FAQs
- Exhibits, Programs, Meetings and Events
- Which hotel will host the Annual Conference?
- Where will the exhibits be?
- What are the exhibit hours?
- Who is the keynote speaker?
- How can I find information on programs and sessions?
- What is the difference between programs and discussion groups? How are meetings different?
- Where can I register for the Conference?
- Can I register for the Annual Conference by phone?
- How do I know if I'm registered?
- What if I sign up for an event that is already full?
When will I receive my badge in the mail? - Where can I pick up my badge onsite?
- How do I pay for my registration with a purchase order?
- Do I need a photo ID?
- When does housing open?
- How do I get the ALA rates at hotels in the host city?
- Can I get a discount on my airfare to the Annual Conference?
- How do I cancel my hotel reservation if I need to?
- I'd like to present a program at your next conference. How do I go about doing so?
- What has ALA done to make the Annual Conference more accessible?
- Where do the Gale Shuttle Buses go?
- What is Cognotes, and how do I get it?
- What is the Placement Center, and how do I use it?
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Exhibits, Programs, Meetings and Events
Which hotel will host the Annual Conference?
Due to the size of the ALA Annual Conference, the event takes place in a convention center and several hotels. For the 2010 Annual Conference, the exhibits, keynote speakers, and many meetings and programs will be held in Washington Convention Center at 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C 20001.
One or two hotels will be designated "Headquarter" or "Co-Headquarter" hotels, and will host many meetings, progams and special events. Several more hotels will host some events, and many additional hotels will be part of the ALA hotel block to include sleeping rooms.
Where will the exhibits be?
For the 2010 Annual Conference, the exhibits will be in Washington Convention Center.
What are the exhibit hours? New
Friday: 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Monday: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Who is the keynote speaker?
The Annual Conference will host several keynote events. Several major speakers will be part of the "Auditorium Speaker Series" which will take place in Washington Convention Center. The Opening General Session will feature a major speaker and take place on Saturday from 5:30 - 7:00 pm on Saturday. The President's Program will take place on Sunday from 3:30-5:30 pm. The Closing Session will take place Tuesday with the time to be announced. ALA is still working to confirm these speakers, and details will be available on the Special Events page as speakers are confirmed.
How can I find information on programs, meetings and sessions?
Preliminary descriptions of programs will be available in December on the Programs and Sessions page. More detailed information, with the dates and times of programs, will be available in March on the website and in the Preliminary Program mailed out with the March issue of American Libraries Magazine. Specific information on programs, sessions and meetings, including dates, times and locations, will be available using the Event Planner, beginning in early May. This information is available only to full meeting registrants. Attendees will also receive a Program Guide onsite, which will list all session information.
What is the difference between programs and discussion groups? How are meetings different?
A program is a formal educational session organized by a committee from an ALA division, roundtable or office. These are typically structured sessions with a speaker or several speakers, or a panel, designed to inform or instruct attendees on a specific topic. A discussion group is a more loosely organized session, sponsored by an ALA division, roundtable or office, that meets to discuss a broader topic. These sessions may or may not have a speaker, and are generally considered to be more open discussions than informational sessions, and usually have ample opportunity for interaction. Committee meetings are held to do the business of the association. Some meetings will be listed "closed" as they are discussing private information, but most meetings are open to any attendee, and may be a good way to learn about the business of ALA and its divisions.
Where can I register for the meeting?
Registration will open on September 1, 2009 for Bundled Registration and on January 4, 2010 for Early Bird Annual Registration. From this page, you can access Registration rates and deadlines, an online registration form, a printable registration form, and a list of additional events you can attend.
Can I register for the Annual Conference by phone?
No, only online, faxed or mailed registrations are accepted.
How do I know if I'm registered?
All attendees will receive an email confirmation (once registration is processed), or mail confirmation if no email address is provided. This confirmation/receipt verifies your address information, the event(s) you have signed up for, and how much you have paid. Attendees that register online are urged to print the receipt copy of their registration to keep for their records.
What if I sign up for an event that is already full?
Attendees that register for an event that has reached maximum capacity will be put on a wait list. We will notify attendees (in the order the names were received) if space becomes available up to two weeks prior to the conference.
When will I receive my badge in the mail?
Typically, badges are mailed three weeks prior to the start of the conference. You must be paid in full by the advance registration deadline to receive your badge in the mail. If you register after this date, your badge will be available for pickup onsite.
Where can I pick up my badge onsite?
If you do not receive your badge in the mail, and you are paid in full, go directly to the Will Call/Badge Correction counter in the Registration area.
How do I pay with a purchase order?
All registrations with purchase orders must be mailed in with the original purchase order. We will bill the institution for payment. No purchase orders will be accepted as payment onsite.
Do I need a photo ID?
All attendees are required to show a government or state issued photo ID in order to pick up conference materials, or register onsite. Any photo ID used to board an airline flight will be acceptable.
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When does housing open?
Housing for the Annual Conference opens on January 4, 2010 for Early Bird Annual Registration. Housing forms will be available in the January issue of American Libraries Magazine and as a downloadable PDF on the website, and online housing registration will be available on the ALA website. Go to the Travel and Hotels page for details. You can also call the ALA Travel Desk at 1-800-974-3084.
How do I get the ALA rates at hotels in the host city?
To get the specially negotiated ALA rates, you must make your reservation through the ALA Travel Desk by calling, mailing in a form, or making your reservation through the website. You cannot get the ALA rates by calling the hotel directly.
Can I get a discount on my airfare to the Annual Conference?
Yes! The ALA Travel Desk may be reached at 1-800-644-7313.
How do I cancel my hotel reservation if I need to?
If you wish to cancel your reservation before the reservation deadline, contact the ALA Travel Desk at 1-800-974-3084.
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I'd like to present a program or suggest a speaker at your next conference. How do I go about doing so?
Programs are held only at the Annual Conference. If you would like to present a program, please be aware that there is no one place to submit a conference presentation proposal. You need to investigate which ALA division, office or roundtable fits closest with your presentation's subject matter. Then you would contact that division or office for details on contributing to their program at the conference. Within ALA, various departments focus on various aspects of librarianship. Lists of the ALA divisions, offices and roundtables is available on the ALA website.
What has ALA done to make the Conference more accessible?
To learn about the ways ALA has worked to make this conference accessible, visit the Accessibility page.
Where do the Gale Shuttle Buses go?
The free Shuttle Buses, sponsored by Gale, go between the convention center and all ALA hotels from Friday through Tuesday at the Annual Conference. Check the Saturday edition of Cognotes, the ALA daily conference newspaper, for route and time information, or Bin #1 in the Registration area for a flyer. Signs with route information will also be available in hotel lobbies. Accessible buses are available.
What is Cognotes, and how do I get it?
Cognotes is the ALA daily meeting newspaper. At the Annual Conference, it is published Saturday-Tuesday, and is available at locations throughout the convention center. Cognotes contains information on events happening at the conference, as well as up-to-date meeting changes and other information.
What is the Placement Center, and how do I use it?
Job seekers can search online for jobs and employers can search online for job seekers before and during the Midwinter Meeting or the Annual Conference. Visit http://www.ala.org/hrdr and click on "Placement Center" for more information. The Placement Center is located on the exhibit floor at both the Midwinter Meeting and the Annual Conference.
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