What I’m Doing at ALA Annual Conference | Jerome Offord Jr.

The president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association shares his conference itinerary

June 26, 2013

Thursday, June 27
I will arrive Thursday morning and will swiftly start preparing for the BCALA [Black Caucus of the American Library Association] Executive Board Retreat, which starts at 3 p.m. at the Sheraton. (Supplies, snacks, agendas, oh my!) I plan to dash out of the meeting for 15 minutes to help inspire the Gates Millennium Scholars—who will also be at the hotel—to join our profession. I will return to and finish the BCALA meetings, convene, and spend time fellowshipping with colleagues that evening in the BCALA hospitality suite.

Friday, June 28
Friday promises to be a long day: The BCALA Executive Board Meeting runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Then I’ll take a Soul Side of the Windy City bus tour, a two-and-a-half-hour historic tour of Black Chicago. I will then be off to the BCALA Meet and Greet at Heaven on Seven, where I can't decide on what to have—the fried fish po' boy, the fried catfish, or the gumbo. Or maybe the shrimp and cheddar grits. (People have said that variations of hot sauce are great too. I love spicy food, so I have a hard decision to make.) After that will be the 8th National Conference of African American Librarians’ planning committee meeting, from 8 to 10 p.m. I’ll end the evening with colleagues in the BCALA suite.

Saturday, June 29
This day will be filled with sessions, meetings, spending time with mentees, and catching up with mentors, colleagues, and friends. I’ll be meeting with the 1890 Land Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University Library Deans and Directors Association at 9 a.m., then will dash off to the Association’s Race for Relevance session at 10:30 a.m. I’ll attend the ALA Affiliates Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will be back to a BCALA political action task force meeting at 1 p.m., and hear Congressman John Lewis from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. I’ll then coast the evening away with receptions and gathering in the BCALA hospitality suite.

Sunday, June 30
The rooster will wake me in time to attend the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast at 7 a.m. Then I’m off to the Association’s Options Fair at 1 p.m., and will later meet with Dr. Peter Hernon of Simmons College to discuss my dissertation. I’ll spend time reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in the video remembrance project at 3 p.m. and then complete the evening with the BCALA Membership Meeting and literary awards, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Monday, July 1
Monday will start with an ALA kitchen table discussion and wrap up with Alice Walker at noon.

JEROME OFFORD JR. is president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. He serves as interim provost and dean of library services and university archives at Inman E. Page Library at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

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