ALA To Move Annual Conference to Dallas, Midwinter Meeting to Chicago

-- Library Journal, 4/1/2005

The American Library Association’s (ALA) Executive Board has voted to establish permanent homes for both the Annual Conference and Midwinter Meetings: Dallas for the summer, Chicago for the winter. “Members increasingly want sites equidistant from both coasts,” said executive director Keith Fiels, who pointed out that members also spend lots of time in their hotel rooms. “Yes, it’ll be hot, but there are underground passageways to the hotels.” Dallas convention center officials promised ALA “a sweet deal,” adding, “If they’re thinking out of the box, we’re thinking out of the box. No more boxes! Basta to the boxes!”

As for the winter conference, Fiels pointed out that Chicago is also well-located, not to mentionthe home of ALA’s headquarters. Yes, McCormick Place is a bus ride from most hotels, but convention center officials have agreed to install a Japanese-style “capsule hotel” at the north end of the center. “Anyone who doesn’t want to leave the building,” Fiels insisted, “will still have a place to sleep. And the cybercafe will be open 24 hours a day in case anyone wants to blog.”