September 23, 2002--Vicki Whitmell, President of Whitmell &
Associates and Finding our Future Conferences, is pleased to
announce an important and timely conference on the future of
libraries and information management organizations, entitled
"Facing the Challenges of an Aging Workforce: Succession
Planning Strategies for Libraries and Information Management
Organizations." It will be held in Toronto on November 22
and 23, 2002. A special registration rate for this
conference is offered to members of the Atlantic Provinces
Library Association.

Issues around present and future staffing for libraries are
always important, but as many age and approach retirement
and as we seek to recruit, train and educate the best and
brightest, it is essential that we learn more and
participate in the future of the profession.

This conference will be of interest to anyone who wants to:
- reduce the impact on their library as Boomers age and seek
differing work and retirement solutions
- attract and retain great staff and shape our organizations
and associations to attract young people
- learn how to train and promote those within their
organizations
- be competitive in the hiring process
- know what is being taught in our library schools and the
skills that can be expected of new graduates
- understand how to promote and encourage a diversified
workplace
- take new ideas, possibilities and solutions into their
organization.

The conference will focus on how organizations can best
identify the issues, set appropriate short and long term
strategies, assist employees to meet their individual needs
and ensure that a properly trained and adequate number of
workers will be available in the future.

An impressive group of speakers, from both inside and
outside of the information management community, has been
assembled to address these important topics:
Stephen Abram (Micromedia), Ethel Auster (University of
Toronto), Renee Bazile-Jones (unparalleled inc), Donna Chan
(University of Western Ontario), Ian Cullwick (Deloitte and
Touche), Steve Diotte (Deloitte and Touche), Julia Goodman,
(Council of Federal Libraries) Norman Horrocks (Scarecrow
Press), Joanne Marshall (University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill), Ken Roberts (Hamilton Public Library), Alvin
Schrader, (University of Alberta), Vicki Whitmell (Whitmell
& Associates and host of the conference).

Those within public, academic or special library settings,
archives, records management organizations, chief
librarians, governing boards, employers, university
administrators, supervisors, human resource managers,
educators, or anyone interested in or concerned about the
need to educate and train, hire, supervise, or compete for
qualified staff, and meet the needs of an aging workforce or
a new generation of professionals should attend this
conference.

Many associations and organizations consider this is an
important issue for the profession and have assisted in the
promotion of the conference. Special rates are available for
the members of OLA, BCLA, LAA, SLA (Saskatchewan), MLA
(Manitoba), APLA, CARL, CALL, CFL, CHLA, MLA, and SLA. See
the website or call for more details. A special thank you
goes to the University of Toronto Faculty of Information
Studies for their support of this conference.

For full details on the conference, the program and the
speakers visit the conference website
<<http://www.findingourfuture.com>>

Finding Our Future Conferences is a subsidiary of Whitmell &
Associates <<http://www.whitmell.com>>, which provides
strategies, insights, facilitation and learning
opportunities to assist Libraries and their Communities, and
Associations and their Members to Find Their Future.

For more information contact: Vicki Whitmell, BA, MLS,
Whitmell & Associates, [log in to unmask] Telephone
705-384-7709 or 416-523-8331. Fax 705-384-1942.