Thursday, May 26, 2005

Bloggers at ALA

I am still in avoidence mode....too many Big Things happening and my ability to be pithy has taken a vacation. Off on a small tangent: I find this to be a pattern and I suspect is a way I deal with what some refer to as "information overload." Every now and then, my capacity to scan, synthesize and make sense of stuff fades, and I have learned I have to mentally lean back in my chair, gaze out the window and not try and make sense of the things I appreciate but don't quite get (tagging, folksomies) or that portend "shift happening" events (pick one). What I've found is that I catch up when I have to, or when the volume is cranked to a level where I finally hear the main message. So, I don't quite get social tagging yet but I will, and I am not worried about that. In the meantime I'll post about other stuff.

OK, long prelim.... George, Alice and I extend an invitation to any libraryland bloggers attending ALA in Chicago, to join us for a gathering on Sunday, June 26, beginning at 5:30pm. If you've read Marylaine Block's interview with us, you know that George nicely espressed his sense of the value of our blogging efforts and his appreciation of the blogging community. We've got to know lots of stellar colleagues through blogging and we deeply appreciate each and every one of you. So, we thought, how about we host a salon where we can meet, nosh a bit, have some beverages, adult and otherwise, meet one another F2F and discuss library blogging.

Please come if you are attending ALA.

The event will be in the OCLC Blue Suite. And the exact location of that is a secret. It's a secret that isn't divulged until much closer to ALA because we don't know the answer. OCLC always books three suites at the main hotel all the OCLC staff stay at, that we use for meetings and gatherings. We don't get the actual numbers of the suites until our conference staff arrive at the hotel. So, how will you get the secret room number? We'll post it here. You can ask at the OCLC booth. And you can ask at the hotel--which I believe is the Hyatt McCormick.

If you can't wait to eat some pretzels and drink a beer with fellow libraryland bloggers, would you leave an RSVP in our comments here, please? We'd hate to run out of pretzels.

36 comments:

George said...

The suites are at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Alane. And all our friends have to do is show their supersecret blogger decorder ring to gain entrance to the Blogcave, right?

Joy said...

I have a "One of the Blog People" button but I'll try to track down one of those cool decoder rings, too. Thanks for the invitation! Looking forward to it.

waltc said...

Assuming your definition of "libraryland bloggers" is broad enough, I'll try to make it. Count this as an RSVP.

And, by the way, you're not the only one who freezes up once in a while. I haven't written anything much (on my own time, that is) all week, and don't expect to for a couple more weeks, and am just saying "It'll return when it returns." And as for folksonomy/social tagging, I've already said that I'm letting the smart people deal with that one, at least for now...

Anonymous said...

Cool! I was hoping someone would set up a bloggers party. I'll be there, especially since I'm curious to see who is in Steven Cohen's posse! ;)

Anonymous said...

cool, planning on it.

Jenn Riley said...

Hey, this sounds like fun! Count me in!

Jane said...

With bells on and my real name showing. Mwahahahaaa!

Deepfry said...

going on waltc's comment, i'm assuming libraryland bloggers are invited even if they don't blog about libraryland. am looking forward to it.

Anonymous said...

What a great opportinity for all us libraryland bloggers to meet face to face...um maybe not such a good idea...just kidding. Cool! Count me in.

Alane said...

Alice, George and I most deifinitely mean everyone who blogs that will be attending ALA. The medium is the message. So, whether you blog about libraryland or knitting, you are still a member of the library community using a communication medium we all clearly think is All Good.

Anonymous said...

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to finally meeting many of you, and seeing a few friends from ACRL again.

lislemck said...

Eeeeee--a vendor suite! I've always wanted to see one of those. I am very happy to RSVP. I promise not to ask for autographs. It's all your (collective) fault, anyway.

Anonymous said...

It's not freezing up, it's marinating. You're getting in touch with Your Craft. Remember that! See ya at the party! kgs @ Free Range Librarian

Anonymous said...

WebJunction's baby bloggers will be there. We look forward to making the non-virtual connection.

Hmm, a posse of bloggers. A "plogge"?

Anonymous said...

I'm not much for pretzels, but I'd like to attend ...

Anonymous said...

I do occasionally mention library stuff in my knitting blog:)

Anonymous said...

I'll be there. The Idaho State Library blog will be official by then, too!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for taking the effort, and I look forward to attending.

Anonymous said...

See you there ... surely this gives me an excuse to buy one of those I See Blog People t-shirts :)

Anonymous said...

Neat-o! Thank you for making the arrangements; I look forward to meeting a few blogging librarians. You'll know me by the glazed look in my eyes after 2 days of wandering around McCormick Place.

Anonymous said...

wh00t! Count me in. Maybe a friend in tow. One who reads blogs, of course.

Anonymous said...

Please reserve a pretzel for me.

Anna said...

I will be there! Probably with Mr. Tangognat.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the invite. Please RSVP me.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I can't afford to attend the entire conference, but I was thinking of heading into Chicago on Sunday and doing the exhibits. Do you mind if I attend?

Anonymous said...

I am THERE!!! Can't wait!

Anonymous said...

I'll be there!

laura said...

The Unofficial Dominican University GSLIS blog (oh wait, that's just me), will be there. Thanks for arranging the shindig!

Anonymous said...

Groovy. I'll try to make it, assuming that "libraryland bloggers who live near Chicago but aren't really attending ALA" are included in the invitation.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to come as well.

Anonymous said...

Sweet! I don't know who any of you are, but I'm showing up and bringing a friend!

Bill S. said...

I might probably be there.

Katie said...

Hmm...must consult schedule, but it sound muy fun!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to try to be there.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to come as well and meet some of you lovely people!

Christopher the Curmudgeon said...

Tinfoil racoon just mentioned this to me, so I hope its not too late to RSVP