from an ALA press release<\/i><\/p>\n
The next installment in the series of American Library Association (ALA) President Jim Rettig\u2019s ALA Connections Salons will be an online discussion with Pat Scales, President of the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC). The discussion, entitled \u201cKid Connections\u201d\u009d will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST Friday, Oct. 17.<\/p>\n
Online Programming for All Libraries (OPAL) Coordinator Tom Peters will begin the hour with an interview with Scales, whose association recently hosted its 2008 National Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 18-20. Attendees of the institute participated in program tracks on \u201cTechnology and Children\u2019s Services,\u201d\u009d \u201cProgramming in the New Millennium\u201d\u009d and \u201cInspiring Lifelong Reading.\u201d\u009d After 36 years as a middle school librarian and advocate for students\u2019 right to read, Scales is passionate about helping young people find books that are just right for them.<\/p>\n
Following the interview, participants will be free to ask questions and engage with Scales and with one another to discuss the joys and challenges of bringing books and kids together.<\/p>\n
The salon will take place in OPAL, a user-friendly site offering online rooms where participants can interact via voice-over-IP, text chatting, synchronized browsing and other functions. The link for the salon is http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/6ncakq<\/a>, and a tip sheet for users is available at http:\/\/www.opal-online.org\/firsttimetips.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n Like its 17th and 18th Century European counterparts, the ALA Connections Salon offers a place for ALA members to gather and discuss professional topics of interest. Future salons will take place each month throughout Rettig\u2019s presidency on from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST Fridays as follows:<\/p>\n 2008 2009
\nNovember 21 Political Connections
\nDecember 19 Gaming Connections<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 20 ALA Connections
\nMarch 20 Next Generation Catalog Connections
\nApril 17 Advocacy Connections
\nMay 15 Education and Recruitment Connections
\nJune 19 Future Connections<\/p>\n