To help make your conference experience a great one!
Have a question about something that’s not listed? Many commonly asked questions are answered in our FAQ. Or contact PLA at
Accessibility
PLA has put in place features to ensure the conference is accessible to all. These include, but are not limited to: captioning of the Opening Session, Closing Session, and Big Ideas Series; accessible sleeping rooms; ASL interpreters; and mobility assistance like scooters and wheelchairs. Please contact Melissa Faubel Johnson at mfaubel@ala.org no later than March 1, 2018, to reserve a scooter/wheelchair or to request an ASL interpreter.
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.
Addendum
An addendum to the onsite printed schedule, containing changes and updated information, will appear in the conference daily newspaper, the PLA Daily News. The PLA Daily News will be available Wednesday through Saturday throughout the convention center.
Appropriate Conduct
All participants are expected to observe the rules and behaviors described in the Statement of Appropriate Conduct in all conference venues, including online venues, and conference social events. The statement includes contact information to report incidents of harassment.
Career Center
Once again, we’re working on building a helpful and resourceful spot for job seekers, recruiting libraries, and advisors to connect at PLA Conference. The Career Center will have coordinated events at select times—including the Career Fair, Resume Review, Interview Coaching, Speed Mentoring, and career-related Crash Courses—but will remain open during conference hours to enable job posting or impromptu interviews.
Charging Lounge
Charge your device in the Charging Lounge, located on the bridge coming from registration to Halls A, B, and C.
Coat/Bag Check
Coat/bag check will be in the Pennsylvania Convention Center near meeting rooms 105–107. Open Tuesday–Saturday.
CPLA Re-certification Hours
Are you a Certified Public Library Administrator®? Attend the full PLA 2018 Conference and receive 8 re-certification hours for the CPLA program.
Gender-Neutral Restrooms
Gender-neutral restrooms will be designated in the Pennsylvania Convention Center by rooms 201 and 109.
Handouts
For concurrent program sessions: If presenters uploaded handouts in advance of the conference, then you’ll find them on the program’s detail page on this conference website. Search for programs at http://2018.placonference.org/programs/, then click through to the detail page. If you don’t find handout links on a program’s detail page, this most likely means the presenter(s) didn’t upload handouts. After the conference presenters will have until April 22 to upload handouts, with this website updated periodically through the week of April 23–27.
For preconferences: Sorry, but handouts for preconferences are not available to download.
Help Desk
New at the PLA 2018 Conference is our Help Desk, where attendees can get expert guidance on selecting educational programs and assistance in using the conference mobile app! The Help Desk will be conveniently located outside Hall C (where general sessions and the Big Ideas series will take place) and will be staffed during set hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. For help planning your time at conference, or assistance with the mobile app, stop by the Help Desk during any of the following times:
Tuesday, March 20, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00 PM
Wednesday, March 21, 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Thursday, March 22, 9:15–10:45 AM, 11:45 AM–2:00 PM, and 3:00–4:00 PM
Friday, March 23, 9:15–10:45 AM, 11:45 AM–2:00 PM, and 3:00–4:00 PM
Also for the mobile app, in addition to the Help Desk in-app help is available by tapping the Using This App icon, and you can contact PLA staff at placonfapp@ala.org for additional assistance. But if you need immediate assistance, our mobile app vendor has a support team that’s available 24/7. Contact them at 888-889-3069 select option 1.
Lost and Found
Articles may be turned in and reclaimed at the PLA Office in room 304 of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Medical Emergencies/First Aid
A first-aid room, staffed by an EMT and supplied with over-the-counter medications (aspirin, etc.), is located in the Exhibits Hall.
Mobile App
While onsite, the mobile app is your primary source for conference information. Although a printed schedule will be available at registration, for detailed information—including session descriptions, presenters, evaluations, and more—please refer to the mobile app.
Plus, you can play games in the mobile app and be eligible for prizes:
PLA Explorer Game
Beginning Wednesday morning, play the PLA Explorer Game—our new photo scavenger hunt in the mobile app—to be eligible for daily prizes. Upload photos in the mobile app to complete challenges and earn points as you attend conference events, participate in educational sessions, and meet new people on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Each day is a new game with new challenges and a new sponsor. The top points earner each day wins prizes!
Exhibits Hunt Game
Browse the exhibits and be eligible to win great prizes playing the Exhibits Hunt Game, another photo scavenger hunt in the mobile app. Beginning at the Exhibits Opening Reception on Wednesday, take and upload photos in the mobile app to complete challenges and earn badges from our participating exhibitors—and be eligible for the prize drawing at the Exhibits Closing Reception on Friday.
Mothers Rooms/Lactation Suites
For your convenience and privacy, Mothers Rooms are located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center rooms 308, 309, and 310. The convention center also offers two portable “Mamava” lactation suites for nursing mothers to breast feed infants or to use breast pumps in privacy. The units are self-contained, mobile pods with comfortable benches, an electrical outlet, and a door that can be locked for privacy. One is positioned near the Concierge Desk on the convention center’s second level between Halls A and B, and a second unit is located on the street level on the Broad and Arch Concourse.
PLA Office
The PLA Office is located in room 304 of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The office phone number is
Tuesday, March 20, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Wednesday, March 21, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Thursday, March 22, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday, March 23, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday, March 24, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
PLA Pavilion
Located in the Exhibits Hall (Pennsylvania Convention Center, Hall AB), the PLA Pavilion—which includes the PLA Stage and the PLA booth—will also feature a lounge area where attendees can relax and charge their devices, interact with one another in an informal setting, and chat with PLA staff if they have questions during the conference.
Registration/Attendee Materials Pick-up
Your conference badge and event tickets (for preconferences and meal events) have been mailed to you. If you registered recently or didn’t receive your badge in the mail, your badge will be available at registration. A photo ID is required to receive your badge onsite. Your badge must be presented at the Attendee Materials Pick-up counters in the Pennsylvania Convention Center to complete the registration process.
Registration/Attendee Materials Pick-up Hours
Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
Wednesday, March 21, 7:30 AM–6:30 PM
Thursday, March 22, 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
Friday, March 23, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM
Saturday, March 24, 8:00 AM–10:00 AM
Badge & Tickets
Please remember to bring your badge and tickets. There is a $10.00 fee for a replacement badge. Badges must be worn at all times. PLA reserves the right to deny entrance without proper badge. If your badge or tickets require changes, please proceed to the registration area at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Materials
New for 2018: We’ve replaced the bulky onsite program book and registration handouts with a compact schedule (made from 100% recycled papers!). With this reduction of materials, the conference tote bag has become a thing of the past. If you still enjoy having a tote bag for carrying non-registration items, please plan ahead and bring your own bag or swing through the Exhibits Hall to see which vendors are providing bags. The reduction of printed materials helps PLA to invest in other attendee resources to enhance your conference experience.
Shipping
There’s a FedEx Office® Print & Ship Center in the Pennsylvania Convention Center for your shipping needs.
Virtual Event Bag
Before, during, and after the conference, the Virtual Event Bag is online and in the mobile app offering local Philadelphia deals and discounts for attendees.
Web Badges
Share your excitement about the PLA 2018 Conference with web badges for your e-mail signature, your website or blog, and Facebook your cover photo. Be sure to link the badge to 2018.placonference.org whenever possible.
WiFi/Internet Stations
Conference WiFi
Conference WiFi will be available in the common/public areas, meeting rooms, general session room, and the PLA Pavilion (in the Exhibits Hall) of the convention center. In the convention center, connect your device to the
Internet
Conference registrants may also access the Internet via desktop computers located on the bridge coming from registration to Halls A, B, and C.
