There is an email list setup for roommates and ridesharing. Go to the conference page (www.txla.org/conference/conf.html) to sign up for the roommates listserv using the form at the bottom of that page. After doing so, just send an email to roommates@txla.org with your housing or ridesharing needs. Whoever is on the list will get it and can respond if they’re looking for something similar.

TLA is redesigning its website and creating a professional social networking platform, called MyTLA, for its members! The Beta site will be released at conference, and we’ve set up a hotspot for attendees to visit to view the site and set up their new MyTLA accounts. MyTLA will offer all TLA groups a space for file sharing, discussion boards, and announcements notifications so that their members may more easily participate in group activities and planning. Please look for the MyTLA Hotspot in the Market Street Lobby near the bag check.

Parking can be an issue at the HBG Convention Center. Use these links for help.

Official San Antonio Convention Facilities Parking Site

Interactive Parking Map Uses Google Maps. Hint: Start at Convention Center Parking and select "nearby"

What would you like to hear this year’s general session speakers, Scott Simon and Julie Powell, talk about during their keynote speeches?

Below is a note from TLA's Director of Communications, Gloria Meraz, on the role that attending TLA's conference can play in TEKs.

The Texas Library Association offers over 100 programs and events specifically focused on the professional education needs of the school library community. As an approved provider of educator training by the State Board for Educator Certification, TLA sets the standard for statewide library training. As the largest state library association in the country, TLA offers library educators the best of state and national level speakers and experts.

Here is a sample of some of the educational units:

•Get Centered around Science TEKs
•Collection Development budget strategies
•ELA TEKs
•Literacy in Action: Working with Underserved Populations
•Bringing Books to Life for Primary Grade Students
•Assessing 21st Century Skills in Our Schools
•Active Learning in Action
•Mining Government Resources for TEKs and Lesson Plans

This 2010 annual conference will feature programs highlighting the latest in educational technology issues for libraries and learners, information literacy standards, best practices for promoting current Texas curriculum standards, effective tools for librarian-teacher collaboration, implementation of programming for students to help with retention and graduation, digital and real world expertise in information searching, educational uses of dynamic Web environments and tools, student research and privacy ethics, and programs to promote reading—just to name a sampling of the areas addressed in conference.

The TLA conference is an annual venue for Texas Education Agency administrators to present the latest news on library, technology, and related policy issues that affect schools throughout the state. Administrators from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission also present key findings and reports to the library community with regard to the K-12 databases, an essential statewide learning resource available to districts through their school libraries. This information is critical to allow schools to make the most of statewide library programs and to keep current with changes in current resource programs.

As professional educators, we all understand that truly innovative and leading practices stem from a commitment to continued learning, collaboration, and dialogue with other educators in our respective fields. New ideas, practices, and programs must be shared and learned so that each educator and every campus can provide a dynamic and effective learning environment. The TLA conference experience is designed to provide intensive and quality training to library educators. And, given the vast array and quantity of programming, the TLA conference is absolutely the best statewide learning venue for Texas school library professions.

For your convenience, TLA has a Rent-a-Box and Bag Check this year! Rent-a-Box is in the Market Street Lobby, and Bag Check is in the hall between the Tower View Entrance escalators and Exhibit Hall Café. All items must be picked up before 1:30 pm Saturday.

Market Street Lobby Rent-a-Box
$6 per day, credit card and cash (in/out service available)
Thursday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Tower View Bag Check
$2 per item, cash only (no in/out service)
Thursday 10:15 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Digitization Expo (DigiExpo) is a "come and go" event that gives attendees a chance to visit with vendors as they would in the regular Exhibit Hall. DigiExpo also features speakers and panels that will be publicized before the event. DigiExpo is designed to be a way for vendors who don't regularly come to Texas to come for a single day and meet with attendees who are specifically interested in digital projects. Other vendors who are exhibiting at conference may be at DigiExpo as well, showcasing specific products or digital services.

The Texas Professional Association for Library Sales Round Table presents:
TPALS PASSPORT TO WIN!

Add a unique & fun scavenger hunt to your exhibit hall itinerary! Become eligible for door prizes by completing a Passport to Win that documents your visits to all 35 TPALS Round Table members’ booths. Drawings will start the Friday morning of conference and continue every 30 minutes. Print out the prize list and "treasure map"!

