Program Notes by Dorothy Barr, dbarr@oeb.harvard.edu

We are off to a great start this year, with lots of programs in the works. We invite input from all our members; if there are speakers you would like to hear, venues you prefer, times/days of the week that work best for you, let us know! And ideas for topics are ALWAYS welcome! We will shortly be sending out a brief survey, but you should also feel free to contact any or us directly with your suggestions.

Our Program Chairs this year are:

• Boston/Cambridge: Emilie Codega
• Central/Western MA Region: Barbara Mroz
• Connecticut Valley: Kathy Coolidge
• Maine: Kami Bedard
• New Hampshire & Vermont: Buzzy Basch
• Southern Mass: Elizabeth O’Meara
• Virtual: April Taylor

They welcome your ideas and assistance! And we still need someone for the Suburban Boston area.

SLA Boston will be sponsoring ClickU Live! this year. The first part of the schedule is set; visit the SLA Boston website and watch the listserv for details. Notice the many options for participating: attending in person; telephoning in; watching the program afterwards. This is a terrific membership for our members – be sure to take advantage! There are bound to be topics of interest for everyone.

Dine Arounds got off to a great start with a get-together at Piccola Venezia in Boston's North End on January 31. And there are more in the works! Have you a favorite restaurant where you would like to gather? Please let us know!

SAVE THE DATE: March 26, Stephen Abram 2008 SLA President, will be presenting. Stephen is a fantastic speaker and his programs are always worth attending – and well attended! So stay tuned for details and register early for what promises to be a great event.

ALSO IN THE PIPELINE: more Dine Arounds, some with themes; a number of exciting programs from Maine to Connecticut and places in between; a special fun networking event in the fall – maybe in more than one place; the Annual Kickoff, always at some exciting venue (suggestions welcome!); and of course the Annual Business Meeting/Dinner, always a great way to end the year. Programs will feature nationally known speakers and some local celebrities as well. So watch this space!

The SLA Annual Conference will be this year June 15-18 in Seattle. If you’ve never been to Seattle, this is your chance; and if you have been, here’s your chance to go again. Annual is always a great event, with inspiring speakers, terrific breakout sessions, and lots of networking and of course parties! And there are lots of options for seeing the city in the company of your fellow librarians from around the world. Check the SLA website for details and registration - http://www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/ac2008/index.cfm.

STUDENTS – we want you! You've probably heard it many times, but it's so true: you should join all the library associations while you’re in school because (A) it's wicked cheap; and (B) it gives you a chance to browse around and decide which one(s) are for you. Warning: I joined them all when I was at Simmons (I graduated in 2004) and still belong to SLA, ALA, and ASIST because they all have something to offer. But I found SLA to be the most all-around useful, as well as being the very friendly and welcoming. So try us out! Our programs are all at reduced rates or free for students, and there is no better way to meet people and create the networks that will help you advance in your careers after you graduate.

Questions and suggestions are always welcome! Please contact me at dbarr@oeb.harvard.edu; 617-495-1348.

Dorothy Barr
SLA Boston President Elect