A Tale of Two Conferences

[Glen Warren]

Summer 2008: This year as it was last year, ALA will be having its conference in California at the same time that NECC is having theirs in Texas. What is a teacher librarian to do? For teacher librarians that are also media specialist (aka library media specialist) it is a challange try to be at two different places at the same time.

If you could go to one or both (if that were possible) or neither, what would your choice be? Thoughts? Opinions? Something?

[[e-mail]]

Glen,

I am faced with the same problem each year. I opt for NECC simply because it is education and technology focused - 100%. I believe it's good to mingle with teachers and administrators who go to NECC, but not ALA.

Both are good conferences, however, and the AASL conference is a must.

I have to say, though, I miss my library friends at ALA!

Doug

[Glen Warren]

Doug,
will you be at NECC this year?

[Joyce Valenza]

Glen,
The guilt is too much for me. I so want to be in both places. The decision is made by where I think my voice is heard the loudest. There are lots of librarians who speak up at ALA. I need to be at NECC to represent!

[Glen Warren]

Joyce,
What if we could decrease that guilt? At this NECC we will be using the Teacher Librarian Videoconference Network to connect to ALA in California for the first time. The current AASL president is interested in exploring how TLs can take a leading role in insturctional videoconferencing as well as collaboraitve videoconferencing. This could really help change the TL (aka Library Media Specialist) awareness issue. What do you think?

[Joyce Valenza]

Count me in, Glen. (I'll also have my Flip with me for regular blog updates to SLJ.)

As for Sara, she's my BFF. Ask her if you can be on our AASL Tech planning committee?

[Glen Warren]

PERFECT! Wow, I am amazed at how this thing is progressing! I think you have a good idea about the tech planning committe, I will follow up. Our connection with ALA will be on July 1st at 9:30am in the SIGIVC room. Could we connect before that?