Conference Connections

SLA 2010 Virtual Conference Component

If you are not able to attend SLA 2010 in New Orleans, you can still particpate in the conference through the SLA 2010 Virtual Conference Component. As a virtual component attendee, you will have the opportunity to view, as well as participate in, the two General Sessions and a generous helping of ten Spotlight Sessions-in real time!

The registration fee for the Virtual Conference Component is only $200--however, if you register by 4 June with the special promotional code you will save $50 on the virtual component registration.

Go here to learn more and retrieve your promotional code.

Tips for Making the Most of an SLA Conference

Is this your first time going to an SLA annual conference? Perhaps it has been a few years since you last attended, or you just want to get some advice on how to handle all the events, networking opportunities and exhibitor face time?

Make sure you check out the tips and FAQ sections on our Web site.

Some of the articles include:

• What to do prior to conference
• What to do when you arrive
• What to do during conference and while you are visiting the INFO-EXPO

Sara Batts and Liz Blankson-Hemans wrote a great article on talking to vendors. This piece gives great advice, especially if you typically feel that the INFO-EXPO is a little overwhelming.  

Above all else, just ask!  If you have a question, don't hesitate to send an email to us at events@sla.org.

Tech Zones at SLA 2010

SLA is pleased to announce a continuation of this very popular series of sessions/workshops specifically designed by and for the information professional. Throughout conference week, SLA will offer a number of different learning opportunities that deal with creating Web sites, Web databases, multimedia presentations, and much more. Seating will be limited for each session.  Tech Zones are sponsored by Dow Jones & Company.

This popular series sells out every year, so act fast to get your ticket while they are still available.  There will be a lot of hands-on learning for only US$ 35!  If you have already registered for conference, the easiest way to add the ticket to your registration is to call +1.301.694.5243.

SLA Tech Zones

US$ 35 per session
Sponsored by: Dow Jones & Company

Taxonomy and SharePoint—A Powerful Combination
Monday, 14 June ● 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ● Ticketed Event #420
Monday, 14 June ● 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. ● Ticketed Event #450
Tuesday, 15 June ● 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ● Ticketed Event #565

Monitoring “Tweets” to Compete
Monday, 14 June ● 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ● Ticketed Event #430
Tuesday, 15 June ● 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ● Ticketed Event #560

Make the Most of Your Images with Adobe® Photoshop®
Monday, 14 June ● 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ● Ticketed Event #440
Wednesday, 16 June ● 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ● Ticketed Event #715

Top 10 Essentials of a Successful Portal
Tuesday, 15 June ● 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ● Ticketed Event #605
Wednesday, 16 June ● 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ● Ticketed Event #710

For more detailed descriptions, please visit the conference planner.

Sessions with an International Focus

At SLA 2010 there will be several sessions which will have a strong international focus.  Some of these sessions are:

Monday, June 14

8:00 A.M.-9:30 A.M. Emerging Markets: India, Asia Pacific
10:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M. Emerging Markets: Africa/Middle East/Russia/Latin America
10:00A.M.-11:30A.M. Information Services in Transition - A Global Debate
2:00 P.M.-3:30 P.M. Asian Chapter Business Meeting and Awards
2:00 P.M.-3:30 P.M. Standards Update
2:00 P.M.-3:30 P.M. SLA Hot Topic: Global Information Sharing—A Dream Come True
6:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M. International Reception

Tuesday, June 15

8:00 A.M.-9:30 A.M. Diversity Leadership Development Breakfast: White Privilege 101 
Ticketed Event #543 Price: $25 member / $15 student member / $35 non-member
2:00 P.M.-3:30 P.M. IFLA in 2010: Gothenburg, Sweden
2:00 P.M.-3:30 P.M. International Virtual Libraries

Wednesday, June 16

8:00 A.M.-9:30 A.M. International Information Exchange Caucus Business Meeting Breakfast
  Ticketed Event #705 Price: $21 member / $21 student member / $26 non-member  

Online Personal Conference Planner is Now Available

The Online Personal Conference Planner for SLA 2010 is now available on the SLA Web site.

The online planner contains the latest conference information. The personal scheduling feature allows you to:

• Create a login to save your personal itinerary for SLA 2010
• Use the Advanced Search feature to search by Keyword, Event Date, Speaker, SLA Unit, or Sponsor. (To view a list of all sessions, click on 'Search' without selecting any of the options in the Advanced Search section.)
• Click on the event title to view the event's description and other details
• Visit the Speaker List to view a list of speakers and their sessions
• Add/save/update events to your itinerary

First Time Creating a Login?

• Visit My Briefcase to create a login and receive an Ecode (Print/save your Ecode for return visits)
• Visit theConference Planner to begin creating your personal itinerary
• Click on the Advanced Search button to Search by Keyword, Event Date, Speaker, SLA Unit, or Sponsor. To view a list of all sessions, click on 'Search' without selecting any of the options in the Advanced Search section.
• Click on the event title to view the event's description and other details.
• To add events to your itinerary,
  
  Click on the applicable events' check boxes
  Scroll to the bottom of calendar and click on the Update My Itinerary button
• To check/update your itinerary, navigate to Conference Planner --> My Itinerary

Once you are in the system, you may browse sessions, by day, speaker or SLA unit.   

We will be sending out an electronic preliminary conference program in the next few weeks.  It will be emailed to all SLA members.   However, we still urge you to use the online planner for the most up-to-date information.

