Washington Library Association

1999 WLA Conference Evaluation Results

Your comments are important to the health of our future WLA conferences. Please fill out the following form by circling a response or a number from 1 (low) to 5 (high):

1.	I attended the preconference	Netting your Ancestors: Genealogy	YES 11
	The preconference was valuable to me.		1=2 2=0 3=1 4=5 5=3
		On the Front Line: Intellectual Freedom	YES 9
	The preconference was valuable to me.		1=1 2=0 3=1 4=3 5=4
	Next year I'd be interested in attending a preconference workshop about or by: Marketing/Public Relations/Bringing in the Non-user Contract writing and administration Susan Howlett's presentation was great—needs more exposure! Michael Eisenberg Working with difficult people Great Books Discussions Great Books Discussion Groups/Mary Ross-Internet training Hands-on Net searching Mission of libraries in a democratic society—Mike Eisenberg More IF With fewer catalogers in libraries we need to explore how to make our OPACs outstanding with enhanced access points. Surprise me! The process for building new libraries: getting community support, successful bond campaigns, designs, construction, etc. WSL IT summit mtg (would have preferred to have it held as a preconference) Genealogy was fine—but it was aimed at the technical methods of how to access—not the what of the sites—Needed more "meat". Organizing the Net—how to provide good access to good sites on your home page Health reference Have Neel (PCL) and Carol (KRL) etc do a pre-conference on needs assessments (customer surveys) for public libraries Internet/Latest developments in technology plus forecast/future libraries Genealogy Usability testing; grant writing; budget management Budgeting, salaries, health insurance and other benefits for employees
2.	I enjoyed Microbrew and the Vendors.		YES=30 NO=2
	Comments: I did make an effort to talk with each vendor! Fun time. Food could have been better. Food was poor, no vegetarian option; hall was noisy, vendors OK I like getting out to see the community and local food places. Really appreciated fewer vendors, social environment in which to interact—great venues and fun BBQ Nice location—great ale—I like the location for the vendors Buses were prompt Missed not having entertainment I liked mingling with the vendors; food okay Very good food I enjoyed meeting the vendors this way—missed Ballet Folklorico. Peanuts were great! Great food and drinks. Hope the vendors didn't feel marginalized. Folksy and good I liked that the vendors were there, since it was more informal. You felt more comfortable spending time with the vendors and you weren't having to rush to a session. Food was not very good. Enjoyed the opportunity to socialize, but very crowded with vendors. Was OK—vendor arrangement was poor—didn't work Well I always enjoy a microbrew! The food available for non-meateaters was limited.
3.	There was a good variety of programs that held my interest.		1=1 2=2 3=10 4=44 5=32
4.	I'd like to suggest the following speaker/program/banquet speaker for next year's conference.
	David Guterson Clone Sherman Alexie and bring "him" back. Sherman Alexie (again!) another person who actually appreciates librarians. More programming ideas—successful examples for YA librarians Internet searching tips—a longer workshop would be great. Deborah Jacobs for keynote. Storytelling program, working with ethnic populations, new English speakers Programs applicable to academic libraries Gloria Steinem Outreach services changing role Sandy Berman Panel of current Washington library directors/JA Jance/ "Teddy Roosevelt" from Inquiring Minds More on IF/unions and libraries/collection maintenance (more than weeding) contract writing (with vendors) Someone enthusiastic and/or funny—high entertainment value Authors, authors, lots of authors throughout the conference Bill Gordon owes us one!!! Library/city or library/county relationships Presenters who evaluate online products and would take a subject and show what is best obtained on the Internet and what is best in print. Authors: Annie Dillard/Speaker: try for Gordon Jackson again Best of Solinus forY2K! supervising the depressed and burned out Trina Schart Hyman and Lois McMaster Bujold Mary Doria Russell Budget management/usability testing/website management
