Thanks for attending CLA’s 119th annual conference!

Welcome to the 2017 California Library Association Annual Conference site.  Our guiding motto this year is also a quote that inspired our conference theme: “When patterns are broken New Worlds Emerge.”

We invite you to immerse yourself in all of the programs, speakers, and events at conference and see the kinds of worlds that emerge for you, your library, and your communities…

Programs:

• Offerings for 2017 include over 100 programs, preconferences, featured speakers, ignite talks and much more.
• Our Keynote speaker this year is Lindy West, writer, editor and performer whose work focuses on pop culture, social justice, humour and body image.  Lindy’s New York Times Bestselling book, Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman, shares her struggles with “inimitable good humor, vulnerability, and boundless charm”
• The popular Night Track is back with long-time favorites, haters ball and battledecks, but will also feature Drag Queen Story Hour with Queen Tony Soto.
• This year’s Awards event will be a lovely gala at the beautiful Parisian Ballroom at the Mission Inn Hotel.  You will not want to miss this sophisticated event that will feature author and comedian, Paula Poundstone whose new book The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness was released in May 2017.
• The Beatty Awards reception has been reimagined as a charming breakfast event at the fabulous Mission Inn Hotel.
• This year we will also feature a Saturday morning keynote speaker from She Should Run. Sofia Pereira will talk about their goal #250Kby2030 their goal of getting at least 250,000 women to run by 2030.
• California Poet Laureate Dana Gioia will be with us again this year and we’ll also have David Kipen, former Literature Director of NEA and founder of Libros Schmibros.
• Our closing speaker at the Membership Meeting will be California State Treasurer John Chiang.  As Treasurer he has made transparency a top priority, believing that sharing information with taxpayers enables them to hold government officials accountable.
• Last but not least – Saturday night, join outgoing President Helen McAlary at a rooftop party in the heart of downtown Riverside for live music, drinks and food.  We’ll celebrate the end of conference and enjoy the amazing view of Riverside and beyond.

Where & When:

• Pre-Conferences kick off on November 2nd, 2017 with full conference happening on November 3rd and 4th.
• Conference will be held in Riverside, CA – with a newly remodeled convention center, historic award winning conference hotel, and all of the wonderful walkable restaurants and activities you will LOVE what Riverside has to offer.

If you have questions or comments about conference, please send us an email at info@cla-net.org. We look forward to breaking patterns with you in Riverside.

Yours,
Vanessa Christman, Conference Chair
Helen McAlary, President