New Orleans, Here We Come
It's not the location that's magical, it's you
By Ron Shank, Publisher -- School Library Journal, 3/1/2006
Compared to surviving Katrina, the troubles that most of us face daily don't amount to a tray of stale beignets. Some folks I've spoken with recently are annoyed that the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference will still be held in New Orleans in June and predict that our business will be negatively affected by low turnout and a general sense of grime and mold in that city.
Exhibitors and librarians who are struggling with a decision about attending ALA have it easy compared to Louisiana and Mississippi residents whose lives have been awash in the loss and suffering caused by last summer's hurricanes. They are still underwater, so to speak. School Library Journal (SLJ) and Library Journal (LJ) have reported on the many libraries and vendors who jumped at the chance to help these damaged communities recover.
Our days and lives become brighter through our goodwill. We at SLJ and LJ will be bringing an upbeat, positive attitude to New Orleans, and I encourage all of you to do so, too. Between now and the conference ribbon cutting, SLJ and LJ will make time, devote space, and expend extra effort to bring librarians and vendors together for the best possible results. We stand in support of ALA and understand that the organization of ALA and divisional conferences is not an easy task—though we have both criticized and applauded it before.
As you plan your conference in the Big Easy, look for special SLJ and LJ events that will add spice to your ALA weekend. Look for vendor and library announcements in these pages and on our Web sites. We plan to celebrate that we work in a field that appreciates the chance to meet together often—and to do good. It's not the location that's magical, it's you.
Make whatever investment you feel this conference justifies for yourself and your organization, but bring your best, expect the best, and give your best. To get started, here's a little something to put in your conference folder. Fill out our online form for free beignets on us. See you in New Orleans.