5.	This year, our conference programs ran for 60 minutes. The program time frame was appropriate.		1=1 2=4 3=11 4=25 5=53
	Comments: We could have used about 10 minutes more for housekeeping details. 1 Ľ hours might have been better. For some—patents and trademarks—could have been longer Yes worked well; but when there were programs that were divided, each program should stand alone. (The one I went to managing needed for you to go to both.) Need more time. Speakers need to watch the time more closely. Good timing I actually enjoyed the "snappy" pace and the opportunity to attend more sessions. Some sessions seemed abbreviated to fit schedule. 50 minutes better More time for ergonomic and difficult people This was a little tight for some speakers, but just right for me as an attendee Good amount of time—long enough to do something substantial but not too long to sit I think this was one of best parts; compact, smooth Some should have been longer—could this be lumped with one longer session sometime during the conf Yes! Some programs were doubled—took too much time Liked the one hour, sometimes 2 part format, but not much time for questions 60 min. okay, but 90 would be nice In most cases Good length The 60 min. time was great. More available sessions and they were short enough to prevent fighting discomfort. Please continue this length. Good length to convey info and not burst bladders Some should be longer—some shorter! Maybe 1 hour 15 minutes? Time just right This time it worked, normally I prefer 1 ˝ hour sessions. This was a good length of time, but as always there were a couple of programs that could have gone longer. It's good to keep these programs short—optimize attention/retention Like the tightness of the schedule; think the quality by presenters was improved as a result Some needed more, some needed less time I like shorter programs Perfect with good question periods Longer is better—get some depth Some programs 90 minutes better Okay—given 2 part nature of quite a few—there was less milling around This was a really good length for programs—longer programs covering two time slots are nice with a break For most presentations this was not enough time to develop any depth—very general presentations lacking substance
6.	I stayed at the Pasco DoubleTree
	The lodging was suitable for my needs.		1=0 2=1 3=5 4=9 5=24
	Comments: Really nice facility Only problem was late Wed confusion at registration. Hotel staff had trouble locating available rooms. Room was great; location of meeting rooms great; good staff but no indoor pool and nowhere to walk. Superb staff and extremely comfortable facility esp. appreciate everything being close at hand. After we changed rooms—telephone charges very high Excellent service A little expensive Room fine. Dinner in hotel dining room was inedible—sent both dinners back (clams were off. Veal was tough as rubber. Pasta tasted like plastic.) Very expensive Very nice Really enjoyed the security and quiet room Staff very friendly and helpful at meals and at registration desk I did not get a smoke-free room. Overbooking a problem
	I stayed at the Richland Double Tree
	The lodging was suitable for my needs.		1=1 2=3 3=3 4=6 5=5
	Comments: Too expensive for what was provided. Room was dark. Dogs barked from 4:30-7 AM (there were dogs allowed in the hotel); mildewed shower curtain Would like to have been closer They lost our reservations; then found them under the wrong date, then blamed us. Bad room service caused us to be late for the keynote speech. I called in Feb and Pasco was booked! I did not like having a room in Richland—too far. Transportation between P and R was a worry. Loding fine—transportation not available here without a car. Neither DoubleTree or the Conference organizers were helpful. Wish we could have had a shuttle between hotels or city bus info in the packet It was terrific Would have rather been at the conference headquarters or at a motel with a pool. They sat on my credit card # for a month but moved me to a different town without prior notice. They didn't care either. Their map to the next town did not fit the #s on the road signs. Really glad I was in the hotel by the river—very pretty! (You should try to have the river at more conferences!) I desired a closer location to the conference, but it did meet my needs—expensive as hell though, $96.60 tax included. I would rather to know this.
