HOTEL RESERVATION INFORMATION
Make your hotel reservations by September 1! Rates and details

BIG BOOK BASH
The Big Book Bash again will highlight Colorado authors at the annual CAL Conference. More than 100 authors will be attending (Download the complete list - pdf). The Big Book Bash will be held late Saturday afternoon at the Keystone Conference Center. It will be followed by a dinner with authors appearing as speakers and as featured attendees.

This is a great opportunity for library staff to connect with local writers. Make time to attend, and let authors you know, know about it. Betsy Pink is again coordinating the Big Book Bash. Contact Betsy at: 720/972-4855; betsincolo@aol.com

• Amy Tait
• PO Box 448(US Mail)
• 264 Dillon Ridge Way (Fed Ex & UPS)
• Dillon, CO 80435
• 970-262-1226(fax)

SPEAKERS
Keynote Speakers

Pat Wagner and her husband Leif Smith own Pattern Research, a 28-year-old research and training business in Denver. She has worked with Colorado libraries for 25 years as a trainer and consultant. Pat is familiar with Colorado library board issues and has worked as a marketing and PR professional. [Thursday, October 16, 6 p.m.]

Nancy Bolt has been the Colorado State Librarian for 17 years. During her term she helped initiate the Access Colorado Library and Information Network (ACLIN), now the Colorado Virtual Library; the Colorado Library card; a new building for the Colorado Talking Book Library; and including Information Literacy in the state accreditation rules for school districts. Nancy has been working with Bulgarian libraries for 6 years. [Friday, October 17, 11:15 a.m.]

Jim Zelenski is Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, where he performs research and advocacy work. He worked for 25 years as Deputy City Manager, and Budget Director, for the cities of Lakewood, Colorado, and Laramie, Wyoming. He teaches economics, strategic planning, finance and business ethics at Regis University, the University of Colorado’s Graduate School of Public Affairs, and Red Rocks Community College. He presents workshops on "Governance for Public and Nonprofit Organizations" for Mediation USA, a Denver firm. Jim holds a Master’s degree from Cornell University in Consumer Economics and Public Policy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Arizona State University. He is married to Judy Zelenski, and is a full-time grandfather, according to Tanner-7, and Tyler-5. [Friday, October 17, 11:15 a.m.]

Christopher Canyon spent most of his rural upbringing drawing and playing the guitar. Although Chris was a struggling student academically, his parents were always supportive of his interest in the arts. "When I was in the fifth grade my parents noticed my interest in drawing intensifying. They bought me a beginner's art kit that included a book on the fundamentals of drawing. This was my first experience with a formal introduction to drawing and it changed my life!" Chistopher lives with his wife Jeanette and their cat Goppy in central Ohio. When he isn't in his studio illustrating books for children Chris enjoys providing educational and entertaining programs for schools, libraries and conferences. [Friday, October 17, 6:30 p.m.]

Charles Levendosky is the editorial page editor, columnist, creator and editor of the Casper Star-Tribune's First Amendment Web Site (FACT), and is a highly-regarded poet. His columns have appeared in more than 225 newspapers and have been reprinted in books. He has been a contributing columnist for the Liberal Opinion Week, Progressive Populist, and Oklahoma Observer, and has been very active in journalism activities. Levendosky is the recipient of numerous journalism awards, including the 2002 Intellectual Freedom Award from the Mountain Plains Library Association, as well as several poetry awards and honors. [Saturday, October 18, 9:45 a.m.]

Don Gallegos is a native of Denver, Colorado, and graduate of Regis University. Don joined the King Soopers' family in 1965; his passion for superior service and attention to customer's needs grew along with a deep regard for the people he encountered along the way. Don served as Executive Vice-President of King Soopers, and later joined King Soopers' parent company, as Senior Vice President; he was named President of King Soopers in 1990, and retired in 1998. Don is now an in-demand speaker and consultant, and is active in the community. Don and his wife Cheri enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, and have formed the Gallegos Family Charitable Foundation to help the hungry, the homeless, and inner city children. [Sunday, October 19, 9 a.m.]

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Saturday night is going to be exciting! You will have a rare opportunity to listen to a group of authors talking about their books, and giving you a sample of their storytelling art. The following authors will be joining you for dinner.

