Imagine the Possibilities

Accessibility

PLA works to make sure your experience will be a pleasant and accessible one. Here are the features we’ll have in place to ensure that the PLA 2018 Conference is accessible to all:

  • We caption the Opening Session, the Closing Session, and the Big Ideas Series.

  • We have accessible sleeping rooms in our hotel block. There are rooms for the deaf, blind, and attendees in wheelchairs. When booking your hotel room, you can request specific aids or services needed for your stay. Experient staff will contact you to confirm your needs. Please be sure to reconfirm your requests with your hotel prior to arrival.

  • Leader animals of all kinds are welcome throughout the PLA Conference.

  • All SEPTA buses are accessible, and SEPTA currently has over 100 accessible stations. For more information, visit http://www.septa.org/access/.

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters

PLA coordinates interpreting services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. To use the service, interpreter requests should be made when registration opens. Please contact Melissa Faubel Johnson at mfaubel@ala.org no later than March 1, 2018.

Mobility Assistance

Based upon availability in each city, PLA maintains a limited number of scooters and wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis for attendees that require mobility assistance. PLA offers these scooters on a complimentary basis to be used during regular session hours. For liability reasons, these scooters are for use in the Pennsylvania Convention Center only.

Scooter pick-up and drop-off will be at the Special Assistance counter in Registration, located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. You will be asked to sign-out and return the scooters daily with the attendant.

If you require mobility assistance and would like to reserve a scooter prior to the show, we’ll begin accepting reservations when registration opens. Please contact Melissa Faubel Johnson at mfaubel@ala.org no later than March 1, 2018. Reservation requests cannot be taken after the March 1, 2018 deadline; however, additional scooters will be available for use during the conference.

Scooters/Wheelchairs in the Exhibits Hall

Scooters and wheelchairs are permitted on the exhibit floor as long as they are in use at all times. Wheeled carts, however, are not permitted at any time. If you have a medical condition requiring you to use a cart, please bring a doctor’s note to the special assistance counter in the registration area.

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Cancellation Policy

The PLA 2018 Conference is offered on a cost-recovery basis. PLA reserves the right to cancel all or any part of this event if there is insufficient registration or for other reasons. Neither ALA nor PLA is responsible for cancellation charges assessed by the airlines or travel agencies, or other losses incurred due to the cancellation of the workshops. All information listed on this website is subject to change.

Attendee Cancellation Policy

Written cancellations, requests for refunds, and/or changes will be accepted until February 23, 2018, and are subject to a $30 handling fee. Refunds will be processed after April 23, 2018. According to PLA policy, all meal events require preregistration. The above cancellation/change information also applies to all preconferences, meal events, and tours. No meal tickets will be sold onsite.

Exhibitor Cancellation Policy

All booth space cancellation requests must be received in writing by Show Management (Corcoran Expositions). If space is reduced, the net reduction of space will be treated as a cancellation of that space. If Show Management receives a written request for cancellation of space on or before October 31, 2017, the exhibitor will be eligible for a refund less the nonrefundable deposit of $950 per 100 square feet of exhibit space. For cancellations received after October 31, 2017, exhibitors are liable for 100% of the cost of space.

Advertising

Print and electronic advertising opportunities are available to reach PLA members and attendees both before and during the conference.

Exhibits

Interested in exhibiting at PLA 2018? Contact Carly DiVito, Corcoran Expositions, at 312-541-0567 or carly@corcexpo.com.

Media

Contact Macey Morales, Deputy Director, ALA Public Awareness Office, 312-280-4393 or mmorales@ala.org. Please review our conference media policy.

Membership

ALA and PLA membership is managed by the ALA Membership & Customer Service (MACS) unit. You can join or renew/rejoin/add to your membership using ALA’s secure online form; or you can print and fill out a membership form and fax or mail it in; or call 800-545-2433 and press 5. Direct your membership questions to MACS at customerservice@ala.org or 800-545-2433 and press 5. MACS representatives are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central.

Registration & Housing

Problems or questions regarding registration or housing? Contact Experient at pla@experient-inc.com or 800-424-5249 (U.S. and Canada)/847-996-5829 (all other countries). Experient representatives are available Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM Eastern.

Sponsorships

To discuss PLA 2018 sponsorship opportunities, contact Corcoran Expositions, Mary Michalik at 312-265-9650, mary@corcexpo.com; or Matt McLaughlin at 312-265-9655, matt@corcexpo.com.

Thank You PLA 2018 Conference Sponsors!

Other Questions

Many commonly asked questions are answered in our FAQ. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact PLA at 800-545-2433 x5PLA (x5752) or pla@ala.org. Or the PLA Staff directory may help you find just the right person to ask.

PLA 2016 Archive

Looking for handouts and other information from the PLA 2016 Conference, which took place April 5–9, 2016 in Denver, CO? The PLA 2016 Conference website has been archived at http://2016.placonference.org.

View the list of past PLA Conferences from 1983 to present.