'll be helping out with the programs OITP members will present throughout the conference. Since I am a newly minted digital librarian at Southern New Hampshire University (I started working there in March, and will finish my last class of grad school in August), this is an excellent fit.

Pre-conference programs begin Friday, July 9, and the conference wraps up on Tuesday, July 14. Look for me to start blogging like crazy on Thursday night!