The ALA Conference: Take Two

Attending the 2006 ALA annual conference was my first trip to New Orleans. Like most post-Katrina visitors, I did not know what to expect and was a bit nervous about what the city would be like. When I arrived at the airport, I felt welcome immediately! A lively jazz band greeted visitors as we collected our luggage and made our way to the shuttle buses. The happy atmosphere continued while our busy, friendly shuttle drivers were efficiently attending to all of the visitors, double-checking that everyone was boarding the correct bus route. My first contact with a New Orleans resident was with our bus driver, who made it evident how much the ALA conference meant to his city. While he greeted and talked to all the passengers, he inquired about our hometowns, the length of our journeys, and announced to all of us how grateful he was that we had chosen to visit. He assured us that the community was more than ready for the first major conference to return to New Orleans