	I stayed at the Sleep Inn
	The lodging was suitable for my needs.		1=0 2=0 3=1 4=2 5=5
	Comments: Our room cost about $60 a night which seemed appropriate. Excellent I'd prefer a room in the conference hotel—hope it will have enough in Tacoma Good price—would have been too far way without easy access to a car
	Other: Paucity of hotel rooms (and hotels) near the Pasco DoubleTree meant that many of us had to stay miles away. Not much public transportation and too few vehicles made arranging rides to and from the conference a major activity. I wish there had been room to stay on site! Not nearly enough rooms at DoubleTree
7.	The conference meal choices and service met my needs.		1=2 2=9 3=20 4=38 5=19
	Comments: Food was great! Yum yum 4/30 Healthy breakfast was awful Food not very good Food wasn't very good at dinner; buffet took too long at lunch The buffet lunch on Friday did not work well—too many people—too little time Felt the food was a little light. How about some snacks. Quality of meals was fair, not good. Quantity was a bit slim. Generally good food and choices—CAYAS breakfast was a bit dull. CAYAS breakfast was inedible—sickmaking! But Sherman Alexie dinner was good—lunch/business meeting also tasty—what happened? Very average food for the price Breakfast cold Missed breakfast that was scheduled 7:30-9:30—8:30 was too late. I didn't like that at all! Healthy choice breakfast was scary. Meals way overpriced for what was received. Meals above average in tastiness and speedily served (buffet on Friday delicious but too slow; liked having business meeting at meal time) Good ice tea! A relief from coffee. Breakfast with Bernard Waber was terrible! Don't make attendees pay extra for meals to hear speakers that are a valuable part of the conference. Need more water availability. Better than usual, except for CAYAS breakfast Need to have some low sugar/high protein food available at breakfast. Keep the water dispensers full. More women's restrooms! Suggest more set-ups when doing a buffet; lovely desserts and wines at events. Buffet should have had 4 locations/food all very good; water was a great idea, but ran out often Continental breakfast very low protein and too sweet for hypoglycemic or diabetic persons; dinner fresh fish very good; breakfast french toast very tough Lunches too crowded and required too much moving around I like health options. Breakfast was too early! 8 AM better. No veggie entrees—logistics problems with size of crowd The dinner (Sherman Alexie) was good. The breakfast was awful!! A choice of cold cereals and fruit would be better! Great food! Waber breakfast french toast was bad! Buffet for business meeting lunch not a good idea unless you have 4 to 6 lines available. Other meals were tasty and appropriate Wonderful salmon and all the meals had great food, but the lines for the buffet were dreadful. The buffet lunch on Friday had great food but took far too long to get through the lines. Buffets suck. This one should have had at least 4 lines. I wished they had served dessert in the first lunch. And no more buffets, please! Otherwise very good food. Would appreciate total vegetarian substitute for meat/cheese to anchor the salad and fruit! More vegetarian, fruit, juice at lunch/dinner Only disappointment was french toast. The rest was wonderful. Having several meals as part of registration is an excellent idea. Breakfasts poor. All the choices were fine but the CAYAS breakfast. The food was awful! The french toast tasted like cardboard and the egg meal looked dreadful. Like the meals included in registration price—very bad planning to have self-serve buffet for Friday lunch.
8.	Because of space limitations at the Pasco DoubleTree, the Conference made the decision this year to not have an exhibit hall at this conference. I made good vendor contacts at the conference.		1=28 2=19 3=12 4=10 5=7
	Comments: Wasn't pleased about this. Do not want or need to Made a few—glad this is temporary. I missed exhibits. I missed being able to congregate with my colleagues in an exhibit hall. Some good contacts were made; accessibility was difficult in corners I rather enjoyed the absence of vendors and attendant clutter. Don't do this again. I prefer an exhibit hall. Always have exhibits. I really missed the exhibit hall. Make the space available in the future! Having the vendors host meals is a good idea—why not host more meals. I missed the vendors. I missed the exhibits but am not sure when I 'd have found time to tour them. I wish there would have been more vendors here. More vendors together and more accessible. Not enough time to do this. Like Ice House and luncheon set-ups. I missed having a fixed location to find exhibits. Brewery tour Since I was not at Ice Harbor, I had little contact with exhibitors and vendors. Having vendors in same room with programs cut