Smash PLA in Boston

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Trev Jones, Luann Toth, Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 4/5/2006

Librarians enjoyed an outstanding lineup of programs and speakers, covering subjects ranging from management to technology, at the Public Library Association's (PLA) 11th national conference in Boston in late March.

The Howard County Library in Columbia, MD, held a packed session called "Make the Honor Roll," which outlined effective strategies for successful partnerships with schools. The program stressed the need for buy-in by senior officials in both schools and libraries. For more information, visit www.hclibrary.org/partners.

Another jammed session, "Leave No Baby or Toddler Behind," focused on summer reading programs for the youngest patrons. The key to success? Getting trained library staff to promote such programs directly to parents, and knowing how to respond when parents say, "My baby can't read" or "My toddler can't even sit still."

"Making Traditional Library Services Teen Friendly," by the River Forest Public Library in Illinois offered lots of tips on how to make the library welcome and explained that teens love to socialize in groups. The program's most important lesson is that in order to reach teens, we need to know what interests them. And we all know how much teens love gaming, cell phones, and instant messaging. Making your library welcome can be as easy as moving a bookcase to create more space, as well as adding more graphic novels to your collection and offering homework help.

PLA's keynote speaker, journalist and author Linda Ellerbee, spoke about her career, being a single mom and surviving breast cancer. Ellerbee, who also produced Nick News for Nickelodeon, a news program for eight- to twelve-year-olds, shared her experience talking with kids whose lives had been uprooted by Hurricane Katrina and passionately advocated the importance of rebuilding libraries in New Orleans.

Playing on the Bravo series Inside the Actor's Studio, Stephanie Squicciarini of the Fairport Public Library in New York hosted the program "Inside the Author's Studio with Terry Trueman," in which she gave people insight into the life and work of the Printz Honor-winning author, who began his writing career at 50. Trueman shared a number of letters that he had received from young people as part of a national Books Change Lives initiative and spoke candidly about his children, his passions, and his inspirations.

This year's PLA drew 11,029 attendees—the largest group ever for an ALA division meeting, and a 27 percent jump from the 2004 PLA meeting in Seattle, which drew 8,691 people.