*Include as much food/drink in registration fee as possible.
*Toast at the business meeting breakfast
*No comments
*Marketplace 2000 with comments was a great idea.  Like that there were not many competing programs.
*Develop the concept of comments on marketing materials; we need benchmarks of quality & quantity of service; how does a group become a profession?  Can we police ourselves?
*Great speakers, timely topics.
*Panel presentation was interesting - repeat format on another topic.
*Sit down banquet preferred.
*Much improved poster session.  Acad lib round table at lunch opposite hosp lib lunch (Refserv’s, call dev & issues”, ILL networks, etc. or ideas)
*Welcome reception with exhibitors.
*No comments
*Panel groups discussing current/futuristic events for medical libraries
*Liked papers being only 1 day
*Provision of so many meals (good ones) was very nice.
*No comments
*Marketplace 2000 marketing evaluations.
*No comments
*More practical hands on OCLC/QD/PUBMED
*It would be nice to have current SC/MLA president introduced on Day 1.  I didn’t know who she was until Day 2.
*Why doesn’t the president receive the “welcome” from local dignitary at opening session?  More break time in exhibit area to give them some business - think day two was slow for them.
*Hands on CEs if possible (where appropriate).
*The creativity of the people from Mobile.  They have the challenge to improve the user line in the previous meeting.
*Nature hike.
*More great events and speakers with ideas and views of the future of libraries and librarians.
*How about just one day of exhibits with dedicated blocks of time just for them.
*Exhibits open perhaps with the welcome reception?
*Do not like meeting on Sunday
*Some foot traffic in the exhibit hall on the 2nd day.
*Casual get together.
*Provide free drink tickets at social events (at least 2 per event).

Please list any suggestions for the 2000 Conference Program.

*After the registrations are sent in it would help to receive confirmations for each event.  We weren’t sure we made the CE until we called.
*Opening of exhibits/welcome reception
*Poster session seem to be getting more and more marginal, at annual MLA meeting as well - these are a unique networking opportunity.
*More variety in exhibitors.  I don’t order books or journals.   Make posters more prominent.  Hardly anyone came by.
*Marketing ourselves and knowledge we use; professional responsibilities, benchmarks, marketing, continuous improvement.
*It’s time for copyright again - get Laura Gassaway for CE & a speaker for program to relate to Internet - Hoeman’s course here very good - speaker idea?
*Majors walk
*Leadership competency and coaching.
*Make sure that the exhibitor lunch is clearly indicated to be for all not just the exhibitors and provide more places in exhibit hall to sit and eat.
*Have events within easy range of hotel.  Drive out to BMW, although nice, was too lengthy after trip to Biltmore.
*A hiking or running map included in registration packet.  Market Place 2000 a good idea.
*Leave poster up for a longer period within exhibit hall.
*More on licensing electronic resources and multi site contracts.  More on marketing and PR
for library.
*Liked having session not concurrent-didn’t have to choose.  Like panel ideas with time for
questions.
*Casual get together.
*It’s nice to include most meals, but it doesn’t leave much time for getting outside for a breath of fresh air.  There were lots of eating places close by.  Do not have meeting on Sunday.  People with family and church commitments find this difficult to get away.
*A historical session
*Any management/administration topics
*C. E. on crisis management or how to deal with people who are dying or have family members who are chronically ill.
*How to handle electronic databases and full text sources plus the SORTERNET -
*What’s new, what’s misleading, what’s working and why?
*Administration management
*Do not like meeting on Sunday
*Have meetings on weekdays not weekend.  More free time.
*Good speakers & useful, relevant CE’s.

Provide any comments or suggestions that you believe will help the Program Committee next year.

*Try to actually hear a speaker or talk to several who have, before scheduling.  A great person, researcher, etc, can make a boring/ or poor talk.  Brief the non medical library speakers on their audience.  I like having invited speakers on peripheral, yet related topics, like the medical writers this time.
*Poster presentations should adhere to same guidelines (size, space) as used for MLA this years space completely uniformed and inadequate.  No one should have to display below another one or below eye level. 
*Variety of speakers provides something for everyone.  Like hearing about new ideas/trends in medicine.
*Speaker like Mary Ellen Bates to set tone of meeting about marketing ourselves; then, series of programs on practical applications, without conflicts, so one can follow a series of programs.
Might be good to have something for hospital librarian on MLA’s Benchmarking project
(Bernice Todd Smith).
*The balance of the program was really pretty good this year.
*Keep topics relevant to recent library concerns.
*The setting for reception and banquets need not be elaborate - we merely require a location in which we can freely mingle and communicate
*Have members of local arrangements at Early Bird Reception
*Have meeting on weekdays not weekend.  More free time.
*Need more space allowed for poster session.  Need time between sessions to visit exhibits.
*Every speaker should introduce themselves, always.  Keep up the excellent speakers.  Kept program on schedule.
*Don’t bother with a $ 40.00 banquet if it isn’t anything special.  I found it a bit dull.  You must stop roasting and rehashing things that happened in the past.  New members cannot relate to this and it isolates/divides the group into those who know and those who don’t know.
*Keep up the excellent speakers.
*Eliminate the “chamber of commerce” video.  They’re all the same, encourage local talent to attract people to the city.
*The setting for receptions and banquets need not be elaborate we merely require a location in which we can freely mingle and communicate.
*Program were well organized.
*Follow same format.

