At the Conference...

Annual General Meetings (AGMs)

Friday afternoon is set aside for Annual General Meetings. We encourage you to attend the meeting of your association. The Library Association of Alberta (LAA) and the Alberta Library Trustees Association (ALTA) are your representatives in the library community.

They advocate and set policy on behalf of all of us and this is the best chance all year to hear what they consider to be the big issues and to let your voice be heard. If your board or library has sent you to the Alberta Library Conference, you owe it to them to attend your association’s AGM. There will be elections, resolutions and debates. Some of your colleagues will probably be honoured for their contributions.

At the end you will have a better appreciation of the issues facing other libraries across the province. And sometimes it’s more exciting than an episode of Survivor and Canadian Idol rolled into one!

Coffee Breaks

Take advantage of our coffee breaks to network and share impressions.

Conference Brochure & Info-to-Go

We are green! The conference program will only be available online. Print-friendly versions are availalbe on the website. The Conference at a Glance and a mobile app will be available at the conference, but if you want more detailed information in paper form, you may want to print off the program and bring it with you. You may also want to bring a copy of your confirmation email with the sessions and events you have chosen.

When you pick up your registration package at the conference, you will receive Conference at a Glance, which includes session names with presenters, times and location, as well as a map of the JPL grounds.

Late-breaking changes and updates will be provided at the conference through the official ALC daily newsletter, Info-To-Go. The newsletter will bring you up to date on session changes, late-breaking news, fascinating facts and titillating trivia. Look for Info-to-Go every morning at the tables in the dining room.

Leave material for inclusion at the Registration Desk or contact the newsletter editor, Deb Cryderman, at info2go@albertalibraryconference.com.

Exhibits

The Exhibit Hall is in the Mary Schaffer Ballroom. The Exhibit Hall is open:

Thursday                      6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (cash bar in Exhibits Area)
Friday                          10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (morning coffee in Exhibits Area)
Saturday                     10:00 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. (morning coffee in Exhibits Area)

The Exhibit Hall closes on Friday at 3:00 p.m. to allow all delegates to attend their association’s Annual General Meeting.

Guests

A guest fee is charged for each non-conference participant 18 or older. This fee permits the guest to:

• be present as a a registered guest of the conference
• utilize the ALC block of rooms and meal plan at the special conference rates
• attend all included social events (opening reception, coffee breaks, film night, and dance)
• purchase tickets to ticketed social events (wine tasting)
• attend the Author Talks
• visit the exhibits

Please note that conference guests are not entitled to attend conference sessions or the keynote sessions as session attendance is restricted to delegates who have paid the full conference registration fee. Name tags must be worn by all delegates and guests.

Internet Access

Jasper Park Lodge has complimentary Internet access for Fairmont President’s Club members in the guest suites (not Fairmont Rooms) and the Lobby area.  It isn’t throughout the entire main Lodge.  The link for delegates to sign up is: www.fairmont.com/fpc .  This saves you the $13.95 daily access fee, and enrollment is free! Join today !

Keynote Sessions

There are keynote speakers on Friday and Saturday mornings in the Beauvert dining room. If you are a conference delegate who is not staying at Jasper Park Lodge, and not buying a breakfast ticket, you will be admitted in time for the keynote address. If you are a guest of a delegate, even if you have bought a breakfast ticket, you have not paid to hear the keynote speaker. Please finish your meal before the keynote starts and make room for conference delegates. If you want to eat breakfast later than the start of the keynote session, the Moose's Nook is available.

Meals

All meals are included in the accommodation rate, not in the conference registration fee.

If you are not staying at JPL, individual meal tickets can be purchased at the JPL Concierge Desk. All three meals may be purchased at the rate of $99 per day, or you can purchase meals individually at the rates below (pricing includes gratuities and taxes):

• breakfast $23
• lunch $24
• dinner $52

* Children's meals can be purchased at the rates below:

• 0-5 Complimentary
• 6-12 50% off regular menu
• 13-18 Full price on regular menu

Wine and cocktails are not included in the meal price and should be paid for directly or charged to your room. The JPL conference rate is based on all hotel guests participating in the meal package. Hotel guests cannot opt out of the meal package. If you have dietary concerns or requirements, please inform the Front Desk.

Name Tags

Name tags must be worn by conference delegates and their guests at  sessions and keynote sessions, as well as in the Exhibits Hall. Name tages identify registered delegates and confirm that  guests have paid the guest fee, Please note that to attend the keynote sessions you need to be a registered delegate. The Moose's Nook is available for guests who wish to eat breakfast a bit later than the beginning of the keynote sessions. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself! The name tags and ribbons are a big help in placing people.

Registration Desk Hours

Thursday:   3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.       
Friday:       8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday:   8:00 a.m.  - 11:00 a.m.

Name tags must be worn by all delegates and guests throughout the conference.

All keynotes, sessions and AGMs are all held in the main lodge or the clubhouse.

Attend your sessions and take good notes. Perhaps you will be asked to report back to your board or colleagues. If not, pretend you have to – it’ll keep you on your toes!

Can you change your mind? Well – yes and no. The committee and staff assign rooms for each session based on the number of registrants and the presenters prepare an appropriate number of handouts. The conveners are instructed to check session registration (shown on your conference receipt) if space becomes a problem and give preference to those who registered in advance. However, if you wish you could hear a session you didn’t sign up for, by all means slip in and look for an extra seat.

Session Etiquette

Try to be on time – the early arrivals get the best seats. Check where your session is ahead of time in case it involves a walk over to the Clubhouse. See if there are any handouts – sometimes they’re near the door if they haven’t been placed on the seats. Please be respectful when using mobile devices. Set them to silent or vibrate. Come equipped with a pen and a pad of paper, or a device to take notes. Meeting rooms usually have ice water available. Introduce yourself to a couple of neighbours if you can – and make sure to fill in the evaluation form.

Social Events

Many ALC sponsored Social Events take place at the conference, as well as a few “unofficial” events. Be sure to ask around and someone will point you to where the action is.

The closing dinner usually has a theme.

If you don’t have your ticket yet as part of your meal package, they will be available during the Conference from the concierge, and are available right up until dinner time. “Extras” are also sometimes available – check at the Registration Desk periodically on Saturday. A few more notes: tables are first-come, first-served (no reserved tables). Wine is available to order from the wait staff at the banquet, or to purchase at the bar in the dining room, but is not included in your meal ticket.

The dinner is an evening of fine food, fellowship and the chance to one of fabulous door prizes – including a gift certificate from the Jasper Park Lodge.

Film Night

Watch for news of this year's film!

The Dance

Don’t be shy about attending the dance:  you don’t need a partner and you don’t even need to dance. Just plan to have some fun socializing and sharing with all the great people in our Alberta library community.

Wine Tasting

This popular event sells out quickly, so register early! 

QR Code Scavenger Hunt

Look for a repeat of the popular QR code hunt. QR codes are hidden throughout the Jasper Park Lodge. Scan each one with your smartphone, answer the not-so-skill-testing question, and fill out your entry to win a prize! 

Tipping

Tips for meals are included in the accommodation rate. Tips for porter and room service are at the discretion of each conference delegate.