ALA Conference 2009: Attend ALA Annual For Free?

ALA Annual Conference

SLJ Staff -- Library Journal, 5/1/2009

Money’s tight and everyone’s slashing budgets. So what’s a school or public librarian who wants to attend this summer’s American Library Association’s (ALA) annual conference to do? Cross her fingers and enter a Web-based drawing, sponsored by ProQuest.

The lucky winner will receive an all expense trip to Chicago to attend the July 9-15 gathering. That means roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, any conference registration fees, and a $500 gift card to cover meals, transportation, and expenses.

The drawing, open to employees at any library in the U.S. and Canada, will be held on May 11.
The reason for this generous offer is obvious—it’s in response to shrinking library budgets that have reduced or even eliminated conference travel. ProQuest, a provider of research and learning tools, says it’s part of the company’s efforts to “support libraries during tough economic times.”

“We’re looking hard at everything we do, trying to find ways to help libraries struggling with budget cut-backs,” says Lynda James-Gilboe, ProQuest’s senior vice president of marketing and customer care. “Many customers have told us about travel being curtailed at their institution. We’re responding in kind by diverting dollars directly to a customer who might not otherwise be able to attend the conference.”

The winner will also be a “VIP guest” at ProQuest’s high-profile events such as the ALA Scholarship Bash and the ProQuest Customer Reception at the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as the company’s learning luncheon "Marketing the Library".

Register for the drawing and complete the brief online entry form before midnight EST on May 10, 2009. A winner will be selected randomly and notified on May 11, 2009.