On March 10, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) will launch the first program of its virtual 12th National Conference. This free webcast features a real-time conversation between Clifford A. Lynch, Executive Director, Coalition for Networked Information, and Michael A. Keller, University Librarian, Director of Academic Information Resources, Publisher of HighWire Press, and Publisher of the Stanford University Press, at Stanford University.  The live webcast will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Lynch and Keller will discuss issues that keep librarians up at night including: googlization, digital repositories, distance education, and privacy. The participants will have the opportunity to query Keller and Lynch. The session will be moderated by Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Consulting Research Scientist, Office of Research, OCLC, Inc.

The March 10th webcast will begin with an overview of the ACRL Online National Conference and a walk-through of the online conference community hosted by LearningTimes, to be followed by the presentation by Lynch and Keller. Participating in the webcast will give you a chance to learn first-hand about the features available through the Online National Conference and to experience a live webcast using the Learning Times software.  The March 10th event is free, but registration is required: http://www.learningtimes.net/acrlwebcast.html

What is the ACRL Online National Conference?
The online conference, held completely via the Internet, will include select ACRL 12th National Conference speakers in live webcasts, as well as text-based discussion boards, audio blogs, speaker materials and more.  The event will take place in a dedicated online conference community that will also serve participants attending the event in Minneapolis, April 7-10, 2005.  This will afford unique opportunities for collaboration, learning and networking among all conference participants - "both live and online," only you won't ever have to leave your desk.

Included in the online conference community:
* Live interactive webcasts offered on Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9.  Select webcasts are listed below:
-AACR3: Redefining a Standard for the 21st Century, John Attig, Pennsylvania State University; Matthew Beacom, Yale University Library; Jennifer Bowen, University of Rochester
-Collaboration or Chaos? How to Develop, Staff and Promote a Successful Collaborative Virtual Reference Service, Jennifer Duvernay, Arizona State University; Shelle Witten, Paradise Valley Community College
-"Dramatically Underrepresented:" Librarians and the First-year Experience, Jane Carlin, University of Cincinnati; Larry Hardesty, Barbara Macke, University of Cincinnati; Loanne Snavely, Pennsylvania State University; Lisa Stillwell, Franklin & Marshall College
-Googleization, Visualization, Metasearch, Mapping, and other Disruptive Technologies, Mignon Adams, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; Suzanne Bedell, ProQuest; Steven Bell, Philadelphia University; Judy Luther, Informed Strategies LLC
-Menage à Trois: The Essential Computing, Library and Instructional Technology Partnership to Advance New Media Learning, Frank Moretti, Columbia University; James Neal, Columbia University; Patricia Renfro, Columbia University
* Daily blogs from roving conference correspondents to keep you posted with information on the activities and pulse of the live conference
* Speaker materials including text of contributed and invited papers
* Live virtual meeting rooms to gather with colleagues and network with new friends
* Threaded discussions

Registration for the ACRL Online National Conference is available at: http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlevents/12thnatconf/acrlregistration/registration.htm. ACRL Online National Conference registration fees are listed below:
ACRL member - $165
ALA member - $205
Nonmember - $235
Student - $75

Registration includes unlimited access to the online conference community for one year after the event.  (Note: Face-to-face conference registrants receive access to the conference community as part of their conference registration.)

Technical requirements for the ACRL Online National Conference: You will need a system that allows for e-mail and Web browsing.  Visit http://www.elluminate.com/support/faqs/min_requirements.jsp for requirements.

Complete details about the ACRL 12th National Conference are available at www.acrl.org/minneapolis.  Questions?  Contact acrl@ala.org.