Join Us for the Great Space Debate!

On Sunday afternoon, the 20th of May, the NPC 2007 will sponsor the great space debate between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm. The proposition is: "Be it resolved: As Libraries Evolve to Electronic Access, Their Need for Physical Space Decreases".

Many of us have heard this already -- or fear hearing it -- from our administrators or rivals in our corporate or academic organizations. Everybody is looking to take over our territory because they have heard that: "It's all on the Internet (oh, and by the way, it's free)!" So, we have choices; we can prepare to lose space, or we can defend our need for and use of the space we have. This debate will allow you to hear the arguments on both sides of this timely and important question. Sit and listen, or bring your own perspective on the questions to be raised and make a contribution to the battle!

Some of MLA's best-known and most feisty debaters will square off against each other in this challenge. Rick Forsman and Wayne Peay will face each other in the main bout, while M.J. Tooey and Jane Bridges will ensure that the perspectives of academic and hospital librarians, in particular, are heard. Laurie Thompson will blow the whistle (as moderator), clock the participants, encourage audience participation and conduct a final vote to determine a winner.

If you'd like to get started early, you can post your arguments here, ask questions about the format, or establish your support for the "yeas" or "nays" in advance of the debate just in case you can't attend. This event is sure to be rowdy, raucous and a real crowd-pleaser; plan now to be there!

Need a room?

Demand for MLA’s room block at the Philadelphia Marriott is up from past years. To accommodate attendees, MLA has added rooms to its block.

If you have not yet made a reservation, there are 3 easy ways:

1. Call group reservations at 800.266.9432 mention the MLA Conference for discounted rates.
2. Online at: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=81666
3. Fax using the hotel reservation form available at: http://www.mlanet.org/am/am2007/travel/hotel.html#3

The deadline for your reservation is Monday, April 16, 2007. Reservations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown will be the site of most meeting sessions and exhibits. Your patronage allows MLA to focus member’s collective buying power to reduce meeting costs and hold registration fees down. You will benefit from Marriott’s 4-diamond rating by AAA, discounted rates, and the convenience of staying near sessions and exhibits.

Have a Room Reservation You Do Not Need?
Sometimes MLA’s room block fills quickly. Then, just before the meeting many rooms are returned to the block due to cancellations. If these rooms remain empty, MLA pays a penalty to the hotel. To avoid this, we ask that if you are holding a reservation you do not need, please cancel it before April 16th, which will free-up the room for another member who needs it. Thank you for your help in controlling costs.

Need to Cancel or Change a Reservation?
Before Monday, April 16, 2007, to cancel or adjust your reservation, please call group reservations at 800.266.9432. After Monday, April 16, 2007, please call the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel direct at 215.625.2900.

Accepted Poster Files Due to MLA by April 15, 2007!!

New for 2007 - your poster will be published on MLANET before the meeting.

MLA is piloting the early publishing of posters to help attendees plan which poster presentations they will want to visit. After the meeting, posters will remain on MLANET as a resource for the profession.

By April 15, 2007, email a file of your poster to posters@mlahq.org. Use one of the following formats: Word, Excel, PDF or Power Point.

Name the file as follows: poster number_author last name

In the email include your full name. Before MLA'07, MLA will publish your poster on the MLA'07 website and create a link to it from your abstract.

Roundtables Facilitators and Recorders Needed

The Chapter Council Sharing Roundtables are one of the most well attended events of the conference, but we need your help. Facilitators and recorders are needed for many of the tables. If you have an expertise or even an interest in a topic, please consider volunteering for this event. You get an AHIP point if you do! The Roundtables will be held on Sunday, May 20th from noon-2pm.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Chapter Council Roundtables Committee Co-chairs Marie Reidelbach (mreidelb@unmc.edu) or Melanie Cedrone (mcedrone@mail.med.upenn.edu)


Volunteers are needed for:

