***Apologies for cross-postings***
VALA2010: Connections, Content, Conversations
9-11 February 2010
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre , Australia
Please remember to pass on this email!
Dear Colleague,
VALA is excited to announce that Lee Rainie and McKenzie (Ken) Wark will
be keynote speakers for the VALA2010 Conference. VALA has already
announced that Marshall Breeding is a keynote speaker for VALA2010.
Lee Rainie is the Director of the Pew Internet American Life Project,
a non-profit, non?partisan fact tank that studies the social impact
of
the internet. Lee is a co-author of Up for Grabs: The Future of the
Internet, Hopes and Fears, and the forthcoming Ubiquity, Mobility,
Security, a series of books about the future of the internet published
by Cambria Press and based on Project surveys. Lee is also co-authoring
a book for MIT Press about the social impact of technology with
sociologist Barry Wellman that will be published in 2010. The working
title is Connected Lives: The New Social Network Operating System. An
internationally respected speaker, Lee gave the opening keynote address
at the recent 2009 US Computers in Libraries conference. For further
details on Lee go to http://www.pewinternet.org/Experts/Lee-Rainie.aspx.
McKenzie (Ken) Wark is the Associate Professor of Media Studies, Eugene
Lang College and the New School for Social Research
(http://www.newschool.edu/lang/faculty.aspx?id=23748). Ken is a theorist
of media and new media with interests in new media technology,
intellectual property, computer games, and new media art and culture. He
is the author of A Hacker Manifesto (2004), Gamer Theory (2007), and
other works. Ken was a member of the Nettime network of new media
artists, theorists, and activists for many years and served as co-editor
of their anthology Readme! (1999). He has also worked with the Institute
for the Future of the Book http://www.futureofthebook.org/mckenziewark)
For further details about Ken go to http://www.ludiccrew.org/wark
Marshall Breeding is the Director for Innovative Technologies and
Research from Vanderbilt University
(http://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breeding). Marshall is also the
person behind http://www.librarytechnology.org, as well as being the
author of the annual survey into library automated systems, and of a
number of important ALA Library Technology reports on open source ILS
and next generation catalogues.
As well as the six international keynote speakers, the Conference will
have more than 40 other papers, for which abstracts are currently being
submitted. As you are aware, the deadline for submission of abstracts
for VALA2010 has been extended by request to close of business on
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 (this week!), so there is still time to add your
abstract to those already received.
Check out the details of the Call for Papers and submit your abstract
online by 13 May 2009. As you will see, VALA is looking for papers on a
wide range of subjects, so this could be your opportunity to present
your latest research or experience to the delegates at VALA2010. Or if
you know of other people who are doing work that may be of interest,
direct them to the Call for Papers too. And there's a bonus: there is
one discounted registration available per paper accepted for
presentation at the Conference (or one free day registration on the day
of presentation).
Remember that VALA papers for publication are due to be submitted before
the end of September in order to begin the peer-review process, during
which you have the opportunity to update the paper as events and
technologies unfold. And at the conference you are asked to talk to your
paper, which means you can be up to the minute with the latest in your
field.
So, go to http://www.vala.org.au /conf2010.htm and submit online now!
With the theme of Connections, Content, Conversations, VALA2010 will
take place at the new Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (on the
other side of the river) from Tuesday 9 February to Thursday 11 February
2010. Note that we have again left Monday and Friday for associated
events, meetings or workshops - contact the VALA Conference Office at
info at wsm.com.au if you are interested in holding a workshop or
associated event.
The Main Announcement and Registration Brochure will be available in
August 2009 - contact the VALA Conference Office at info at wsm.com.au if
you would like to be added to the list to receive a copy. Remember, you
and your organisation will be able to get best value for money by being
full members of VALA and paying for your registrations by 30 November
2009, so make your budget plans for the rest of this year accordingly!
And if you know a vendor you would like to see at the trade exhibition,
the sponsorship and exhibition proposal is also now available - follow
the links from the VALA2010 Home page or contact our Conference Office
at info at wsm.com.au
