Comments on: Why I May Not Be Giving My Preconference at TLA

By: Matthew Thomas

Matthew Thomas — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:12:50 +0000

Wouldn’t free attendance to the rest of the conference be an easy way to compensate presenters without actually giving them any money? I would think that the percentage of presenters to non-presenting attendees would be pretty low… it couldn’t result in too much income lost.

And re: the statement that “TLA policy prevents us from [presentation reimbursement] when the speaker works in a Texas library, since the expectation is that the library should be supporting their staff”… Why would where someone works affect how the TLA treats them? So, TLA expects Texas libraries to support their staff but not all other libraries in the world? This policy results in TLA supporting librarians EXCEPT for ones from Texas… Odd that.

By: Danielle Plumer

Danielle Plumer — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:20:12 +0000

Um, for the record, Michelle asked me a long time ago about whether she’d have to register for the conference as a pre-conference speaker. I asked TLA, and they said she’d have to pay if she wanted to attend the conference, but she didn’t have to attend, nor did she have to register for the pre-conference workshop. I passed that on to Michelle and Gary Wan, he co-speaker. I’ve also been told that speakers at TLA can get a “speakers-only” badge that lets them do their presentation without paying for conference but not go to exhibits or attend other sessions — I’m not sure about that, though, as I’ve never arranged such a thing.

I agree that the letter was poorly phrased, but this has all been a tempest in a teapot, and I wish Michelle had been able to check with me before she posted all this (I foolishly took a vacation last week!).

If I attend a conference to attend other people’s sessions, whether or not I present, I expect to pay. If I’m only attending to present, I don’t expect to pay. Either way, I’d prefer to get some reimbursement for presenting, but TLA policy prevents us from doing that when the speaker works in a Texas library, since the expectation is that the library should be supporting their staff. I don’t like it, because the reality is that many libraries don’t. I’ve made my opinions known to TLA staff, which is the best way to get things to change.

Danielle Cunniff Plumer
Chair, Library Instruction Round Table
Texas Library Association

By: Roy Tennant

Roy Tennant — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:35:33 +0000

This kind of thing happened to me a while back for an ALA preconference. Apparently the rule was that only two speakers per preconference would get comped _preconference_ registrations (I’m not even talking about the main conference, here). So since there were a number of us speaking there they tried to tell us that we had to pay to attend the preconference which we would not be attending if we weren’t speaking! So I spoke up and told the rest of the speakers that I would refuse to register, but that I would also show up and fulfill my obligation to speak. If ALA felt like it, they could throw me out. Needless to say, I spoke and I didn’t have to pay. It’s frustrating to be treated this way, but if you and me and everyone else refuses to be mistreated, then they can’t get away with it.

By: David Lee King » Blog Archive » State Library Associations and Speaker Fees

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:35:02 +0000

[...] There’s an interesting discussion going on right now about speaker fees, registration, and state library conferences. I have faced the same type of thing in the past with the Missouri Library Association. [...]

By: JanieH

JanieH — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:29:48 +0000

I think this must be common practic among state library associations as it is the exact same her in NJ. I was co-chair of the conference committee for 2 years and it was my main source of irritation in the planning process that we brought in librarians from elsewhere, paid them speaking fees, gave them a hotel, etc. and yet those from our own state had to ante up and register. I always thought, at the very least, they should have their registration waived for the day they speak.
I know that many state associations struggle to make ends meet and the annual conference is a main revenue stream, but really and truly the expertise and time from librarians within the state needs to be recognized too.
I am presenting at NJLA later in April, but I won’t be registering. I am going to represent my library as the Statewide Reference Center and then staff our booth.
That is why InfoToday seems like a class act in libraryland.

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:33:26 +0000

That is ridiculous. They should either pay everyone who speaks or none of the speakers. Or maybe just switch to reimbursing everyone’s travel expenses, with no extra compensation.

At the very least, your registration should be waived. Please do let us know how this pans out.

By: Karin Dalziel

Karin Dalziel — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:26:44 +0000

I just got notification that my very first presentation (at a Spring meeting for my State Library Association) was accepted, and yes, I will have to pay to attend.

This particular meeting is only $30 for members, so it’s not a big deal, but it still seems unfair.

I hope you get the response you are looking for. I can’t believe what they’ve put you through already, and now this! Ugh.

By: Grace Lillevig

Grace Lillevig — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:00:03 +0000

Sadly, TLA doesn’t pay librarians in Texas - whether or not they are a member of TLA or not. I do think it’s terrible that they want a non-member to pay to present.

As to Internet access, that makes no sense. When I co-presented a pre-conference last year, we definately had the option of having a connection. ATRT (the sponsor of the pre-conference) paid for the connection.

By: Jenny Levine

Jenny Levine — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:03:53 +0000

This sounds oddly…familiar. You can use my address if you need an out-of-state one.

Or maybe you could suggest that they comp your registration for that one day. Oh, wait - *there’s nothing else going on that day.*

Unfortunately, whenever I present at a conference like this now, I ask about registration up front because of what happened to me with PLA. You just can’t assume anymore. If they don’t waive the fee for you, it’s their loss. For the sake of those 100 registrants, though, I really hope TLA backtracks on this one.

By: Dorothea Salo

Dorothea Salo — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:53:23 +0000

Gah, that’s ‘orrible. Tell you what. If by some freak of chance you still teach, I’ll sign over the $400 they’re paying me for a 45-minute talk.

Because, yeah, this? Is exploitation, and I’d like my nice clean conscience back, thanks.