It’s time for the Public Library Association’s National Conference, and the WebJunction team will be there! We have several great events happening and we’re hoping you can join us. For the latest updates, see our WebJunction @ PLA 2008 page which also includes some information about our sponsorship of the Virtual Conference. To let us know you’re coming, and to set up reminders for these and related OCLC events, check out the OCLC PLA registration tool.

Here’s the quick list of where WebJunction will be, to get you started:

WebJunction Member Reception: Thursday March 27th from 5:30pm-8pm, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. Registration is not required (though it helps us plan for food and drink quantities…)

That’s right – the opportunity to mingle, chat, and share drinks that you know and love from ALA Annual is coming to PLA 2008! Stop by after a long day of conference sessions, unwind, strike up some conversations, meet new people, and connect with the WebJunction staff. Jay Jordan and our own Marilyn Mason will share a bit about why 2008 will be such an important year for WebJunction and our partners and members.

Feel like taking a stroll through the exhibit hall? Meet us at the WebJunction station in the OCLC booth (#617). Hours are:

• Wednesday, March 26 – 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm (Opening Exhibit Hall Reception)
• Thursday, March 27 – 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Friday, March 28 – 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Grab some coffee and join us for breakfast, at the WebJunction tables in the OCLC Update Breakfast: Thursday March 27th, 7:30-8:30am; Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Regency Room

Sessions we’re supporting:

Preconference 5: Spanish Language Outreach
Tuesday March 25th, 8:30am – 5:30pm, Minneapolis Convention Center, Room M100 A-B and I-J. Advanced registration via the PLA conference site is required.

WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach Program equips library staff with knowledge and resources to reach out to Spanish speakers to increase their access to technology. The workshop provides library staff with information on proven marketing techniques, understanding cultural differences, providing technology training, partnering with local community organizations serving Spanish speakers, and highlights free outreach resources available on WebJunction. The workshop is part of a national grant funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With WebJunction’s Laura Staley, and Presenters: Bertha Huertero, Circulation Services Manager, San Diego County (Calif.) Public Library; Bruce Pomerantz, Library Development Specialist, Minnesota State Library Services, Roseville; Rachel Rubin, Adult Services Librarian, Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library.

Mix It Up: Using Blended Learning for Staff Training
Thursday March 27th, 2:00pm; Minneapolis Convention Center, Auditorium Room 2

Join us for a discussion of panelists’ experiences implementing staff training programs with an e-learning focus. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how your organization could harness the benefits of e-learning. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate the value of e-learning to stakeholders and build “learning communities.”

From Hype to Help: Making a Difference with New Technologies
Saturday March 29th, 10:15am; Minneapolis Convention Center, Room 101 A-C

Library agencies working to support library staff often struggle with the staff-time and financial resources required to reach and engage everyone. New tools for developing online community and cooperative content management for library staff can help. Looking beyond the hype towards practical applications and workable solutions, panelists will discuss their experiences creating customized online communities and cooperative programs for library staff. They’ll share stories from their experiences with interactive, shared content management and collaboration tools on the Web—with a focus on tools that don’t cost a fortune to implement or maintain. Panel members will describe how community-based content and program development saves resources, shares best-practices, and engages more of the library staff they seek to serve.

As a side note, the PLA team is doing a nice job blogging about events, guides, and activities at the conference. [PLA Blog]

See you in Minneapolis.