And now, in closing....

Once again, we had a day filled with both practical and theoretical sessions. In my 18 years of attending conferences, few have matched the quality of programming and the perfection of organization as this 2007 CLA experience! The board, committee members, and organizers deserve our deepest gratitude and respect. Thanks for providing us with a memorable experience! And "Thank you!" to Leslie Burger for honoring us with not just one but two days of participation. In the midst of a perpetually busy schedule, your sacrifices on our behalf are deeply appreciated.

I really want to make mention of Rita Vine's presentation titled "Personalizing the Reference Interview." Her insightful analysis of reference queries framed in the context of information versus communication was brilliant! This was truly one of the best sessions of the entire conference! We were challenged to rethink our approach to interacting with patrons to ensure that they left the library satisfied with acquired knowledge and with the librarian who serviced them. We were reminded that our patrons are unique individuals who deserve our full attention and commitment, even when they're asking a question previously posed by numerous classmates. Thanks, Rita, for inspiring us to honor our profession by representing the best we have to offer each and every user!

I'm sorry the conference is over. I have met colleagues with whom I hope to correspond for years to come. My conference attendance filled me with admiration for our profession and its practitioners. I'm thrilled to think that this time next year I'll prepare to matriculate and to begin the next chapter of my life. An enormous "Thank you!" to all those who contributed to a defining experience. See you next year!
Brenda