So, you have decided to attend the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando! Now, you have some arrangements to make.
- January is the time to register. If you have not registered, don’t delay. Visit the ALA website. The lowest registration rate is available until March 16.
- During registration, you will have an opportunity to book your hotel. International Drive (I-Drive) is the nearest to the convention center. Stay as close as you can. (Trust me, you will thank me later.) While the majority of sessions and events will be in the convention center, it is enormous and you are going to walk your feet off. A closer hotel allows you to catch some rest if you need to.
- Next is Airfare. February and March are ideal times to book your flight. Don’t wait too late. Orlando is host to numerous conferences in June. There will be others vying for those seats.
- April and May will be the time to start planning what events you will attend. You may also want to think about vacation activities, if you are able to build some free time into your schedule. Some activities require reservations. See the YALSA Conference WIKI to start planning your conference experience!
Next time I’ll write about, What to Bring to Florida, What to Leave at Home.
Vandy Pacetti-Donelson is a Library Media Specialist. She is a library advocate and Board Director for the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME). Find her online at www.eliterateandlevelingup.com or follow her on Twitter @VandyPD.