down on accessibility. I guess the right decision was made, but it was a little disappointing. I specifically went to several just to appreciate their presence here in the circumstances. Nope- Not sure; looked when I saw them I enjoyed being able to "drop by" during other events. Raffle was fun idea. Didn't meet any vendors, but would like to. No I did not. I made the effort to make contact though I always find the booths interesting. Not a high priority for me. I enjoyed the more intimate time with vendors, but none sold wares I am responsible for. Would much prefer a regular vendor hall—in a larger conference site. Did not attend the Wed evening event. The lunch with the vendors did not give time for conversation. Speaker began as we were seated and spoke entire lunch served. I personally don't visit with vendors much during conferences so did not seek them out. Didn't miss exhibits—think maybe we should have them only every few years since they're expensive to stage. My contact with vendors is somewhat minimal—tho I have met a number over the years. I contacted the three I had questions for; but missed opportunity to see a large variety of new books, especially picture books and fiction for children. This is not a major disappointment though. By not having a vendors exhibit there was no place to go when your weren't interested in a session is a certain time slot. This is a good time to meet with vendors. One is more apt to get a chance to really talk with someone. A ˝ hour time slot for everyone is inadequate. I usually network with vendors at each WLA conference. Each year it has gotten harder to do so. Next time explain on the program why there are not vendors/exhibits. I didn't find any vendors—they were difficult to locate and there was not enough time. I understand the space constraints, but please have an exhibit hall next year in Tacoma. Vendors are important to the conference. Lack of exhibits almost made me stay home. Please, don't do this again. I didn't make any vendor contacts. This isn't important for me since I regularly attend ALA and PLA. It is probably more important for others. The opportunity for contact was great—I just did not need to make contact this year. Did not make any vendor contacts. I would like to have an exhibit hall. Never saw one at all—a facility too small for an exhibit hall is probably too small for the conference. But would have like more time. More space for vendors, better publicized. Good experiment to build on. In one way I like this better. I found you had an easier time relating to the vendors, but I also missed the larger variety of vendors. Missed the exhibits hall—kept us from mingling at breakfast and lunch the first day. It's OK tho, I don't buy stuff. I'd prefer to have time to visit vendors between sessions. Meal times seem more appropriate for visiting with conference attendees. Never have a conference without an exhibit hall. I talked to many disappointed and frustrated vendors before the conference, trying to explain WLA's position.
9.	How would you like to interact with vendors at future conferences?
	More, I liked looking through the displays Like standard exhibit hall Exhibit area and no conflict times Just to meet and talk with them—one to one Not important to me; I'm more interested in quality programs and speakers Exhibits are best—they're captive I like to browse all exhibits and then stop to talk in more detail to specific ones At exhibits Exhibit hall is best Exhibit hall Traditional exhibit hall; but did enjoy lunch with vendors I think it's important, and exhibit halls are a good way to do it Actually, I usually avoid them. I don't buy. I like to see the exhibits but nothing to offer to salesmen Regular exhibits and parties I thought this arrangement was good—it was much more intimate and easier to talk individually. I like having an exhibit space with timing spaced to allow for visiting exhibits. Same way, just more vendors! Advertise when we can meet with vendors even more This was a great way to encounter vendors In their own exhibit hall, more space and more hours Exhibit hall is best The way it used to be—an exhibit hall Just have them more available Standard exhibits In a fixed location during a no-conflict time slot Between sessions See them and their products between sessions Reception environment preferable Vendor displays in a large room is very valuable Up close and personal I prefer the traditional format best I like lunch with vendors as we did on Thursday Separate area Vendor hall Exhibit hall Exhibits are fine This year's approach worked for me Vendor space as trad. I liked this mixed venue The lunch could have been an opportunity Like the exhibit hall better Exhibit hall I like the big trade fair when there is room. Thought the 1999 took useful and creative action vis a vis vendors I believe the exhibit hall works better. Could some time be devoted to seeing vendors—with nothing else scheduled? Traditional way The old-fashioned way: at exhibits, not tacked on to an evening beer event I like to browse in off times As we did in 1998 at Wenatchee I prefer to browse, but understand the financial strain
