Please complete the online conference evaluation survey and/or the session evaluation survey if you were unable to do so at the conference, or if you have any additional feedback you'd like to add! The surveys will be available until October 15. Thank you!
Peace Library System is once again excited to invite trustees, public and school library staff to take part in our annual Rural Libraries Conference on September 22 and 23, at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Grande Prairie.
The theme for this year's conference, Remembering the Past, Embracing the Future, was chosen to commemorate Peace Library System’s 25th anniversary and to acknowledge the importance of the past while recognizing that we must strive to embrace change and be open to what the future holds. Perhaps Spanish novelist and philosopher George Santayana said it best: “We must welcome the future, remembering that soon it will be the past; and we must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible.”
The conference will begin with an evening reception on September 21 at the Holiday Inn to celebrate Peace Library System’s 25th anniversary (invitations were sent out in May). The following morning our keynote speaker, Nancy Kindler, will address conference attendees about the importance of embracing change. On Friday morning we will hear from young adult author Maureen Fergus, who will speak about the challenges of getting kids to read from a writer’s perspective. Following lunch on Friday, renowned library futurist R. David Lankes will be “skyping” into the conference from Syracuse, NY to speak about what his research suggests the future holds.
Throughout the conference, public library staff will be able to choose from a variety of session topics, including Polaris, eBook readers, genealogy, Alberta authors, services for seniors, customer service and children’s literacy.
School library staff will again have the opportunity to attend sessions by Linda Shantz-Keresztes, Past President of the Canadian Association for School Libraries. Her sessions include: Collection Analysis Tips for Building Quality School Libraries and Library Skills for elementary and secondary school students. Other school sessions include Library Management with L4U and Supporting Student Engagement.
Trustees will want to participate in the sessions on strategic planning, marketing to municipalities, inclusive needs assessment and board/staff relationships.
Excellence in Library Service award presentations will take place Thursday during lunch. Immediately following the last sessions on Thursday drop by the Vendor Reception for your chance to win great prizes. Thursday evening, stop by PLS headquarters to take part in a trivia night, mingle with other conference attendees, and enjoy some snacks.
We hope that all those who attend RLC 2011 will come away from the conference inspired, uplifted, energized and ready to embrace the future!
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