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Reflect, Renew, Relax: |
The Utah Library Association’s 1999 Annual Conference was held May 12-14. This year the conference was held at the Sharwan S. Smith Convention Center and the beautiful Gerald R. Sherratt Library on the Southern Utah University campus in Cedar City. The theme was, “Reflect, Renew, Relax. Sessions were designed to help librarians reflect about past accomplishments and renew their enthusiasm for future improvements. The relaxed atmosphere of Cedar City and the Smith Center made members glad to have gotten away from their busy lives for a few days.
Conference participants had fifty-five classes and workshops to choose from. Genealogists came to a Wednesday workshop. Library directors liked the Management track. Children and young adult librarians found it difficult to choose between twelve classes offered just for them. Everybody found helpful classes on personal development, professional development, leadership, computers, ways to use the internet, and more.
Although everybody was busy attending classes, they didn’t forget to have fun. The conference started on Wednesday with a chuck wagon dinner and line dancing at SUU’s Mountain Center. The Thursday evening banquet was held in the elegant Great Hall, where Fred Adams, and beautiful Queen Elizabeth, gave us a glimpse of the life of William Shakespeare. Friday started with a good turn out for the 5K run and two-mile walk. Friday’s lunch was a picnic--moved indoors when the weather didn’t cooperate--but still a success. Seventy-five people won door prizes. Between planned activities, many relaxed in “the rotunda” where they renewed old acquaintances and made new friends.
Twenty-nine exhibitors offered a variety of goods and services. In addition to exhibits with books in print and on tape, librarians visited vendors with library systems, software , security systems, and even a booth with T-shirts and book bags. Several exhibitors generously provided addition support for the conference. SIRS Mandarin sponsored a delicious continental breakfast, EBSCO provided the cloth bags everybody carried, 3M and Books on Tape donated all those door prizes.
Libraries all over Utah were represented at the conference. Among 100 speakers, in fifty-five classes, most were from Utah libraries. Of more than 325 attendees, 153 came from public libraries, 102 from academic libraries, and twenty from special libraries. Another twenty came from local Family History Centers, and The State Library Division sent eight. At least two retired librarians joined the crowd and several trustees came from library boards. Unfortunately, since the conference was in May, only a few school librarians were able to attend. Over 200 participants arrived from the Wasatch Front and northern Utah, while about 100 came from Southern Utah. Two or three more came from out of state--Colorado and Arizona.
The 1999 Conference can be declared a success. If you had a good time this year or want to know what you missed,
talk to colleagues, then plan to be with us next year in Ogden.
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| Utah Library Association PO Box 970488 Orem, Ut 84097-0488 |
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