Ying Compestine
Renowned author, dynamic public speaker and world traveler, Ying Chang Compestine is the author of seven children’s books (The Runaway Rice Cake, The Story of Chopsticks, The Story of Noodles, The Story of Kites, The Story of Paper, D is for Dragon Dance and The Real Story of Stone Soup) and three cookbooks. Ying and her books are featured on the Discovery Channel’s Home Matters and Home and Garden, HGTV’s Smart Solutions shows. She has been profiled in many magazines and newspapers. She is also the food editor for Body and Soul magazine, and a regular contributor to the national magazines Cooking Light, Ski, EatingWell, Self, Men’s Health and Delicious Living. Check out her Web site: http://www.yingc.com

Vivian Dubrovin, Moderator
Vivian Dubrovin has written 15 books for children including Write Your Own Story. Her book Storytelling for the Fun of It is a grade 4-8 how-to-guide, which includes imaginative ideas for creating and adapting stories for particular occasions, story games to play at parties or in the car, and ways to use props, puppets, costumes and crafts. In 1994, she started the Junior Storyteller newsletter for kids. In 1996, she created the first Kids' Storytelling Club http://www.storycraft.com Web site. She still edits the newsletter and Web site. She is working on the October (Fall) issue of the Junior Storyteller right now and the theme will be Exploring All of the Opportunities in Storytelling.

Gail Haley
An acclaimed author and award winning illustrator of children’s books, Gail Haley has appeared at professional conferences, universities, libraries and schools throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Africa and the United Kingdom. For more than 30 years Haley’s award winning books have captured the hearts and minds of readers young and old. She won the Caldecott award for A Story, A Story (1971), and the Kate Greenaway Medal for The Post Office Cat (1976). Her newest book is Kokopelli, Drum in Belly. http://www.gailhaley.com

Justin Matott
A best selling, award-winning author of books for children and adults, Matott finds much of his inspiration while in schools, listening to kids. He has written several children’s books (There’s a Fly on My Toast, Ol’ Lady Grizelda, Drinking Fountain Joe, When Did I Meet You Grandma?, When Did I Meet You Grandpa?, Oliver Kringle), as well as adult books. Justin Matott has been a storyteller all his life. In his books he blends real life events with imagination, believing there are stories all about us, just waiting to be written down. http://www.author-illustr-source.com/justinmatott.htm

Julie Anne Peters
Julie Anne Peters is the author of ten books for children and young adults, including How Do You Spell Geek?, Revenge of the Snob Squad, Romance of the Snob Squad, A Snitch in the Snob Squad, Define Normal and her latest release, Keeping You a Secret. Her books have received consistently rave reviews from the likes of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, and School Library Journal, among others. Keeping You a Secret has been nominated as a 2004 American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. Find out more about her books (and her cats!) at her Web site, http://www.JulieAnnePeters.com

NETWORKING
Innovative Networking Program Planned for Conference

• Have you ever attended a conference and wished you had someone to take you around and introduce you to all of the most interesting people?
• Did you come with a problem and wish you could quickly find the person who had the answer?
• Were you proud of a solution and wanted a way to share your success with other library folk, but didn't know where to start?
• Do you find yourself sitting alone between workshops or only hanging out with a couple of old friends, instead of easily making new friends?

This year's conference will feature a computerized networking center and a group of friendly people who like to network ("weavers"), whose mission is to make sure you have a productive conference experience.

Over the next few weeks, you will be asked to contribute to a database that will help connect you with people, projects and resources during and after the conference. Check your registration packet and the CAL Web site soon for more information.

If you like people, have great customer service skills, are a good listener, want an excuse to meet some of the nicest folks in Colorado, and have at least three hours to spare at the conference, please consider becoming part of our team of friendly weavers. Contact Pat Wagner at pat@pattern.com for more information or call her at 303/778-0880 anytime. You will be asked to attend a brief orientation session before the conference (it can be done over the phone and via e-mail) and you will receive a cool badge to wear during the conference.

You can read The Networking Game on the Pattern Research Web site (Pat Wagner's site) to help yourself prepare for networking at the conference!

EXHIBITS