You didn’t have to click your heels together three times to find your home away from home at this year’s SLA Conference. Held in the state-of-the-art McCormick Place, just minutes from downtown Chicago, all that was required was to follow the yellow brick road to the PAM Suite where event goers could unwind in the IOP/PAM Suite Daily Retreat.
To commemorate the PAM division’s “Ruby anniversary” (40 years), we created a Wizard of Oz theme – because let’s face it, nothing says ruby like a sparkly pair of ruby slippers! From flying monkeys and custom anniversary pins to ruby slipper bookmarks and tornado themed collectible mugs in our exclusive goodie bags, our 12th PAM Suite was a whirlwind mixture of fun and relaxation. But don’t just take our word for it…
Nisa Bakkalbasi, the 2012 PAM Chair said of this year’s Suite, “…When people saw the PAM Suite, which was decked out with comfortable chairs, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and goodie bags, their faces lit up with happiness. Everyone was in a festive mood and I felt so good. And the ruby anniversary celebration began…Many thanks for a great ruby anniversary in the Windy City, IOP.”
And Jeffra Bussman from CSU East Bay told us, “The PAM Suite is where the fun happens, connections are made, relationships are built, and yummy food is eaten. IOP Publishing goes above and beyond to make sure all visitors to the PAM Suite are able to rest, relax and recharge for their next conference sessions. I most enjoy the conversations with wonderful people as they pass through and the comfortable couches where these conversations take place.”
Outside the PAM Suite in the exhibit hall, IOP was giving away stylish – yet functional – badge wallets featuring a wide array of signature flashing pins. New on display were our interactive touchscreens demonstrating not only IOPscience, but our new IOP Publishing website, the IOPcorporate platform and one of our newly acquired journals, Laser Physics Letters.
Rounding out the conference events for us was the Publisher’s Liaison Meeting, and the PAM Business Meeting where Sharice Collins, Vice President of Marketing for the Americas, presented four travel stipend awards to well-deserving new librarians. As always, we enjoyed our opportunity to meet with our wonderful customers, answer questions, and provide sanctuary from the organized chaos of the convention center. We can’t wait to see you all in San Diego next year!