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PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 11TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE DRAWS RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE IN BOSTON
Best-selling author Paco Underhill brought to a close the largest- ever Public Library Association (PLA) National Conference. More than 11,000 library staff, exhibitors, authors and guests packed the Hynes Convention Center. According to the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the conference has brought roughly $9.7 million to the city, putting it in the top ten of the 30 citywide major conventions scheduled in Boston for 2006.
The conference offered hundreds of workshops, events and discussions that drew standing-room-only crowds. Library funding, recruitment, privacy, serving diverse populations and literacy are just a few of the issues that generated conversation and interest among attendees.
"Boston is known for its historic libraries, and the Public Library Association has loved being here to share ideas about the future of libraries," said PLA President Daniel L. Walters. "This conference has been one of our most successful, bringing thousands within the profession together to discuss how libraries are changing to offer their communities the very best cultural and educational programs and services possible."
The conference offered a series of preconferences including librarian Action Figure model and best-selling author Nancy Pearl's "Book Buzz," where an overflow crowd yearned for Pearl's picks for the best upcoming books. Pearl was joined by Marcia Purcell from Random House, Virginia Stanley from HarperCollins, Talia Ross from Holtzbrinck, and Nora Rawlinson from Time Warner.
The opening of the conference began with outspoken journalist, award- winning television producer and best-selling author Linda Ellerbee, who stressed the importance of helping to rebuild New Orleans' libraries. She asked that librarians from New Orleans stand and be recognized, and offered the crowd inspirational comments like "Face a problem with a solution" and "In this world a good time to laugh is anytime you can&and so it goes."
More than 1,300 conference-goers attended the Adult Luncheon with best- selling author and civil rights activist Elie Wiesel. Due to overwhelming interest in the session, an additional overflow room was made available for attendees to listen Wiesel's remarks. He began with 'Dear librarians I see you as friends,' and focused on his efforts to lobby for compulsory courses on ethics in institutions for higher learning.
Other presenting authors and speakers included: children's book author Jon Scieszka, best-selling authors Anna Deavere Smith, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Joe Finder and producer and director Clive Brill and young adult author Jerry Spinelli.
The exhibit hall also was sold out and filled with more than 800 booths from 420 companies including top book publishers, who discussed and demonstrated the latest in products and services for public libraries and their users.
The best-selling items in the American Library Association (ALA) Graphics store were PLA Conference T-shirts, bookmarks and stationery. National Library Week items were also a big hit. The store sold out of "Early Literacy Storytime @ your library," by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz. The librarian action figure and "Book Lust" - signed by flesh-and-blood library hero Nancy Pearl were also very popular. Parents, teachers and others can continue to find many of these bestsellers, including celebrity READ posters online at www.alastore.ala.org.
To learn more about the largest association devoted to public libraries, please visit www.pla.org. The PLA's 12th National Conference will be held in Minneapolis March 25 - 29, 2008. | 