10.	Activities such as autograph signings, President's reception, breaks, were enjoyable.		1=1 2=0 3=13 4=22 5=34
	Comments: Too much liquor Enjoyed the visit and visit to new library Especially enjoyed Thursday afternoon break with lemonade. I think I prefer having the reception in the hotel—but it was nice to see the new library Like big president's reception—felt inclusive Gave time to refresh and stretch and meet others Nice to see the new library but pres reception in the hotel is better Sherman Alexie and Bernard Waber were both outstanding. Loved President's reception—great Not enough Sherman Alexie books were brought to sell. Great! The president's reception was too late. I especially like the courtyard break outside, and the chance to get fresh air and revive there on Friday. There weren't enough books for the author signing Fantastic President's reception! Way too few Alexie books available for sale!! Can speakers bring and well own books? e.g. Kinney was a book on lobbying and had no copies with her. Unfortunately, ran out of Sherman Alexie books Banquet speaker was excellent. There were not enough buses to take us to the autograph signing afterward. We didn't arrive until there was only ˝ hour left and they had run out of books—very disappointing! Cindy Cunningham monopolized Sherman Alexie. The President's reception at the new Kennewick library was very enjoyable. A real treat! Authors wonderful—diversity excellent Reception very special—excellent band, delicious treats The jazz at the new library, the choirs and Sherman Alexie were fantastic. Nicely hosted at Kennewick. Appreciate the bus. President's reception too late in evening. Sherman Alexie was great. Esp. nice: the afternoon break outside (tho the lemonade ran out…sigh!)
11.	The keynote speakers were interesting and valuable.		1=0 2=6 3=9 4=16 5=49
	Comments: It's a matter of opinion. Really enjoyed Michael Eisenberg! Eisenberg—very appropriate and provided valuable information. Alexie-interesting. Sexual content and comments offensive and more important irrelevant. It would seem he believes any thought he has is worth sharing. Showed little preparation. Except Sherman Alexie—yeah! Fabulous! Wonderful! Enjoyed all major speakers Interesting, but perhaps a little long Only Mike Eisenberg yes Poor—but 1st choice fell through—start with party and keynote isn't necessary WLN/OCLC too long, not very motivating WLN/OCLC presentation , particularly OCLC's was characterized by way too much detailed information. Excellent speaker but too long and not tailored to the audience; MikeE terrific and high powered I really enjoyed Sherman Alexie though I don't know if it was too valuable—though laughter is always fun. OCLC and WLN speakers—2; UW Lib Sch Director 5 Sherman !!!Sigh!!! What a Guy! Thank You! Great! Yes, the new Graduate Library School Director was inspirational OCLC—pretty boring—Michael Eisenberg—very good Sherman Alexie—great!! Yes! Mike and Sherman were superb WOW! (Eisenberg) Loved Eisenberg, OCLC was interesting but too long Dr Mike is fantastique The authors were top notch Friday's keynote, Michael Eisenberg was very inspiring. Yes, like their enthusiasm Great—U of W information inspiring Great! WLN/OCLC so specialized—could have been much briefer, part of some other presentation. Wish UW presentation had included more specific info/discussion of continuing education possibilities. Sherman Alexie—Wow!! Kudos to the organizers. Loved Sherman Alexie WLN/OCLC was tedious. Ditto Inquiring Minds. Sherman Alexie and Dr. Eisenberg were great! Good job! WLN/OCLC—not inspiring—I knew it was a fill in; Mike Eisenberg—incredibly inspiring! I was more enthused by speakers than usual. I really enjoyed Gordon Jackson—thought provoking Mike was fab! Intelligent, witty, charming, inspiring Neither speaker defined the acronyms he used. The topic was not terribly interesting to the entire audience.
12.	In general, the conference was well organized and informative.		1=2 2=0 3=5 4=40 5=44
	Comments: I was upset there wasn't enough seating available—10 to 20 people had to stand at the keynote Fewer choices than at bigger conferences. One problem—most programs ran out of handouts I appreciate breaks in between programs Great workshops, authors. The best WLA I've attended My favorite of the past 18 years Great, great job! Cheerful, friendly, organized Some high points-some incredible lows-averaged out-Pres reception vs business mtg for ex This was an improvement over last year! Good job! Organized, ran smooth, great job!