Virtual Conference Component

SLA is working out the details of a Virtual Conference Component for SLA 2010 , which will allow attendees to participate in a small but select group of SLA 2010 sessions. 

Virtual Conference Component attendees will be able to view the Opening General Session and the Closing General Session in real time and communicate directly with the speakers and real life audience by submitting questions, comments and opinions. We are excited that our keynote speakers, James Carville and Mary Matalin, as well as Nicholas Carr, have agreed to participate.

In addition, we hope to include several Spotlight Sessions, which will be offered live and for playback later, making the Virtual Conference Component attractive to those attending the conference as well as those who cannot join us in New Orleans. We will confirm which Spotlight Sessions will be available in May.

While there is no substitute for the professional networking opportunities SLA conference attendees consistently praise, those who register for the Virtual Conference Component will benefit by participating in lively exchanges at the general sessions in a 3-D environment, as well as the unique ability to watch valuable Spotlight Sessions over and over again for a 30-day period.

Stay tuned for more information!

SLA 2009 Wireless Access

There will be free wireless access at SLA 2009 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Instructions for logging into the system:

• Right click on the wireless connection icon on your taskbar
• Select "View Available Wireless Networks"
• Double click "SLA09" to connect
• Once you are connected, close the window and open your browser

The strength of the signal will depend on the number of users that are on the network at one time.  Make sure you check out the SLA Blog for conference updates and follow us on Twitter @sla2009.   

Conference Handouts

In an effort to reduce the number of unwanted copies of handouts being printed, SLA will offer handouts online prior to and after SLA 2009 . Please click here to search for handouts.

There will be printing stations in the Cyber Connection in the Registration Center in the convention center.  But, please consider the possible wait time!

If you are a speaker at SLA 2009 and you have not sent in your handouts, please contact the Events department at events@sla.org.

Canceled or Relocated Sessions

SLA does as much as we can to limit the number of changes in room assignments from what is printed in the final conference program.  However, changes do occur!  Remember that the online conference planner will have the most up-to-date information on session locations, speakers, and cancellations.  

And, there are other ways to keep up with changes. In the case of room changes, we will post a sign outside the "old" room notifying attendees of the new location. In addition to notes on the SLA Blog and updates through Twitter (follow @sla2009), session cancellations and room changes can be reviewed daily at the SLA Information Booth. The Information Booth will be located in the SLA Registration Center.

SLA Tech Zones - Tickets Still Available

SLA is pleased to announce a continuation of this very popular series of sessions/workshops specifically designed by and for the information professional. Throughout conference week, SLA will offer a number of different learning opportunities that deal with creating websites, web databases, multimedia presentations, and much more. Seating will be limited for each session.  Sessions are sponsored by Dow Jones & Company.

This popular series sells out every year, so act fast to get your ticket while they are still available.  There will be a lot of hands-on learning for only US$ 35!  If you have already registered for conference, the easiest way to add the ticket to your registration is to call +1.301.694.5243.  

Below are descriptions of the courses offered:

• SLA Tech Zone: Podcasting--Make Noise the New-Fashioned Way 

Monday, 15 June, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Ticketed Event #625

Wednesday, 17 June, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Ticketed Event #910

Sure, podcasting has been on the scene for the past few years, but do you know what it takes to create a podcast? How would you like to extend your awareness beyond just adding a podcast to your iTunes? Look no further! We’ll look at the tools and technology used to record, host and feed a podcast in this action-packed (or at least informative) session. 

Speaker:  Thomas G. Dopko, Senior Content Developer and Technical Trainer, Dow Jones & Company

• SLA Tech Zone: Taxonomy and SharePoint--A Powerful Combination 

Monday, 15 June, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Ticketed Event #640

Monday, 15 June, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ticketed Event #660

Tuesday, 16 June, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Ticketed Event #805

SharePoint helps your organization connect people to business critical information and expertise in order to increase productivity and reduce information overload. It achieves this by providing your employees with the ability to find relevant content in a wide range of repositories and formats. Understanding and using taxonomies within a SharePoint implementation to help users find content, is an essential part of ensuring a successful SharePoint deployment. Taxonomies can range from quite simple to very complex. In this session, we will cover the basics of evaluating what you can do to create a simple taxonomy that will yield the most benefits for your SharePoint implementations. You will have a chance to learn a range of Best Practices, from the basics of building a taxonomy to the hands-on skills of deploying that taxonomy within a SharePoint site.  

Speakers:  Dan Segal, Manager, Taxonomy Delivery, Client Solutions, Dow Jones & Company and Laura Antos, Web Manager, Dow Jones & Company 

• SLA Tech Zone: Microsoft PowerPoint -- Beyond the Bulleted List 

Monday, 15 June, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ticketed Event #655

Tuesday, 16 June, 7:30 a.m - 9:00 a.m.
Ticketed Event #755

Tuesday, 16 June, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ticketed Event #825

PowerPoint has become ubiquitous as a presenter tool.  Many presenters use it as a crutch and build text-laden presentations.  As a result, the audience suffers.  Attend this session to learn techniques that will help you avoid common design pitfalls. The session will include instruction and suggested approaches on how to create a well-balanced PowerPoint presentation that leverages appropriate graphics, animation, slide transitions, audio and, believe it or not, bulleted lists.  You will have the opportunity to practice applying these presentation tools during the course.

Speakers:  Leslie Shagon, eLearning Specialist, Dow Jones Learning Programs, Dow Jones & Company and Marvin Daniels, Global Training Specialist, Dow Jones Learning Programs, Dow Jones & Company