Topics to Facilitate
#4 - Copyright Issues
#5 - Digitization Issues
#6 - Electronic Health Record
#12 - How to Start an Institutional Repository
#17 - Management of E-resources
#18 - Management/Leadership
#19 - Managing Resources in Emergency/Disaster Situations
#22 - Open Access/Scholarly Publishing
#24 - Strategies for License Negotiations with Vendors
#25 - Talking to Administration/Communication Techniques
#26 - Technology Issues for Hospital Librarians
#27 - Using New Technologies & Instructional Design for Teaching
#29 - Web Design and Usability

Topics to Record
#2 - Clinical Decision Making
#5 - Digitization Issues
#6 - Electronic Health Record
#12 - How to Start an Institutional Repository
#13 - Integrating You or the Library into the Curriculum
#16 - Library Space Planning
#18 - Management/Leadership
#19 - Managing Resources in Emergency/Disaster Situations
#22 - Open Access/Scholarly Publishing
#23 - So You Want to Publish?
#24 - Strategies for License Negotiations with Vendors
#25 - Talking to Administration/Communication Techniques
#28 - Virtual / Electronic Library
#30 - Wikis, Blogs & Pods, Oh My!

MLA News articles

MLA members: I'm sure you've already read your latest MLA News. Even so, here's a refresher list of the articles written by LAC members about Philly-- fun things to do and see both near and far.

Make a Date with History
http://www.mlanet.org/members/mla_news/2007/jan_07/history.html
A Wealth of Excursion Options in Philadelphia
http://www.mlanet.org/members/mla_news/2007/feb_07/excursion.html
Philly in the Spring!
http://www.mlanet.org/members/mla_news/2007/mar_07/philadelphia.html

One more article to come in the April issue on good eats.

Chocolate Redux

For those who are still thinking about chocolate (or are always thinking about chocolate), here is a little article about that lesser known alternative to the Hershey Kiss -- the Wilbur Bud!

On the Side Better chocolate, and prettier, too
Kiss off - try a Wilbur Bud
By Rick Nichols
Inquirer Columnist
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/dining/16646831.htm

(IN) center city...

The Center City District and the Central Philadelphia Development Corportation offers a fun and informative monthly newsletter on dining, shopping, happenings, and (in)side info.
The March issue is here: http://www.centercityphila.org/incentercity/march2007/default.aspx
If you like what you see, sign up here:
http://www.centercityphila.org/home/default.aspx

Uniquely Philadelphian….

Did you know that Philadelphia has been recognized both nationally and internationally as the “City of Murals”? Their Royal Highnesses (TRH), Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visited Philadelphia in January for the express purpose of reviewing our Mural Arts Program (MAP)!

Thanks to MAP and director/mural artist Jane Golden, Philadelphia boasts over 2,700 murals scattered throughout the city. MAP began in 1984 as a component of the Anti-Graffiti Network with the idea being that graffiti writers could be persuaded to re-direct their energies to making murals. It worked! The program now reaches out to over 100 communities and employs more than 300 artists each year. Visit http://www.muralarts.org/ for more info.

Be on the lookout for murals as you travel from the airport or the train station to Center City. If what you see whets your appetite for more, there are several options. Weekly tours depart from the 6th and Market St. Visitor Center at 11 AM on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Tours last 2 hours. The cost is $24 for adults, $21 for seniors 65+, $14 for children 3-10, Free for children under 2. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call 215-685-0754 to reserve. The tour on May 19 will cover South Philadelphia while the May 23 and May 26 tours will visit West Philadelphia.

Can’t make a tour? Visit http://www.muralarts.org/pdf/virtual_map.pdf for colorful maps of a walking tour of 19 murals in Center City plus a driving tour of 29 murals all around town.

Best of Philly

Philadelphia Magazine, Best of issue is a great place to find the typical (Best Italian Restaurant) and the no-so-typical (Best Place to Play Vintage Arcade Games). Other useful categories include:

• Best new BYOB
• Best Falafel
• Best Cocktails
• Best Toy Store
• Best Pet Jewels
• Best Express Manicure
• Best Place to Buy New Junk for Your Basement
• Best Cupcake
• Best Shoes for the Trendsetter
• Best Hoagie

Philly IS the Best!