9.  Provide any comments or suggestions that you think will help the Local Arrangements             Committee next year.

*Arrange late check out (after individuals last class) so that you aren’t rushing around during breaks, etc to check out, move luggage, etc., especially since classes begin so early.
*Having someone dedicated to AV and nothing else makes a difference.  Not sure the meeting planner helped?
*Any chance of a Sunday drink?  Any local cultural events for the nights?
*Keep the meeting rooms close together like this conference so we can mingle easily.
*Free parking for drivers.
*Give at least a couple of  free drinks at the social events.
*Idea: Block of tickets, shuttle to local hockey game or play or concert Friday, Monday evening?  *Like a dine around - no big deal, just provide org’n and transport for small groups.
*Check the driving instructions  - hotel - provided instructions from Ashville not accurate.
*Refreshment in afternoon in exhibit hall should be accessible on both sides, not in a corner which did not allow flow of the line.
*Coordinate bus transportation.  Ask for experience drivers.
*Please provide at least (1) drink ticket for all social events – like the lunch provided by vendors on Sunday.
*Be sure seating is available wherever food is served, preferably with tables
*Above comment on Banquet.  Try to find something to encourage newer members to mingle with older members.  Too many cliques of older members from the inner circle.  Explain things a bit better.  Took me three days to find out what MOM meant in relationship to Martha Watkins Scholarship Fund.
*Enjoyed the banquet and hope these continue.
*The meeting planners did a great job.  I think they would be an excellent assistance for next year.
*How about something on the water?  Paddle boat or steam boat?  Karoke or dancing, something with audience participation.
*Provide more local restaurant/shopping information.
*None.  This year’s committee did a great job.
*Include a message board.  Make plenty of time in vendor area.  Do not meet on Sunday.  If a meeting planner is hired, make it clear that he helps the program committee as well as local arrangements.

10.  Provide any comments or suggestions not covered elsewhere.

*Hotel was one of nicest as far as customer service I have ever stayed in.  Conference attendees felt welcomed here - not a nuisance or impositions.  Hosts were gracious, wonderful.  Banquet
and entertainment thoughtfully arranged.  Piano nice touch.
*Some posters difficult to read
*Driver for Saturday CE, web-based searching, didn’t have location for CE course.
*Notify CE participants regarding food  - muffins etc., for morning if lunch provided.
*It would be nice to have a meeting during the week - not over a weekend.  When this was first discussed, I didn’t think it would be permanent.  I thought the program was very good.  Lynn Fortney; Scott Plutchek’s presentation were exceptional.
*Good speakers & useful, relevant CE’s
*Great job Tom & Fay and the rest.  Enjoyed it.
*Hotel’s proximity to quick inexpensive food was helpful.  Having all meeting rooms in same area was wonderful.
*I will volunteer to help a local “marketplace” person organize a three part (print, MRL, video) display, but there needs to be a person in the local city (if possible).
*If you’ve got the time to coordinate, add an option “wants to share room”, for those not using
Listserve.
*When stuck in a city with Sunday Blue Laws, provide a hospitality room with some type of
 bar-cash tickets, whatever - it’s terrible to be stuck in a social setting without an open bar
It sure cut the night short.
*The meeting was well received and very well planned.
*Hotel staff were excellent, mtg planner was appropriate for situation.
*Jay Daly was an excellent selection as a speaker for hospital librarians lunch. Happy to meet him and have the opportunity to express my appreciation for Quick Doc.
*Really like the comments on publications in Market Place 2000.  Very helpful.
*Using a meeting planner seemed to work well.  Local arrangements for a conference can require so much time that libraries may not be able to volunteer to host a meeting.
*Thank you for your hard work.  It is greatly appreciated.
*The meeting was well organized and thought out.  We all felt welcome and at home here in
Greenville, SC.
*The registration form needs to be clearer in what is included in full registration-banquet ticket, welcome reception, etc.  The pianist at banquet was wonderful.  The BMW reception had the best food we have ever had at an opening reception.
*I told Fay Towell several times during the meeting that the organizing committee did a terrific job, and I hope this will be conveyed to them again before the conference fades into memory.
Overall, one of the best SC/MLA conferences I have attended over last ten years.  Local arrangements should be greatly commended.  Business meeting was quick and easily understood.  Ms. Lett has the right idea about encouraging membership and minority membership - see above comments.  Having functions on site, near hotel might encourage higher attendance.  Seems as though few attended the BMW reception due to bussing and late return from Biltmore.  After all we are there to grow as professionals, not receive a local tour and shop.
*Welcome reception - we must decide what’s most important - an interesting venue or a social reception.  I favor the latter.  Name tags: larger type font for full name and institution, loud bell or gong to signify start and end of sessions.
*Hospital librarians lunch should be more organized.  The speaker talked for too much time, people were sleepy, and many of us had to leave early because we were interested in the MLA President presentation.  This presentation was delayed waiting for the hospital librarians.
*Make sure cigarette smoking is not allowed in meeting area.
*The food was wonderful this year.
*Poster session too crowded - need standard three-sided display boards.
*The meeting was well organized and thought out.  We all felt welcome and at home here in Greenville, SC.

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