Just passing along this information regarding the Association of Rural and Small Libraries conference....see below. Colleen Colleen Leddy, Director Stair Public Library 228 W. Main St. Morenci, MI 49256 517/458-6510 There are only six weeks left to register at the Early Bird rate for the Association for Rural & Small Libraries' annual conference to be held in Tacoma, WA. Registration sold out last year for this event and the conference hotel is already completely booked, so now is the time to be making your decisions! Counting down the first five reasons you should come to Tacoma on September 4th through the 6th! *This is what you tell your boss:* #10 - Keynote Speaker Daniel Rasmus: Libraries Reimagined! Daniel Rasmus is the futurist whose session our colleague raved about when she returned from the Computers in Library conference. #9 - Pre-conference: Library Tours I could learn about space planning from three very different libraries in the morning: · A modular library built quickly & green which uses the bookstore method to shelve materials. · Or I could see how King County Library, one of the best in the country, builds in flexibility · Check out an exquisitely restored and repurposed Carnegie library Then in the afternoon I could go to Rooms that Rock: practical tips for library space planning. #8 - More Pre-conference: Which do you think I should attend-how to design a literature festival for our community or crafting a successful adult education program? #7 - Which would benefit our community more? Should I attend the Gizmo Garage pre-conference at which I could simultaneously increase my skill level with gadgets and learn about the program or do I need to take the preconference about delivering youth services now that Thelma is retiring? #6 - Keynote Speaker Samantha Becker: You don't have to do it all! Samantha is going to cover that new benchmarking system for technology, The Edge Initiative. It will give us information to use with stakeholders. *This is what you tell your family:* #10 - Would you like to go hiking Mt Rainier, the snowy volcano which dominates the eastern skyline? #9 - Or should we take a ferryboat ride on scenic Puget Sound? #8 - Which would you prefer? Getting up close and personal with polar bears at the Point Defiance Zoo or enjoying the zip line at Northwest Trek Animal Park? #7 - How about a gondola ride up Crystal Mountain with spectacular views of Mt. Rainier? #6 - Decide between LeMay: America's Car Museum which has a special Mustang review downtown or go ten miles away to the LeMay complete collection which covers acres? NOT CONVINCED YET? STAY TUNED FOR THE LAST FIVE REASONS TO ATTEND! Or check out the website at http://arsl.info/category/conferences/conference-2014/ Have you already made up your mind and are ready to register? https://www.amrms.com/ssl/arsl/membership/Conference/Registration.aspx See you in Tacoma! -- Vicki Grimli Ortonville/Graceville/Kerkhoven Public Library320-839-2494/320-748-7332/320-264-2141