"VIP Special Report: Commentary from SLA's 2008 Annual Conference"
July 2008

Special Report on 2008 Conference Published.
VIP Magazine collects participant commentary in unique resource for subscribers, SLA members and the field.

Rather than provide standard conference coverage (summary of sessions, commentary on social events, and the insights of only one or two reporters), we decided this year to open it up to the community itself. We solicited contributions from participants, collected and edited them, and organised them into thematic sections in the attached PDF report -- call it a blend of new-world User Generated Content and old-world publishing!

The result makes for an engaging read, and we thank all contributors (each of whom also receives a free copy) for making it possible. In these digital pages:

• Why We Came; What We Experienced: Observations on the event overall and how the experience met expectations (or not)
  
  
• Visions of the Future of the Field: Forward-looking thinking on where the world of library and information work is heading
  
  
• Vendor Relations: Evolutions in the important relationships between vendors and customers, and how expositions offer a way to solidify them
  
  
• Tips and Takeaways: New ideas, resources and techniques to make work easier, more fun, more collaborative and more effective!
  
  
• Suggestions for Future Events: Thoughts on making the 2009 conference (or any major event) even better.
  
  

Thanks to SLA for supporting this project. A free copy of the report is also available to any SLA member, so please let your colleagues know that it's available, even if they aren't (yet) VIP subscribers.

This is a new approach to report on and enhance the experience of industry events. Look for future calls for contributions to reports on other events. Two key events are already in our diaries:

• Online Information UK, 2-4 December 2008, London (http://www.online-information.co.uk/): Meet our editorial, business development and technical team at our stand
  
  
• SLA's Centennial Celebration, 14-17 June 2009, Washington, DC (no official page yet, but the DC chapter of SLA already has preliminary information at http://digbig.com/4xemn): We’re already making plans to bring more of our staff, expanding our coverage (100 contributions for the 100th year, perhaps?), and joining in the celebration.
  
  

Do you know of an event we should be covering? Please let us know!

Information for Editors

"VIP Special Report: Commentary from SLA's 2008 Annual Conference"
July 2008 ISBN 978-1-904769-33-0

Price: GBP 39 for a single site; GBP 110 for up to 5 sites; GBP 215 for unlimited sites

Free to VIP and FUMSI subscribers and to all SLA members.

Review copies can be made available to verified members of the industry press; please enquire to support@vivaVIP.com.

About VIP Magazine

VIP Magazine (http://www.vivavip.com/) is a monthly publication of in-depth, unbiased product reviews and news analysis for the business information industry. Subscribers use the publication to make and support purchase decisions; identify new products and resources; support competitive and market intelligence; and stay informed about changes in the content industry.

VIP is under the editorship of Pamela Clark, an industry veteran who has played many different roles in the information sector throughout her career. She has worked in local government, accountancy, management consulting and investment banking in the UK, Continental Europe and the US, most recently as Director, Corporate Research & Development, AIG, in New York.

VIP is published by Free Pint Limited, a UK publisher of resources, websites and publications for the business information industry. Learn more at http://www.freepint.com/

Free Pint Limited is registered in England and Wales. Registered Number: 3754418. Registered Office: Delaport Coach House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts,
AL4 8RQ.