All Sessions

This is a meeting of ALA's policy-making and governing body.

The DCRM (MSS) Editorial Team will meet to continue working on the unfinished parts of the text rule by rule.

Make sure not to miss the exciting Closing General Session. New this year ALA President Molly Raphael will pass the gavel with the announcement of the 2012-2013 ALA President Maureen Sullivan and Division Presidents.

End the conference on a high note at the Closing General Session, with inspiring speaker J. R. Martinez, whose message of resilience and optimism will resonate with ALA attendees given the current challenges facing libraries and librarians. Long before he won legions of fans as the 2011 winner of Dancing With the Stars, Martinez was inspiring audiences of all kinds with his remarkable story—while serving in Iraq in 2003, he suffered severe burns to over 40% of his body after his vehicle hit a land mine, spent the next 34 months in recovery, and underwent 33 different surgeries. His new book Full of Heart: My story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit will be published in November 2012. He joined the cast of ABC’s All My Children in 2008 as combat veteran Brot Monroe, appeared on the cover of People Magazine, in the Sexiest Man Alive issue, and was one of their 25 Most Intriguing People of 2011. Sponsored by Hyperion Books.

Long before J.R. Martinez won legions of fans as the 2011 winner of Dancing With the Stars, he was inspiring audiences of all kinds with his remarkable story. While serving in Iraq in 2003, the Humvee he was driving hit a land mine leaving J.R. trapped inside the burning vehicle. Suffering smoke inhalation and severe burns to over 40% of his body, J.R. spent the next 34 months in recovery, undergoing 33 different surgeries, including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery. J.R. decided to use his experience to help others, visiting with several of the patients in the hospital, sharing his story and listening to theirs. J.R. started to get noticed by the national media as he began speaking at events all over the country. His message of resilience and optimism inspired a wide variety of organizations, from corporations to veterans groups and schools. While J.R.’s experience was certainly difficult, he credits it for the life he is living today. J.R.’s new book Full of Heart will be released November 2012.

Sponsored by Hyperion Books