From honoring NJLA Presidents to award-winning titles for youth, from learning about the latest topics in academics to discovering the newest and most innovative uses for technology, there is certainly a ton to celebrate at the annual NJLA Conference . . . and you can do it all over lunch with friends and colleagues!
On Tuesday, all are welcome to honor NJLA President-Elect Terrie McColl at the NJLA President's Inaugural Luncheon. We welcome our colleagues, new and experienced from all types of libraries and supporters around the state, to extend our support and encouragement to incoming President Terrie McColl, and to help us send President Eileen Palmer off with a warm and grateful "Thank You!" (Pre-register for this event with your Conference registration.)
This year's College & University Section Luncheon on Wednesday will feature noted academic publishing expert Jeffrey Beall, who is the Scholarly Initiatives Librarian at Auraria Library at the University of Colorado, Denver. Mr.Beall will discuss predatory publishing, scholarly communication, open-access publishing, author and publisher misconduct as well as scholarly publishing ethics during the luncheon. (Pre-register for this event with your Conference registration.)
The annual Garden State Book Award Luncheon celebrates the year’s winners of the Garden State Children's & Teen Book Awards on Wednesday with keynote speaker Daniel Kirk. Kirk is the award-winning author and illustrator of more than 21 popular books for children, including picture books Cat Power; Dogs Rule!; Hush, Little Alien; Library Mouse; Lunchroom Lizard; and Snow Dude. His more recent work includes Elf Realm, a series of young-adult fantasy. Daniel Kirk recently released the fifth book in his immensely popular Library Mouse series. An author signing will follow. (Pre-register for this event with your Conference registration.)
Looking for a more informal hour to spend your lunch? Join us with friends for a Brown Back Lunch and Lightning Tech Talks! Grab your lunch to-go and listen to a series of 5-minute lightning talks on current technology trends and innovations in libraries. (No registration necessary.)
Also, early Wednesday morning, don't miss the complimentary food and the news and trends from around NJ at the State Librarian's Breakfast with NJ State Librarian Mary Chute. (No registration necessary.)
And speaking of food . . .
The spirit of librarianship is giving to others. To this end, the NJLA Urban Libraries Section is pleased to run a drive for the second time at the NJLA Conference. This year’s drive will be on behalf of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. We will be collecting non-perishable food items (no glass, cellophane, bottled water, soda or baby food, please). For some additional information, please see this guide from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. And bring us your tote bags! All of those bags from past conferences that are in your office or closet are needed by the Community Food Bank, so please bring your food donation in a reusable bag.
- Kate Vasilik, 2014 NJLA Conference Committee