Thanks to Ted Baldwin on sla-dche for the info.
Looks like bloggers will still be again struggling to post live in Baltimore at the Annual Conference. SLA HQ will not provide service. Individuals can access wireless internet using the WiFi Internet Café service at the Starbucks in the Pratt Street Lobby entrance. There will also be access at the Main and Outdoor Terrace locations on the 300 Level. My understanding is that it is not free.
So, which one will I buy, the access in the Center or my hotel room? Decisions...
UPDATE: I just learned that ALA is paying for wireless access in the New Orleans Convention Center and that it will be available freely to all attendees in all the building except the exhibits hall. I'll keep dreaming for SLA in Denver next year...
Technorati tag: sla2006
Should we start a petition for 2007?
Posted by: Jill Hurst-Wahl | Friday, June 02, 2006 at 13:22
Posted at the request of Kristin Foldvik, CMP, SLA's events director:
SLA is looking into ways to offer wireless for its attendees for future conferences. Wi-Fi access varies in every convention center. In Baltimore, there was only a small radius around the hotspots where it could be accessed. There was not an affordable way to offer the attendees wireless without passing along those costs to the attendees.
In effort to keep a large convention in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, ALA was offered many concessions. One of which was a reduced rate or free wireless access.
Posted by: Carolyn Sosnowski | Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 12:17
Thank you Kristin and Carolyn for the response.
Internet access seems to be an item convention centers think they can charge an extra arm and leg for. Having been scheduled to teach an "hands-on" CE class, I know how much was charged for an Internet connection in Baltimore.
Actually, I'm not surprised to learn that ALA got the free/cheaper wireless as a "favor". New Orleans really need the conventions. It is a very nice favor though...
Posted by: clw | Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 12:28