Sally Schuster, Addison Public Library

This year’s Reaching Forward Conference for Library Assistants is quickly approaching. The conference is Friday, May 1, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Rosemont. The program planning is done, but that doesn’t mean the committee members can sit back and rest on their laurels. There is still much to do.

One very important aspect of the conference is the awards—the Robert P. Doyle Award and the Oberman/Rich Award—that are given out each year. Now is the time for you to submit names of colleagues you find deserving. You can even submit your own name for consideration.

The Robert P. Doyle Award was established in 1999 to encourage support staff to attend the annual Illinois Library Association Conference. The nomination process is fairly simple; you prepare a statement of one page or less completing the phrase "Why I (or my nominee) would like to attend the ILA Annual Conference and how it would affect my (or his/her) personal and professional growth." The form you need is on our Web site. You can complete it online, or print the pdf file and submit that. The form is due by March 31, 2009. The winner, announced at Reaching Forward, receives full registration and expenses to attend the ILA Annual Conference, up to $800.

The Oberman/Rich Award, established in 1995, is close to the hearts of the committee members since it honors Tobi Oberman and Tom Rich, who for nineteen years have led the committee through the process of putting the Reaching Forward Conference together. And, they are still enthusiastic! Again the nomination process is simple; just send a letter, one page or shorter, completing the statement, "Why I would like to attend Reaching Forward" or "Why I think ___________ deserves to attend Reaching Forward." As with the Doyle Award you can complete it online or print the pdf version and send it in. More than one person can win this award; all those who are selected receive free registration to Reaching Forward, $50 for expenses, a framed certificate, and recognition at the conference.

The Web site has the latest information about this year’s conference. As soon as the program schedule is available, it will be on our Web site. Through the site you will find a link to register online, forms to submit award nominations, a place to submit program and speaker suggestions, and more.