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Why can't they all be like Texas?
April 30, 2007
OK, I've been a bad blogger. But I was travelling, then when I got back we had to close the May issue....then I felt too guilty for not blogging to blog. But enough about me.
I had the great pleasure of being in San Antonio for the Texas Library Association's Annual Conference. Everyone should find an excuse to go to TLA at least once in their lives. The sheer volume of excellent youth-related programming is extraordinary. Sometimes I think if I could go to only one conference a year--and really wanted to keep up with what was going on in the library world--I'd go to Texas. Final registration, I think, was nearly 8,000.
And of course I get to meet some many SLJ readers at TLA. Number one issue? Don't raise the subscription cost.
We also had lunch with a group of school librarians to discuss series non-fiction. As you all know, this is one area of publishing that's been growing rapidly, and we're curious about how we can help make collection development in this area easier. Three things came through loud and clear. They expect to spend the same or more on non-fiction. They want better access by subject. And they want to know what updates there are in a series.
While at TLA, I couldn't help but wonder why other state conferences aren't this good. Of course, no one else has the size of Texas. But Texas also don't divide itself up, with separate associations and conferences for school and public and academic people. That helps draw vendors, and provides funding for big name speakers.
Maybe states could work together and create regional conferences that had the same energy as a TLA?
Posted by Brian Kenney on April 30, 2007 | Comments (0)
