In addition to programs and special events, PLA 2018 offers a number of exciting activities to ensure your conference experience is unique. Details about the following activities and more will be available soon.
AAP Book Buzz Stage
Sponsored by the Association of American Publishers
Visit the Book Buzz Stage to hear the latest publisher “buzz” for 2018!
Career Center
Career Fair & Crash Courses
Resume Review & Interview Coaching
Speed Mentoring
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, but will remain open during conference hours to enable job posting or impromptu interviews.
Dine Around Philadelphia
A PLA Conference tradition! Visiting Philadelphia for PLA and don’t know what’s “good” to eat? Love discovering local restaurants, but don’t have anyone to eat with? On Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22, a group of Free Library of Philadelphia staff have volunteered to “host” dinners at local Philadelphia restaurants for visiting PLA Conference attendees. Space is limited, so register now!
Every Child Ready to Read Mini-Sessions
Interested in supporting parents and caregivers with the early literacy development of their children birth to age five? Then join us for an exciting line-up of 20-minute Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) mini-sessions.
Games & (Maybe) Prizes
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.
How-To Festival
Join the fun of our expanded How-To Festival! Twenty-minute demonstrations will be provided by and for conference attendees as a taste of the wildly successful How-To Festival that attracts 4,000 individuals to the Louisville (KY) Free Public Library every May.
Lovey Town
The Bubbler and Anythink join forces to bring you Lovey Town—an interactive experience featuring artist Michael Velliquette. You’ll find Lovey Town in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, in the bridge over Arch Street.
PLA Pavilion
Located in the Exhibits Hall, 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.
PLA Stage
The PLA 2018 How-To Festival of 20-minute hands-on sessions, and Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) mini-sessions, will share the PLA Stage.
PLA Booth
Visit the PLA booth to learn about PLA membership, initiatives, and opportunities to get involved. A series of casual discussions related to current PLA/ALA initiatives will be held at the booth.
Spark Talks
Join us 5:15 PM–6:15 PM on both Thursday, March 22 and Friday, March 23 for two evenings of up-to-the minute, fast moving talks on the latest and greatest ideas from your public library colleagues. Come be surprised, inspired, and energized!