Contact:
Cara Battaglini
+1.703.647.4917
cara@sla.org

SLA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE PLAYS HOST TO MORE THAN 5,000 INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS AT SLA 2007 IN DENVER
Largest Gathering of Librarians and Info Pros in North America Included Members from Six Continents

Alexandria, Virginia, USA, 18 June 2007 -- Exhibition and attendance figures for the Special Libraries Association's (SLA) annual conference and INFO-EXPO held in Denver, Colorado 3 - 6, June exceeded planners' expectations and included, for the first time, SLA members from every chapter around the globe.

"Once again SLA delivered an amazing conference this year. Going by our attendance figures and the steady stream of glowing reviews and compliments from members and exhibitors, I think it is safe to say SLA 2007 was a smashing success," said SLA Chief Executive Officer Janice R. Lachance. "The speakers and sessions in Denver were as inspiring as the mountains surrounding us while we were there! SLA will continue to build on the success of 2007 as we look toward 2008 in Seattle. Plans are already underway to deliver another gem of a conference in ?The Emerald City' next June."

Final attendance figures for SLA 2007 totaled 5,047 individuals from around the globe representing 41 nations. Of that number, 813 participants were first-time SLA conference participants. SLA's INFO-EXPO, the largest information and knowledge management exposition in North America, was sold out this year and featured 275 companies and organizations and 445 total booths. SLA welcomed 38 new exhibitors.

Flashback
SLA 2007 officially began on 3 June at the Colorado Convention Center with the Grand Opening of the INFO-EXPO exhibit hall. Later that evening, SLA's 2007 Award Recipients were honored for their accomplishments in the information industry during the Opening General Session and Awards Ceremony.

The opening session culminated with a keynote address by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who called himself a "recovering politician" and delivered passionate and poignant remarks on the need for good decision-making based upon valid information and data. Speaking before a full room of some 4,000 information professionals Gore said, "What you're doing (as info pros) is so crucial to the future of our country."

Gore concluded his inspirational, and often humorous, presentation by urging audience members to become deeply involved in helping countries around the world with navigating matters of information access. He asked that they continue to participate with SLA in shaping sensible information policies involving the Internet, including issues of net neutrality and free access. Speaking about the future of information, Gore said America's strength and competitiveness in the 21st century will depend largely upon a free flow of information that will ensure the best policy choices possible. At the conclusion of his talk, Gore received a standing ovation from the audience.

A game change...
Following a well received report from SLA Treasurer Sylvia James, the membership heard from SLA President Rebecca B. Vargha who told them, "Our profession is facing rapid change and the rate of change forces us to be nimble, sure-footed, and strategic... We have a great responsibility to the future of SLA and our profession."

Vargha was followed at the podium by SLA CEO Lachance who delivered her annual State of the Association address. Lachance also talked about tremendous changes reshaping the information profession and announced that SLA is undertaking an extensive, research-based examination of the profession, and of SLA's position in the evolving information economy.

"Working with a team of researchers, brand experts and futurists, we will seek to define what the profession will look like in the next ten, twenty, or thirty years...and what you will need from SLA to continue to be successful." Lachance explained that SLA members would be informed and involved in the project, "Throughout this alignment process, we will encourage your input and ask your opinions. We will keep you up-to-date on our progress and consult with you at points along this path."

The meeting concluded with each of the candidates for the 2008 SLA Board of Directors addressing the membership and sharing their views on leadership, the future of SLA and the direction of the profession. The candidates' presentations will be available to the membership on the SLA Web site prior to the start of the election and voting in September of 2007.
Librarians Are HOT!

The Closing General Session keynote remarks by Scott Adams, the creator of the popular Dilbert cartoon strip, offered some comic relief for a standing room only crowd of attendees. After telling the audience how he became one of America's most popular cartoonists, Adams shared a variety of Dilbert comic strips from over the years and explained the real-life situations that inspired them. During a question and answer session with attendees, Adams was asked why one of his Dilbert characters was romancing a librarian. His answer drew a thunderous round of applause. "That's an easy answer," Adams said, "Because librarians are hot!"

SLA 2008
Next year's Annual Conference and INFO- EXPO will take place 15-18 June, 2008 in Seattle, Washington USA. The theme for the event will be "Breaking Rules, Building Bridges" and feature a keynote address from Seth Godin, well known blogger and author of a number of books including Small is the Next Big, Purple Cow, and Unleashing the Ideavirus.

About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 11,000 members in 75 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic, and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org.