Come Early for PLA Programming at Midwinter

Planning to attend the 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Seattle? Be sure to arrive early to take advantage of the outstanding programming from the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association.

PLA will offer two preconference programs on Friday, January 25. PLA is partnering with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest and the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services to present a halfday preconference called “Implicit Bias, Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Intersections in Health Equity.” This half-day session runs from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Participants will explore how libraries can deepen their work in health literacy to ensure a lasting impact for improving the health of their community. Tickets cost $50 if purchased by January 18. Add event code ODL2 to your ALA Midwinter Meeting registration. For details, click here.

PLA will also present a full-day (8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) preconference titled “Advancing Racial Equity in Public Libraries: Normalizing, Organizing, and Operationalizing.” Practitioners will share their experiences using racial equity tools, setting up racial equity initiatives for success, barriers to anticipate, and how to sustain these efforts through challenging times. PLA personal members may purchase tickets for $130 through January 18. Add event code PLA1 to your ALA Midwinter Meeting registration. For details, click here.

From 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, members of the PLA Task Force on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and representatives of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) are presenting a program as part of the Symposium on the Future of Libraries. This program, “Racial Equity: Libraries Organizing to Transform Institutions,” will explore public libraries’ work to identify and address institutional racism and structural inequities.

PLA is also offering three “News You Can Use” sessions: “PLA Inclusive Internship Initiative” (Saturday, January 26, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.);” Project Outcome: Public Library Trends, Results & Impacts” (Sunday, January 27, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.); and “Libraries and Open Enrollment” (Monday, January 28, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.).