The South Carolina Library Association invites all library professionals, paraprofessionals, students, vendors, and friends to our 2017 Annual Conference!
This year’s conference theme is "Libraries Make It Happen!" The focus is on the power of libraries to change lives. This is your opportunity to discover new ideas, cutting edge techniques, and hear stories of how you and your library can create opportunities for exploration, innovation, and transformation in the communities you serve from state and national colleagues.
THE 2017 SCLA CONFERENCE KICKS OFF WITH TWO PRE-CONFERENCES!!
The Great Library Renovation & Construction Ideas Bus Tour (Wednesday, October 11th 9:00 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Libraries “Make It Happen” in their communities by being creative, resourceful, innovative, and daring to be different! In the past two years, the Richland Library has set new standards for service and excellence for libraries across the country through its comprehensive renovation and construction building program.
SCLA and the Richland Library are offering a bus tour of some of its newly renovated and constructed libraries. Richland staff will introduce you to each building. Learn how they turned their community’s needs into innovative service ideas and created the spaces needed to make those dreams a reality.
The “Great Library Renovation & Construction Ideas Bus Tour” is a three hour tour beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11 at the Downtown Marriott Hotel. The tour is limited to 22 people. The cost of the tour is $15 for a SCLA member and $20 for a non-member.
ALA Advocacy & Intellectual Freedom Boot Camp (Wednesday, October 11 9:00 a.m.-12 p.m.)
“Who needs libraries?” Beneath those three words is an iceberg of challenges, from delivering on-point messaging, gathering compelling statistics, and the need to re-educate key audiences on the value of libraries, fundamental not only to librarians but to our democratic society at large. The recent rash of anti-library trends, including the anti-tax movement, privatization, removal of independent library boards, and deprofessionalization, point to a systemic shift in our landscape that is very different than budget cuts and recession: an attack on libraries as a public service. The Boot Camp will help library communities prepare to advocate for libraries as fundamental building blocks to democracy. In this session, we’ll explore some of the brutal facts about our current environment, celebrate our assets, and offer practical tips to reclaim a moral sanction for the work we do and the support our communities deserve.
The program will cover advocacy basics, such as messaging, networking and community engagement. Intellectual freedom basics will also be covered. Attendees will focus on developing an advocacy plan that they can implement in their library.
The “ALA Advocacy and Intellectual Freedom Boot Camp begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11 at the Downtown Marriott Hotel. The cost for this three-hour “boot camp” is $40 for a SCLA member and $50 for a non-member.
THE GENERAL SESSIONS THIS YEAR FEATURE NATIONALLY KNOWN LIBRARY ADVOCATES!!
- First General Session & Business Meeting - Kristin Pekoll, ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom Director
- Second General Session & Luncheon - John Chrastka, EveryLibrary Director
- Third General Session & Luncheon - Pam Sandlian Smith, Anythink Libraries Director & PLA President
BREAKOUT SESSIONS FOR EVERYONE!!
This year’s breakout sessions have something that will appeal to everyone working in South Carolina libraries! You will find a wide variety of timely and useful presentations, panels, case studies, discussions, or hands-on activities. To see what sessions are planned, go to the 2017 SCLA Conference Schedule @ a Glance for the tentative schedule.
SOME OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNED!! MORE TO COME!!
Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship Events!
The Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship has three special events planned!
On Wednesday, October 11 from 4-5:30 p.m., join in a Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship Mix and Mingle! Hear about the inspiration for the scholarship, its importance to librarianship, the impact it has on the lives of recipients, and how you can support it from a panel of those who have witnessed and experienced it. After the panel discussion, you will get a chance to meet past and current recipients of this life changing scholarship. There will be door prizes during this event. If you would like to contribute a door prize, contact Cathi Cooper Mack, Chair, Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship Committee, by email at ccoopermack@scsu.edu.
Wake-up and get your Thursday started right with a ZUMBA workout. Join ZUMBA expert Celeste from 6:15-7 a.m. on October 12th to jump start your day with a fun and powerful work-out session. There is a $10 charge that goes to the scholarship fund for this event. Door prizes will be given during this event. If you would like to contribute a door prize, contact Cathi Cooper Mack, Chair, Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship Committee, by email at ccoopermack@scsu.edu.
