Today's post is from Cindy Boyle at TLA:

We are very pleased to introduce you to the TLA 2008 Conference Sponsors. Please be sure to convey your appreciation to these companies and their representatives when you see them at their booths at the annual TLA Conference and as you work with them throughout the year. They help make TLA strong.

Authors Area - Librarian’s Yellow Pages

Author Session with TBA Award Winner - Bound To Stay Bound

Badge Holders - Capstone Press/Compass Point Books/Picture Window Books/
Stone Arch Books

Black Caucus Round Table Author Session - Follett Library Resources,Renaissance Learning, Inc., & Stone Arch Books

Book Cart Competition - DEMCO, Inc.

Closing Author Session - SMART Technologies

Conference Information Center - Gumdrop Books

CONFERENCE TIMES Newsletter - Gumdrop Books

Conference Programs
Designing Projects for 21st Century Learners - Highsmith, Inc
Oh No, I Have to Catalog, too? - Auto-Graphics, Inc.
Getting Them Where They Live - Garrett Book Company

Diversity Fair - DEMCO, Inc.

Exhibits Directory & Buyers Guide - SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

Exhibit Hall B Café - Davidson Titles, Inc.

General Session I - netTrekker d.i.

General Session II - Brodart Company

Hetherington Fun Run/Walk - ProQuest

Internet Room - MAXIMUM RIDE

Net Fair - netTrekker d.i.

Pocket Program - Gumdrop Books

President’s Party - Baker & Taylor
President’s Party Spirits - EBSCO Information Services & Encyclopedia Britannica

Small Community Libraries Dessert Social - Star Book Sales

TALL Texans Leadership Institute - DEMCO, Inc.

TLA/TBA Store - Sentry Technology Corporation & Library Design Systems

Welcome Party - Ingram Library Services Inc.

Scholarships, Awards, Grants & Conference Stipends
Biblionix – Small Community Libraries Round Table Conference Stipend

DEMCO, Inc./TLA Research Grant

Escue Annual Conference Stipend

Garrett Scholarship

Highsmith Library Awards
“Letters about Literature” for 2008 – Texas Center for the Book and Texas Association of School Librarians

ProQuest/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award

Quality Books – NMRT Professional Development Grant

Texas Book Festival Grants

Tocker Foundation Conference Stipends

Van Dusen-Brady-Tobin Scholarship

Walter H. Escue Memorial Scholarship

Contributions to divisions, round tables, interest groups, and districts are recognized
by the individual units.

TLA thanks the following exhibiting companies for their support of the “Strong Libraries, Strong Scores” mini-conference on April 16:
ABC-CLIO
Follett Library Resources
Perma-Bound
Tandem Library Books

The Quick-Read-Guide to TLA 2008 Exhibitors offers TLA members an opportunity to read about each participating TLA 2008 exhibitor to prepare for visiting the exhibit hall during the TLA 2008 Conference in Dallas. Each company name is linked to their profile page so you can learn more about the company and contact the representative directly. Be sure to check back each month as more exhibitors will be featured in the February and March issues. A final list by booth order will be available in early April. A print version will be available at the TLA 2008 Conference.

(Written by Cindy Boyle at TLA)

From Baker & Taylor:

HELP WANTED
CAT ACTORS NEEDED

Two people needed to wear the Baker & Taylor cat mascot costumes during the Texas Library Association Conference in Dallas, TX.

The dates needed are:
Wednesday, April 16, 10:15am – 11:15am
Wednesday, April 16, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Thursday, April 17, 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Duties include waving to attendees, having pictures taken with attendees and handing out the Baker & Taylor shopping bags. Mascots are not allowed to talk while in costume and must stay in the Baker & Taylor exhibit booth.

The ideal height for wearing the mascot costume is 5’7”- 5’9” and maximum weight, 185 lbs. A white tee shirt must be worn and short pants are preferred. No shoes are allowed; only socks or ballet slippers.

Wages are $75 for each 1 hour appearance.

For more information, contact Carlyne Patenaude in the Baker & Taylor Conventions Department at 800.775.7930, Ext. 3231 or patenac@btol.com.