13.	The registration packets arrived in a timely manner and had enough information for me to make choices.		1=3 2=2 3=7 4=27 5=44
	Comments: Yes—and especially like the email follow-up plea. That's what reminded me of the deadline and prompted me to come. I arrived early and they weren't finished setting up. Would like better accommodations info. Where else to stay, addresses and phones. Changes were made when conference started. My original meeting choices had to be changed in some cases. Content OK but time changes created havoc. Seemed just right Having the website was great! I did not receive a packet in the mail Earlier notification would have helped our organization's planning Excellent job! Thank you.
14.	I used the WLA website (WLA Online) for registration and/or information.		YES=45 NO=46
	Comments: It was helpful in giving me lists of options. Well done—easy to use Good details—I printed this out for my friends groups and board Keep Conference hotel link active (even if full) needed list of contact names/emails on the page No, but will do so in the future Maybe next year, didn't think about it Used it to become a member You made it so easy to join and register! Thanks! My Department Head did the registrations (If I were doing my own, I would have used the website.) Didn't know I could Schedule info was way too hard to download (Because it was done in Word?) Best job ever, Martha Parsons is invaluable Did not see where we could actually register online However I do use the website for info Lost my original packet for a while and cot copy of program to study Big Problem—when registering the program I was coming for was listed on Thursday. When website was consulted 1 day before the conference, the program had changed to Friday. It was helpful, but corrections were behind and the print exceed the margins Great place to get info Tried to—nothing on it when I was looking
15.	The past two conferences have had some meals included in the conference registration costs. I like the idea of combining some meal and registration costs.		1=2 2=1 3=4 4=16 5=64
	Comments: That's a great idea, but choices for breakfast were limited I liked the lunch/business meeting but it took so long for everyone to get their food. Need more food stations, maybe? Very good idea Yes! Yes—good idea! It would be nice to be able to select the meals/speakers from a list of options. Yes! Continental breakfasts good Depends on expense otherwise Please continue to do so! Like it a lot Some people, including those needed to attend, might find this raises the minimum expense to an unaffordable level OK, but not breakfast. How about drinks instead Well yes, except the buffet lunch Friday unfortunately delayed afternoon sessions by 45 minutes A nice way to "let" some of us go to meal events and have it paid by our library Lunch inclusion is great, breakfast is difficult to attend. Breakfasts are pretty lame. Yes. When a meal included in registration, tickets could be omitted. Like WLA business meeting, but not buffet next time or more "set-ups" Practical for financial planning for WLA Better attendance at business meeting is especially good for this Great idea—encourages everyone to get together right from start Very helpful in budgeting/reimbursal Great idea Keynote breakfast—great if you do a business meeting luncheon (great idea) go for some kind of quick serve or combo serve and buffet (I like this very much: efficient use of time at the conference (and our registration $)
16.	General comments and suggestions: More ladies rooms! This was a big problem! Two best presentation speakers/topics: Mary Ross on Internet searching; Lisa Kinney on establishing political connections to legislators, councilpeople The outsourcing program suggested a program on writing and administering contracts. I thought that would be an excellent program. Good conference—good workshops—I appreciate non-librarians presenting. We could always use more audience participation. I like the shorter length of the conference Banquet on Thurs. is a good idea. Bring back vendors! Excellent—I was very pleased Great conference! Thank you! Sherman Alexie was great. Mike Eisenberg was great More women's restrooms! Convert some of the men's just for the conference. Please spread out the IG business meetings so I can attend more than one. Great! S. Alexie excellent Not enough water available in the hallway—too many conflicts on Friday afternoon I really missed the vendors and could have used directions to the DoubleTree. One of the best conferences I've been to in a long time. Well done! Great conference! Well organized. Good programs. Nametags could have been bigger and easier to read. Thanks for a truly inspiring conference, thanks for daring to try different things. Enjoyed the authors as speakers; not enough