After all the blog-hoopla lately regarding treatment of conference speakers, it’s a real joy to report that the 2007 Texas Library Association conference has been treating me like royalty—and I’m not a keynoter or even a featured speaker.
My direct contact is Necia Wolff, who has been incredibly patient with my occasional spaciness (I swear I’m not always this bad; changing jobs just eats up too much brain CPU), quick to anticipate needs, and just generally eager to please.
When I first suggested travel dates, doing my best to minimize my stay so as to minimize their expense, the response was, “Won’t you stay a few days? We’d love to have you.” Wow. I was very not expecting that—but I changed my plans and I’m glad I did, because Isabel Allende is one of their keynoters and the ex-Hispanicist in me is squeeing madly.
And get this: I already have plane-fare reimbursement in hand, and I haven’t even gone to the conference yet! I don’t know what’s in the water in Texas, but it sure makes them friendly and hospitable to conference speakers. If they ask you, accept!
I will be presenting “What’s Driving Open Access?” on Friday the 13th of April at high noon (and yes, I saw the date, and I’m just hoping it doesn’t mean I bust up another limb). I will do my absolute best to inform and inspire; anything less would be dishonorable.
To that end… I know CavLec has readership in Texas; the logs don’t lie. If there’s a Texan open-access–related project or initiative that I should know about (and Rice University need not worry; them I know about), drop me a line with information. I’ll do my own research, naturally, but I don’t want to miss anything, because I think it’s important at a regional conference to bring these large and sometimes remote-feeling issues home, and give attendees local people to contact and local projects to examine.
I am so looking forward to this; I got the conference program today, and it looks beyond excellent. Can’t complain about the venue, either; I was quite taken with San Antonio at Open Repositories ’07, and going back will be fun!
