I find it hard to believe that over four years has passed since I was recruited by a friend to run for KLA office. Working for the Kansas Library Association is a time commitment, but one that I have found to be both challenging and rewarding. Today I have the opportunity as Past President to help guide the process of soliciting nominations for the upcoming KLA election.

The positions for which we are seeking candidates this year are:

• Second Vice President (4 year term)
• Treasurer (2 year term)
• Nominating Committee (3 positions with a 1 year term)

If you or someone you know would be interested in running for KLA office, follow this link to the nomination form: http://tinyurl.com/cmbc8x6

The call for nominations will be open from now to May 15. The election will be from July 1 to July 31. I would like to thank the other members of the Nominating Committee for their time and effort thus far: Heidi Blackburn, Heather Braum, and Janelle Mercer.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to one of the members of the Nominating Committee.

Royce Kitts
Past President
Chair, KLA Nominating Committee

School librarians should check the KASL webpage as well.

And don’t forget the general conference website

While there, check into becoming a KLA member. It’s worth your while!

And don’t forget to:

Join Our KLIC
(Kansas Librarians and Infogeek Conferees)
At The Kansas Library Conference
October 9-10-11, 2013Topeka
Watch for more information!

A specific purpose of KLAEF is to provide scholarships for members of the Kansas Library Association. For this scholarship, the focus is particularly for members who are enrolled in an accredited graduate-level program for library and information science which will result in a MLS or Library and Information Science degree, and are planning a career in Kansas libraries. Factors considered in making these awards include a commitment to a career in Kansas librarianship and academic excellence. The award is for $500.

Congratulations, Ruth!

–Rita Sevart, KLAEF President

For the entire story, please visit:
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/01/people/joanne-jo-budler-2013-librarian-of-the-year/

October 9-11, 2013, Topeka, Capitol Plaza Hotel

Hope to see you there!

M.E. is a retired School Library Media Specialist. She worked in the Olathe School District for 27 years as a teaching librarian.

She currently serves on the Northeast Kansas Library System’s Executive Board, and was Secretary in 2011. She is a past President of the Eudora Public
Library Board.

M.E. has attended national library conferences with recruiting, strategic planing and library advocacy as a focus. She traveled with Kansas librarians to Colorado in 2010 and to Texas in 2011 for the Association of Small and Rural Libraries (ARSL) Conferences.

She and her husband live on a farm south of Eudora.

M.E. is looking forward to the Kansas Library Conference, October 9-11, 2013, in Topeka.

She encourages interested Library Trustees to become active in KLTA’s leadership. M.E. can be contacted at megrosdidier@gmail.com

If you are curious about the direction of the group, already involved, or if you want to become more involved, the first Youth Services Section Meeting will be held on August 15th at 10:00 AM. This will be an online meeting through Collaborate.

To access the meeting on the 15th, just follow this link.

If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact Brandon Hines; bhines@hayspublib.org

Both of these conferences will be held in conjunction with the Kansas Association of School Librarians (KASL).

Kansas Library Conference 2015 will likely be a bi-state joint conference with the Missouri Library Association. Dates and location TBD.

Hope to see you there!

Program Session Evaluation

for the 2012 Kansas Library Conference
I Geek Kansas Libraries
are now open.

Visit the 2012 Conference Web site for Handouts

For fun: Jeff Imparato’s Engeeklopedia Kansasiana (5/17/2012)

Please visit the 2012 Conference Web site.

OR choose ‘Conference 2012’ from the menu bar of the KLA website. From ‘Registration‘ at the top of the page, you will find links that take you into KLA’s online store to purchase the Conference.  Members must log in to receive member rates for the annual Conference.

Some tips for the registration process:

• This year we feature a special Friend, Trustee & Student rate, as well as a One Day Rate.
• The Friend, Trustee & Student rate is intended to encourage participation by members of the library community outside the profession.
• The One Day Rate is intended for guests, visitors, and those who can only attend Conference for a single day or less.
• The member rate is $110, non-member $150; Friend, Trustee & Student rate is $30, $50 non-member. The One Day Rate is $70 member, $85 non-member.
• Early Bird Registration ends on March 16, 2012. Rates go up after that, so please register now!
• If you are a KLA member but you do not remember your password, take advantage of the “Forgot your Password?” link to quickly receive an email prompting you to reset your password.
• If you are a KLA member but have not yet paid your annual dues, please take a moment to renew while shopping for Conference. We appreciate it!
• If you would like to join KLA while registering for Conference, you can purchase a membership in the online store and add it to your cart with all other Conference-related purchases. The member price for Conference will be correctly calculated at checkout.
• While in the online store, you will see the 2012 Conference followed by all the ticketed events. You must purchase the Conference in order to purchase a ticketed session. You will be guided to do this when you add a ticketed Conference event to your cart.
• Hotel sleeping rooms can be booked now at the special KLA Conference rate of $118/night, single or double occupancy, plus applicable taxes. Click on the dedicated link below to book your room at the Hyatt Regency Wichita:
• https://resweb.passkey.com/go/2012Library

Detailed instructions for booking sleeping rooms are found under the ‘Accommodations‘ tab of the 2012 Conference page of the KLA web site.

Please call Lisa Beebe at the KLA Office at 785-580-4518 or email kansaslibraryassociation@yahoo.com if you need any assistance.

I look forward to seeing you at Conference!

Mickey Coalwell