ROUNDUP TIME IN SAN ANTONIO APPROACHES FOR VIRTUAL REFERENCE PROS Grab your rope and saddle, round up time is here---The Reference Roundup, that is! There are only a few weeks left to get the early-bird registration rate for this year's Virtual Reference Desk Conference, "Reference Roundup," to be held November 17 and 18 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk Hotel in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. The conference will feature more than 50 programs dealing with planning, implementing, managing, and marketing virtual reference programs. The keynote speaker for this year's conference is Dr. Robert Martin, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), who will provide an update on what's happening with the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and other issues in Washington. The annual VRD Conference has earned its reputation as the premiere event for digital reference information and products. The conference consistently attracts recognized leaders in the reference information field. The event hosts over 500 library and information professionals from the United States and abroad by offering sessions on reference service management, resource development, current technologies, vendor product demonstrations, and more. The VRD Conference delivers practical solutions, management practices and tools, and the latest research in a congenial atmosphere that promises to be lively, thought provoking and informative. So rustle up your co-workers, and we hope to see y'all in November. Ten-gallon hats are optional. The preconference, on Sunday, November 16, will feature Chuck McClure, Dave Lankes, Joe Janes, and Buff Hirko (a veritable "Wild Bunch" on virtual reference) on "Management Strategies for Digital Reference Services: Practical Approaches." The workshop has the following objectives: * Provide specific practical strategies for how to design, implement, and manage digital reference services; * Explore a range of successful management practices that can be modified for use in participants' libraries; * Introduce participants to leaders in digital reference management and to their strategies and techniques; * Offer a forum for participants to share ideas, suggestions, and discussions with colleagues and instructors. Christie Koontz, director of the GeoLib Program at Florida State University, will present the postconference on Wednesday, November 19. Titled "Marketing Digital and Other Reference Services: First Stop, Not Last Resort!" this half day program is designed to introduce the fundamental concepts of marketing, and the practical steps in any successful marketing plan. Participants will identify marketing activities in their organization, write a mission statement, identify strengths and weaknesses, and generally debunk the myths of marketing. The Virtual Reference Desk Conference is a joint project of the Virtual Reference Desk Project at the Information Institute at Syracuse University (sponsored by the United States Department of Education) and the OCLC Institute. Register now at <http://www.vrd2003.org/>. You can also find more information at that address. But don't wait too long---we don't want any strays out there on the range. And of course, it will be easy to "Remember the Alamo!" It's right across from our hotel! ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).