Once again, the Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship Committee will hold its popular SILENT AUCTION fundraiser! Every year there are themed gift baskets, beautiful artwork, food, memorabilia, and much more to win. If you would like to donate an item for the Silent Auction, contact Cathi Cooper Mack, Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship Committee Chair, by email (ccoopermack@scsu.edu) or complete the Silent Auction Google Form with a title, brief description, starting bid, and your name and contact information as contributor for each item you donate. The information for all Silent Auction item contributions must be submitted by Monday, September 18.
Remember all proceeds go to the Scholarship for Diversity in Librarianship. We thank you for your generous and continued support!!
Thinking About a New Job? Advice to Make It Happen from SCLA Career Services!!
Libraries that “make it happen” in their communities want staff that “make it happen.” If you are a newly minted librarian fresh out of library school, a veteran actively seeking a new challenge, or a candidate for that dream job opportunity when it comes, you have an opportunity at the 2017 Conference to get valuable advice from experienced librarians to get that job of your dreams!
SCLA’s Career Services will set up a meeting for you with one of its experienced librarians for a free, confidential consultation on your career plans at this year’s SCLA Conference. In your meeting, you have the opportunity to receive guidance on making your cover letter pop, highlighting your strengths in your resume, and making a positive impression in your interview.
SCLA Career Services appointments are available on Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. To set up an appointment, please register.
If you have questions, or if you are interested in volunteering as a consultant, please contact Kevin Reynolds (reynoldsjk@wofford.edu). SCLA Career Services is dedicated to making South Carolina libraries the best in the nation by helping to connect them with committed professionals.
USC/SCLIS Alumni Reception!
USC/SCLIS alumni are invited to relax and catch up with old friends and make new ones at the Alumni Reception on Thursday, October 12 from 5-6 p.m. Share your memories of being a USC student, your career, and plans for the future over champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
The RIP’ed Page” Literary Masquerade Mystery: All Conference Reception!
Oh no! Zaphod Beeblebrox of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has lost a head! Now you have an opportunity to help solve the mystery as a literary character in the first ever “The RIP’d Page Literary Masquerade Mystery” during the All-Conference Reception.
In the spirit of the Halloween season, you are invited to an All Conference Reception like no other. Mix and Mingle with your SCLA colleagues while dressed up as your favorite literary characters on Thursday, October 12 from 7-9 p.m. A costume is not required to attend and have a great time!
Those with the heart of a thespian can become part of solving the “RIP’d Page” mystery of what happened to Beeblebrox’s head. There are over thirty literary characters who each hold a clue to solving the mystery which you can choose to become. During the reception, you will be prompted to reveal what you know by Zaphold in his search to discover how he lost a head.
To find the list of literary character suspects in this comical mystery and to sign up for the one you would like to portray, go to Google Forms and complete the information. Select the one you would like to portray. You will be contacted by September 25 if you are selected. A description of your character and costume suggestions will be emailed to you, and you will receive your 2-3 lines the night of the Reception.
Admission to the RIP’ed Page” Literary Masquerade: All Conference Reception is included with your Comprehensive Conference Registration. Single tickets may be purchased at the registration table or at the reception door for $10.
Happy Learning Hour at Richland Library
All SCLA attendees are invited to join us for complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres, mingling and learning with library folks from around the state on Wednesday, October 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Richland Library. This event will infuse some activities designed to help you connect with your communities, uncover their assets, and build new services and spaces that ignite your community’s passions. More details to come!
President’s Reception (Thursday, October 12 from 9-10:30 p.m. By invitation only.)
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION!!
Please submit your registration by September 15 to take advantage of the Early Bird rate and save on your costs!
More information, prices, agenda, and mail-in registration is available in the conference registration packet. Online conference registration is also available for individual registrations.
HOTEL REGISTRATION - EARLY BIRD!!
Host Hotel: Columbia Marriott, 1200 Hampton Street. Columbia, SC 29201
Please contact the Marriott at (800) 593-6465 by September 15 to reserve your room. The conference committee has reserved a discounted rate of $155 plus tax per night. Currently, the tax rate is 12% along with a destination marketing fee of 2.12%.
PLEASE NOTE:
THE HOTEL ROOM CANCELLATIONS POLICY REQUIRES AT LEAST A ONE DAY NOTICE (24 HOURS) OR A ONE NIGHT FEE WILL BE CHARGED TO THE CREDIT CARD ON FILE. Visit www.scla.org for additional information and for a link to the hotel’s reservations page.
