Betsy Blankenship, Ohio State University, Marion

I want to say how privileged I am to be able to serve as your President for the 2013-2014 year! The Board met in July for the Leadership Retreat, where new members were installed, and we said goodbye to others. I want to say thank you to Brian Hickam, Karen Plummer, Stephanie Bange, Jessica Long, Peggy Rector, Jennifer Bazeley, Alice Crosetto, Julie Deardorff, and Lauren Wahman for their service to ALAO. We truly appreciate the time and service you gave!

The new board has already been busy with new projects. We approved the creation of a new Interest Groups, Assessment Interest Group, at the Leadership Retreat. Please look for their discussion session at the Annual Conference. The ALAO website is undergoing a facelift, so please pardon our dust as we get all the parts working. I hope you let us know what you like (or don’t like) about the new site once it is done.

The 39th Annual Conference is shaping up! We are looking forward to seeing how everyone is envisioning The Changing Faces of Academic Libraries, through their transforming, reorganizing and re-imagining! The Conference Committee has been busy (and busier lately!) getting the plans finalized. We have sent out the last round of acceptances for the poster sessions, lightning talks and roundtables, so the schedule is set. There were so many great proposals sent in, and the committee was truly challenged to choose. We are looking forward to hearing our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Nancy Fried Foster speak. The Committee pledged to offer students more professional development opportunities. We are working on those, from volunteering at the conference to presenting poster sessions and talks. We are also working with Membership Chair, Alison Ricker, and others to offer New Members and First Time Conference Attendees special sessions and information and a chance to get a conference mentor. In addition, we are working to set up an informal get-together opportunity on Thursday evening. Check the conference website for updates. And, don’t forget the great Pre-Conference we have, too! Laura Solomon and others will be sharing some great information and hands-on activities. Please come join us October 24 (pre-conference) and 25 (Early Bird registration ends September 16). Remember to book your room at the conference hotel by September 23 to get the ALAO rate! Visit the conference website for more information: http://goo.gl/ryXMa