CONTEST RULES
Following these steps will make you eligible to win one of 35 TPALS Passport Prizes!
1. Fill out a TPALS Passport to Win entry form (available in the onsite Exhibits Directory).
2. Complete a few TPALS trivia questions on the form.
3. Visit each of the participating TPALS members’ booths.
4. Ask their mystery question and get your TPALS Passport stamped.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 until your TPALS Passport is fully stamped.
6. Turn in your completed TPALS Passport at the Winner Passport Box in the Exhibit Hall Café.

TPALS PASSPORT COMPANIES

* ABC-CLIO (Booth 1908): Two volume set, The Great Depression and the New Deal (a value of $180)
* Abdo Publishing/Opal Booz & Associates (Booth 2738): $20.00 gift certificate from Logans Restaurants and 2 Interactive iBooks from Abdo/Magic Wagon Publishing and Opal Booz & Associates
* Arte Publico (Booth 2333): The new hardcover novel, The Name Partner, by Carlos Cisneros (retail price $24.95)
* Audio Visual Aids (Booth 1923): $25.00 Walmart gift card
* Alexandria by Companion Corp (Booth 1541): 2 copies of Big6 Turbo Tools Personal Edition
* Baker & Taylor (Booth 1823): A gift basket of books and a Chili’s gift card
* Bound To Stay Bound Books (Booth 1015): 3 books of the winners choice
* Brodart (Booth 1623): A signed first edition book with a Brodart bookmark
* Capstone Publishers (Booth 2530): A gift certificate worth 5,000 points (equivalent of $50) towards the Capstone Rewards program
* Coin Copiers (Booth 1430): Flip Digital Video Camera
* Davidson Titles (Booth 1330): A $75.00 gift card to Target
* DEMCO (Booth 2215): DEMCO gift certificate
* East West Discovery Press (Booth 1400): Award-winning titles “What in the World” and “World Trivia” by Michael Smith
* Enslow Publishers, Inc. (Booth 2748): $100 worth of books sent directly to the winners’ library
* Escue & Associates (Booth 2743): Goodie basket
* Grammardog.com LLC (Booth 1740): 6-month Free Trial of Grammardog Interactive
* Heinemann-Raintree Library (Booth 2539): Read Me! - For reluctant readers, 17 titles within the 3 series
* Hidell & Associates Architects (Booth 1131): A 9” widescreen Phillips portable DVD player
* Holiday House (Booth 1939): A selection of award-winning favorites plus exciting new titles for children and young adults
* InfoBase Publishing (Booth 2655): Character Education Set, 9-Volumes (a value of $315)
* L4U – Library 4 Universal (Booth 2110): Gift basket
* Library Interiors of Texas (Booth 2147): Gift basket
* The Library Store (Booth 1522): 59 ½-inch Giant Giraffe Plush (value of $99.95)
* LLibrary Integrated Solutions (Booth 2122): Gift basket (value of $100)
* Mango Languages (Booth2613): A collection of everyday Mango items, such as a Mango umbrella, reusable grocery bag, and coffee mug.
* Marcive (Booth 1217): $25 Amazon gift certificate
* Martha Hannah, Medieval Comedienne (Booth 2511): “Martha Hannah’s ‘The Ghost of Hampton Court’ Medieval Gift Pak’” and “Martha Hannah’s ‘The Ghost of Hampton Court’ Medieval Gift Pak”
* Peachtree Publishing (Booth 2038): A Carmen Deedy prize pack, featuring hardcover copies of her most beloved titles
* Perma-Bound Books (Booth 1915): An assortment of Perma-Bound books by authors appearing at TLA
* Plunkett Research, Ltd. (Booth 1208): A copy of the 2010 Almanac of American Employers (value of $299.99)
* Renaissance Learning (Booth 1931): A NEO 2 and receiver
* SJB Productions (Booth 2335): 4 DVDs of the winners choice from the 25 Sea Life, Wildlife and Travelogue DVDs
* TeachingBooks.net (Booth 2526): 5-book set from the National Geographic Face to Face series
* Troxell Communications (Booth 1434): An iPod Shuffle
* Weigl Publishers, Inc. (Booth 2741): A selection of books from Weigl’s upcoming front list (4 hardcover books in total)

The Business Center (UPS Store) located by the Coffee Shop and adjacent to the Market Street entrance and can fill all your postal/shipping needs. They also offer full service copies and sell office supplies. Remember that this great service is available at conference!

The conference registration deadline has been extended to Monday, April 5! Online registration closes at 5 PM. Mailed-in registrations must be postmarked April 5. Be sure to register before the new deadline in order to receive the best rates!