time to mingle and get to know people; perhaps a get together the arrival day would help. I would like a location closer to other amenities—other than the hotel itself Thanks for all the work! Would prefer a location where there is more to do within walking distance Good quality Idea for business meeting and lunch was excellent despite v. poor execution. Good idea guys! Wonderful job—good programs—lots of positive reasons to come back to Tri-Cities, Many thanks to the committee and to Mid-Col PL!! Great fun and very informative. Thanks for all your hard work! I really like having tables to sit at during some of the presentations! Trademark, public speaking and virtual ref sessions were wonderful. It is difficult to be active in more than one IG when all meet at one time. Can we have different meeting times in the future? Wonderful variety of activities that highlighted the conference location. Very creatively arranged. Loved the microbrew. It's great to get out of the hotel. Needed more bathrooms, waste baskets and buffet tables at Friday buffet lunch (small items) Wonderful conference—best I can recall. Have the conference where there is a facility that will hold it. The organizers did a wonderful job given what they had to work with. I really enjoy Sherman Alexie. Also the session on Technospeak was great and I would like to see this one again or see it expanded upon. Blurring the lines was another session that was very informative. Overall—very well run conference—my first WLA and my umpteenth professional meeting. Thanks and well done! If you have two locations for next conference that are neck and neck, choose the one with MORE RESTROOMS! The local arrangements team did a great job! Thanks! Not impressed with WLN/OCLC presentation and would have substantially; cut Gordon Jackson; give WSL tech people and computers space or room in conference area—great access, good demos No place on this form to comment about preconference sessions. The genealogy speaker was good and I was glad to hear her. But the content was somewhat simplistic—too much was spent on email and Internet basics that most of us would know and work with daily (even some of us had taught this.) Excellent workshops, especially youth services, good variety of choice. Sherman Alexie was great—a fun event. The President's Reception/Solinus were fabulous. Awards luncheon—too long! Food could be improved. Rooms needed sound barriers. If WLA wants the IGs to survive, they need to be promoted and featured at conference. #s are going down. Please schedule IG breakfasts in banquet hall so we can visit more than one. Should be fun. Like having Tom MC throughout the conference—gave it continuity. Have some email computers set up in the lobby! How about a 6:30 AM Fun Walk! Note for Tacoma: Please arrange as many opportunities for attendees to discuss issues among themselves whenever possible! We get tired of sitting and listening passively. Fri morning—too long before the keynote speakers began (9:45). Should move it up and have more time for the lunch/business meeting. Consider having ˝ day on Wed and ˝ day on Friday instead of all day Friday. Make the names on the badges much bigger! It's important to easily see who people are. Provide a participant list (and email/address for future contact) Please communicate to Bill Gordon how disappointed we were that he did not come. Customer service workshop was excellent; Ergonomics speaker very well-informed and helpful for managers; program on book discussion for J/YA was very well-organized with good handouts and helpful hints. Alexie best banquet speaker ever; good selection of programs; Tom, you did a great job as master of ceremonies throughout! Buffet lunch is still best, even tho it took too long—provided actual food choices! Have a core of programs presented each year that appear to be of annual interest—public speaking, basic PR, legislative contacts, etc. or offer every other year. Consider paying a professional firm to organize and handle logistics, rather than local library assuming so much burden. Glad to pay $10/person (or whatever) more. My first conference, so I had little to base my observations on. I had many expectation, though, and I was not disappointed! Excellent topics available for my area (youth services). I have used a great deal of the info already. A good conference! Enjoyed the area, never having spent any time before in the Tri-Cities. I thought it was a good location, and I would be interest in attending future conferences if they are held there. I was disappointed there wasn't a vendor's hall and the problem about too little bathroom space. It was often hard to get to the next program on time. Also some of the chairs (folding) were very uncomfortable and unstable. I attended the friends and trustees meeting—as