Preliminary Program

Click here for the Preliminary Program: http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/conventions/convention2008/2008_preliminary_program.pdf

Registration Form & Financial Assistance

The Registration Form will be printed in the February/March issue of the AJL Newsletter, but to get a jump on things, you can fill it out online by following the link on the Convention 2008 page at: http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/conventions/convention2008.htm

After you fill out the form, you will need to print it and send it, along with your payment, to Marcia Klein at the address given on the form.

Please note that local paid-up AJL -GCC (Greater Cleveland Chapter) members may apply for financial assistance from our chapter to attend the convention. Please contact Aimee Lurie at aimeelurie@mac.com to check the status of your membership. There is also financial assistance available from the JECC for local members. Go to http://www.jecc.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/ConferenceGrants.htm for more detailed information. AJL also offers scholarships and stipends for attending the convention. Please go to the AJL website at http://jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/ and follow the links under Scholarships for more information.

Optional Tours and Post-Convention Program

You'll want to come early and stay an extra day to take advantage of all of the things we'll be offering in June 2008!

Sunday, June 22, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Convention attendees will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of Jewish Cleveland on Lolly the Trolley. The tour will feature new Jewish sites on the east side of Cleveland, as well as the Jewish Archives at the Western Reserve Historical Society and The Temple - Tifereth Israel's historic building in University Circle. The fee is $30.00 per person.

Monday, June 23, 6:15 - 10:15 PM. Convention attendees can enjoy a light supper at The Temple - Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, followed by a docent-led tour of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, which is located just steps away from The Temple. Transportation will be provided from the Marriott to The Temple and from the Maltz Museum back to the hotel. The fee is $50.00 per person and includes supper, transportation, and museum admission charges.

Wednesday, June 25, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Post-Convention Celebration of Jewish Children’s Books and Authors. In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards (1968-2008), AJL is offering a special post-convention celebration of Jewish children’s literature. The celebration will kick-off on Tuesday evening with the presentation of the 2008 Sydney Taylor Book Awards during the convention’s annual banquet. Sessions will continue on Wednesday, June 25th at 9:00 AM with presentations by current and past Sydney Taylor Book Award winners and by specialists in the field of Jewish children’s literature. The celebration will conclude with a book signing and sales event from 3:30-4:30 PM. Registration for the Wednesday events includes continental breakfast beginning at 8:00 AM, buffet lunch and dessert reception. The fees are as follows: Full convention registrant = $50.00; Wednesday only = $75.00. CEU credit will be available for an additional $45.00. More details will be available in the coming months.

Watch for future issues of the AJL Newsletter, where you'll find the Registration Form, as well as additional information about food, minyanim, exhibits, and a preliminary program.

Hotel and Travel Information for the 2008 Convention

Convention Headquarters will be the Marriott Cleveland East. Located near the heart of the Cleveland Jewish community, the Marriott Cleveland East offers easy access to synagogues, museums, restaurants and shopping. A block of rooms has been reserved for AJL convention participants. Please identify yourself as part of the Association of Jewish Libraries to receive the discounted group rates.

Reservations must be received by the Marriott on or before June 2, 2008. Convention rates are:

Single or double occupancy $129.00 + tax
Triple occupancy $139.00 + tax
Quadruple occupancy $149.00 + tax

Reservations must be accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card.

On-site parking is complimentary at the Marriott. Contact information for the hotel is as follows:
Marriott Cleveland East
26300 Harvard Rd.
Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44122
Telephone: 1-800-533-0162
Fax: 1-216-378-9292
Website: http://www.marriott.com/

GETTING TO CONVENTION
Two convenient airports service the Northeast Ohio region: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the Akron-Canton Airport. Taxis are always available near the baggage pick-up area.

Shuttle service from Cleveland Hopkins costs approximately $50.00 each way for a town car or $60 for a van that holds up to 14 people. Service from Akron-Canton is about $70.00 for the town car and $80.00 for the van. To make shuttle reservations, contact Shima Limousine Service at 440-918-6400 or e-mail shimalimo@ameritech.net.

Updated travel information will be available on the AJL website and on this blog in the coming months.

Generous Donation

I am happy to report that the 2008 Convention is the recipient of a very generous donation. We have received $6,000 from Andrew and Judy Green of the Henry & Eugenia Green Family Foundation. This gift is the second installment of a three-part gift to support AJL conventions. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Green, and thank you also to Jean Lettofsky, who facilitated this gift in her role as AJL Fundraising Chair.

Donations

In addition to the generous donation from an anonymous donor (see post of September 18, 2007), we have received other noteworthy contributions, and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the following:

• The Capital Area Chapter of the AJL
• Sarajane Dolinsky
• Marcia Posner

Your generosity will go a long way toward making the 2008 Convention a success!

Convention Corps

The 2008 Convention Planning Committee in a board room at the Marriott

Standing Left to Right: Wendy Wasman, Andi Davidson; Seated Left to Right: Jean Lettofsky, Linda Silver, Bonnie Shapiro