NEKLS Fall Assembly will be held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel’s Maner Conference Center in Topeka on Thursday, October 16, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost for the event is $15 and includes a continental breakfast and hot lunch.
The keynote speaker for the Assembly is Michael Hoeflich, Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. Dr. Hoeflich is a regular columnist for the Lawrence Journal-World. His keynote address will highlight the role of libraries on the front lines of intellectual freedom and access issues in our society.
After the keynote presentation, the State Library of Kansas will be on hand to present an “abridged†version of their popular Road Show, which they put on for enthralled library audiences throughout the state in August and September. The Road Show played to rave reviews in Colby, Cimarron City, Independence, Junction City, Wichita, Lawrence and Minneapolis.
According to State Librarian Christie Brandau, the purpose of the Road Show is to showcase the cutting-edge services and programs made possible by the State Library — HomeworkKansas, Kansas Health Online, Interlibrary Loan, WebJunction, online databases, and much more. This special encore performance of the State Library Road Show is sure to be both fun and informative.
The Assembly’s business meeting will provide members with an overview of the System’s goals and accomplishments in 2008. An after-lunch breakout session will provide member libraries with an opportunity to have timely input into the 2010 NEKLS System Plan.
The last two hours of the day will be given over to a training workshop for librarians to learn how to use Kansas Health Online, a new website with a focus on health transparency for consumers. Attendance is optional, but everyone is invited to participate. Kansas Health Online empowers Kansans to make more informed decisions about health care. Consumers will find tools, links and clear information to compare hospitals, find doctors, compare health plans, analyze symptoms, get the latest on medical conditions and make healthier lifestyle choices.
Registration for the 2008 Fall Assembly is open to all NEKLS members. Library Directors, trustees and staff are cordially invited to attend. Please register no later than October 9th.
Tentative Agenda
8:30 am Executive Board meeting
9:00 am Registration and continental breakfast
9:30 am Welcome and announcements
9:35 am Keynote presentation: Michael Hoeflich
10:45 am Break
11:00 am State Library Road Show (abridged)
11:45 am NEKLS Business Meeting & Volunteer of the Year Award
12:15 pm LUNCH
12:45 pm Breakout session
1:30-3:30 Kansas Health Online
Adjourn
Mickey Coalwell is the Library Development Consultant at NEKLS. You can reach him by email (mcoalwell (at) nekls.org), phone, or on the Google Chat instant messaging platform (look Mickey up by his email address). Visit the 
I plan to attend the board meeting and then the Fall Assembly