Greetings from MLA

Hello there,
Some more formal greetings from MLA while waiting for tonight's dinner. I arrived last night after attending a workshop with Louise all day yesterday. The traffic was not too bad, amazingly and I was able to catch up with a former co-worker who is now working in Methuen. She told me about some amazing programs that they were doing in Methuen, including arranging a citizenship swearing in ceremony in the library's auditorium.
I went to three programs today: Not your Grandmother's Library (that I blogged about earlier), IMing for reference, and the Youth Services Annual Program. Marialice was with me at the IM workshop and it was fascinating. Todd had wanted to set up an IM service in reference a few months back, and after hearing the speakers today, I am certainly hooked. Not only is it a great way to keep up with some of the younger patrons, but it is a wonderful way to answer reference questions, and really have a full reference interview that one can't do over e-mail. In addition to the library director from Oregon, we also heard from the young adult librarian in Framingham, reference librarian from Fitchburg State, and a law librarian from one of the trial court libraries. A lot of our patrons are using IM as a way of communication, now, and we need to start doing stuff like this to reach our patrons. Plus, it's free. As long as I don't have to always be asked to write "LOL" on a very regular basis, then I'm all for it!
Our Youth Services Section meeting featured representatives from the Reach Out and Read program as well as Gareth Hinds, a local graphic novel artist and writer. The Reach Out and Read program sets up low income children with books during their doctor's visits. They're a great organization. Gareth Hinds has written and illustrated several graphic novels, including Beowulf and King Lear. He also designed some video games, including the Nintendo DS version of the Incredibles. Apparently, when he makes school visits, the kids find this very cool. He also does library visits, and perhaps it's something we should consider for both our young adult patrons as well as some of our adult patrons. (Plenty of them are interested in graphic novels, and comics, as well!)
I'm sure by now, you have all heard about my computer woes. In order to obtain wireless, one has to pay $7 a day, which is unusual for a hotel or a conference center, these days. Furthermore, World Client is blocked, so I am unable to check my Minuteman e-mail. Last, the power adapter for the laptop broke, but I managed to get a new one. Staples and Wal-Mart were sold out, but Radio Shack saved the day so a big thanks to the very nice guys at the Radio Shack on Route 28 in Falmouth.
That's all for now. TTYL (as the IMers say)