This is a preliminary agenda for the 2008 Books, Bytes, and Beyond TLA conference.

Conference Meetings and Events Schedule*

Tuesday, April 15
8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Preconference Programs
1:00 p.m. Golf Tournament
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. All-Conference Welcome Party
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Storytelling Showcase & Story Swap

Wednesday, April 16
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. General Session I
11:00 a.m. - 4:50 p.m. Net Fair I
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Technology Showcase I
12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Opening Author Session
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bk Cart Drill Team Competition
8:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. President's All-Conference Party
8:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Storytelling Concert

Thursday, April 17
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Diversity Fair
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Net Fair II
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Technology Showcase II
12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Author Session-TBA Winner
4:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. General Session II
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Texas Media Awards
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Evening with the Authors
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. SCLRT Dessert Social

Friday, April 18
8:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Author Session-Christopher Paul Curtis
12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. Closing Author Session

*Note: A more comprehensive listing of the TLA 2008 conference schedule will be available in December 2007.

Exhibit Hall Schedule

Wednesday, April 16, 10:15 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday, April 17, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday, April 18, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Dallas! It's a city of sparkling sophistication, raunchy roadhouses, flamboyant millionaires, desperate outlaws, and in the words of our friend, Molly Ivins, the "home of wretched excess," and it is all spread out for our enjoyment in April of '08. It's time for us to benefit from some of that excess.

The food, the chefs, the theme restaurants are superlative in Big D. Several years ago, I took a New York editor for a modest meal at La Madelaine - the original one on Mockingbird Lane - and she said, "If this place were in Manhattan, it would b so crowded, we'd never get in!" At that same conference, I heard another out-of-state visitor rhapsodize over the food she had feasted on in the West End. "Simply delicious, and an unbelievably low price! I'd have to pay twice as much for a comparable dinner in Chicago!"

And don't forget the music scene. It's as lively and juicy as L.A. or Nashville, but so much more accessible. The old song says, "When you go down to Deep Ellum/ keep youer money in youer/ for the women in Deep Ellum/ don't give a man a chance." But Elm Street is no longer the dark and dangerous district of this old folksong. It is now filled witrh cafes and music clubs and it's a wonderful place to savor the flavor of a bygone era without the danger of being shanghaied or raided.

And now, I'm dreaming of days of intellectual stimulation at TLA and then...... Dallas after dark! Yum!

Ruth Semrau

Don’t have the funds to attend the conference? Apply for a grant! This is just one being offered:

TLA/NMRT Professional Development Grant

This professional development grant is sponsored by Quality Books Inc. and the TLA New Members Round Table Endowment Fund. The grant provides assistance to attend the annual TLA Conference by covering conference registration, travel expenses, lodging, and $50 per diem, up to $1000 total expenses. Eligible recipients include those Texas Library Association members in the first 5 years of their professional career, currently working in a library setting, and in the first 5 years of TLA membership. Applications must be submitted on or before January 4, 2008.

The application form and grant guidelines are available on the NMRT website .

The Volunteer Committee is looking for a few good conference volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer please fill out the volunteer form.

Areas, Duties, and Requirements:
Authors Autographing
Manage access to authors in signing area
Requirements: Standing

Disaster Relief Raffle Tickets
Sell tickets (both at table and roving) & handle cash box
Requirements: Sitting

Entertainment
Manage access & assist with special all-conference events
Requirements: Standing

Events Arrangements
Staff table, check room set-ups, distribute signs, count attendees, address room & equipment glitches
Requirements: Sitting, standing, walking

Exhibits
Assist with registration, boothsitting, or advance sign-up
Requirements: Standing, walking

Health (Fun Run)
Monitor & assist with set-up, refreshments, routes, photos, awards, etc.
Requirements: Standing, walking

Hospitality
Distribute gifts in reception area; pick up speakers at airport
Requirements: Sitting, standing, driving

Information
Staff information desk in registration area: phones, message board, lost & found, etc.
Requirements: Knowledge of Dallas, sitting

Internet Room
Manage queues; troubleshoot minor problems; record statistics
Requirements: Computer skills, sitting

Placement Center
Manage access, register users, make copies, answer questions
Requirements: Sitting, standing

Registration
Staff desk, distribute badges, & programs, greet attendees, answer questions
Requirements: Sitting

TLA Store
Prepare order forms, replenish merchandise, assist shoppers
Requirements: Math skills, standing

Transportation
Staff outdoor table, manage access to buses, provide directions & route info
Requirements: Standing, sitting