HomeLibrarian of the Year 2007 to keynote PLA Spring Symposium Open

Contact: Angela Thullen

PLA, Marketing Specialist
312-280-5023

For Immediate Release

January 31, 2007

Librarian of the Year 2007 to keynote PLA Spring Symposium Opening Session

CHICAGO – Susan Hildreth, president of the Public Library Association (PLA), is pleased to announce that Mary Baykan, Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year 2007, will present the keynote address at the Opening General Session of the PLA Spring Symposium.  The session, scheduled for March 1, 2007, at the Fairmont San Jose (Calif.), is open to all symposium attendees.

Baykan is the director of the Washington County (Md.) Free Library and executive director of Western Maryland Public Library.  In 2003, when facing a major fiscal crisis in the state of Maryland, Baykan spearheaded an initiative to conduct a survey on the perceived value of libraries.  Librarians across the state were able to use the results of the survey to demonstrate the value of libraries to key community leaders, resulting in the largest increase in library support in the state’s history, including $35 million in new state funding.

The Opening General Session will be followed by a dessert reception, which is open to all attendees.  Other special events include the Author Luncheon featuring Po Bronson, which is available for an additional cost.  PLA thanks Random House for their support of the Author Luncheon.

Registration is still open for selected workshops.  For more information on the PLA Spring Symposium, including pricing and registration information, contact the PLA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s Web site at www.pla.org. 

PLA is a division of the American Library Association.  PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.