a first time attendee—they introduced each other, congratulated themselves, gave themselves awards, had no signup sheet, didn't ask if there were newcomers—why should I ever come again? For future conferences session on: writing quality job postings, esp. management, conducting quality job interviews, developing relevant questions I was too busy with the WLFTA programs and annual meeting to participate in much else but felt it was an exceptionally interesting conference. Good conference. Some session times were a little thin in choices for me or delivered less than it seemd they would. Enjoyed Mike Eisenberg, Deborah Jacobs, Sherman Alexie, Bernard Waber, OCLC people. These made the trip worthwhile. Print on nametags too small. Could not be read across a table. Alki badges were easy to read. I liked the lunch/business meeting but it took so long for everyone to get their food. Need more food stations, maybe? This location (DoubleTree Hotel) doesn't have any central location to sit and talk, meet, congregate. The lobby here has 2 couches to sit on. I didn't see many people unless they attended the same workshops as I. Science fiction keynote speaker for next year suggestion: Lois McMaster Bujold. Print name tags bigger! Don't schedule IG meetings all at the same time—people have membership in more than one! If the organization values the role of the IGs in program planning and keeping the organization as a whole alive, leave enough time for the IGs to meet. Preconference—either the speaker or planner should have focused the skill level more appropriately. How to do email and sign up for a listserv cannot be relevant to more than 5-10% of the librarians. A $50 fee for such elementary instruction was appalling!! Cyndi's pleasant, good presenter—just not aimed at the right audience or misadvertised in the program. Really enjoyed attempts to buy in regional "flavor"—the music groups (Columbia Basin College "Free Form", Mad Hatters Jazz Choir) were great. I get tired of speakers who essentially just read an article to us—we're librarians, for gosh sakes, we know a lot of this already—tell us something new! And that seems to be found in each region—I'd like us to explore our own talent of each area—so Thank You for "keeping it local". Not enough chairs for everyone or need of someone to deliver. Not enough parking—not enough rooms available for comfort; at site. I want exhibits and displays for vendors; it would make it more exciting. Lounge chairs (extra) It would be better to overprepare than to have these problems. The two multi-session programs (librarians and paras and cops and 1st amendment) could have profited from more structure. The introducers of the programs could have had some articles on the subject then digested them for us; could have presented some statistics that bore on the issues; could have read some quotes from people outspoken on the issue. A five or ten minute introduction would have set the framework for the discussion. As it was, the program just veered wherever the participants took them. I suggest a closer collaboration between IG members and presenters to focus the discussion, and in introduction.
17.	I'm interested in working on next year's conference in Tacoma. Please call or email me. Name Cindy Lesh Committee I would be willing to work on Registration My phone number 360-765-4024 My email address joelesh@Olypen.com Name Diane Kerlin Committee I would be willing to work on Possibly registration My phone number 253-922-287 My email address DKERLIN@SERV.NET Name Kirsten Edwards Committee I would be willing to work on not sure—but would like to help My phone number 425-788-1173 My email address kirstedw@kcls.org Name Sandy Carlson Committee I would be willing to work on any My phone number 360-405-92111 My email address sandy@krl.org Name Carolyn Petersen Committee I would be willing to work on My phone number 253-564-3417 (home) My email address Name Mary Wise Committee I would be willing to work on whatever I can do from Ellensburg My phone number 509.963-1044 My email address wise@tahoma.cwu.edu Name Cathy A O'Donnell Committee I would be willing to work on wherever I was needed My phone number 253-536-6500 My email address cathyo@pcl.lib.wa.us Name Ian Fairclough Committee I would be willing to work on already serving as TSIG Coord My phone number 509-452-8541 My email address ifairclough@yvrls.lib.wa.us Name Valarie Peery Committee I would be willing to work on My phone number 509-736-3097 My email address vpee461@ecy.wa.gov Name Patience Rogge My phone number 360-385-6975 My email address rogge@olympus.net Name Cameron Johnson Committee I would be willing to work on IFIG, RIG, AARG! My phone number 425-257-8010 x 4040 My email address cjohnson@ci.everett.wa.us
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