Conference Activities

Rural Libraries Conference:
The deadline to register for the Rural Libraries conference is extended to April 13th. Registration is free. Be sure to complete and return a registration form so we have a chair for you to sit on and delicious meals to eat!

As you prepare to attend the conference, you may want to make sure you have some good walking shoes and your jaw is exercised. The hospitality/local arrangements committee has activities planned that will keep you walking, talking, laughing and smiling. Dress is casual and comfortable.

Passport to prizes:
To encourage networking and sharing, all conference attendants will receive a Passport. Each attendee will start off with one sticker in their passport. Throughout the conference, attendees will have numerous opportunities to earn stickers. The stickers earned will be used as currency to bid on gift baskets that will be auctioned off during the closing luncheon on Wednesday.

Dessert reception:
The conference starts will a “bang” on Monday and includes guest speakers Michael Stephens and Jenny Levine at the opening luncheon. After dinner, with keynote speaker Maureen Burns, there will be a dessert reception at which the State Librarian, Nancy Robertson, will make remarks. Then, an ice cream social, author fair, and musical entertainment will take place. The author fair will have numerous local authors who will sign and sell books.

Baskets:
Gift baskets will be given away at several events during the conference. Baskets will come from two sources: donations from libraries and donations from companies. The donated library baskets should be handed over to the committee during registration. “Special” gift baskets will be auctioned off during the closing luncheon on Wednesday.

Libraries are encouraged to donate baskets for the conference. Baskets typically follow themes. In the past, there have been scrapbooking baskets, massage item baskets, and baskets filled with local items from the town supplying the basket. If you have questions regarding the baskets, contact Holly Mercer.

Meal Mixer:
To encourage networking and sharing, the hospitality/local arrangements committee will be sponsoring a seating arrangement mixer during lunch on Tuesday. Prior to lunch, tables will be marked with a color. As conference attendees enter the banquet room, they will be handed a slip of colored paper that corresponds to a color at a table. You are encouraged to eat at the table that matches your color. Those that do will earn passport stickers.

Shop and Swap:
You are encouraged to bring material from your library to share with others. There will be 6 categories:
Promotion of Programs (Flyers, etc.)
Bookmarks
Children’s craft idea
Library newsletter or brochure
Annual report
Building project survival tips

The “Shop and Swap” items should be given to hospitality/local arrangement committee members during registration (Committee members will be sporting a Home Depot aprons during the conference). The “Shop and Swap” items will be set up on Tuesday during the morning break. All items will be made available for attendees to look at and take.

The committee will select the top ten items from each category. Conference attendees will then vote for a winner in each category on Tuesday night at 7:00. Category winners will receive a certificate.

Book discussion:
There will be a book discussion on Tuesday at 8:00. Librarians wishing to attend the book discussion are encouraged to read one of Joe Dereske’s Miss Zukas mystery books before attending the book discussion. In April, a list of discussion questions will be available to assist in the smooth flow of dialogue during the discussion. Jo herself plans to drop in for the discussion and promises that she “takes criticism well!”

Register today as you don’t want to miss this free and exciting conference!

Registration form: http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18668-142226--,00.html