Award-winning Aboriginal singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark is one of Canada’s most unique artists. She blends the Inuktitut and English languages with contemporary pop music arrangements to tell the stories of her people, the Inuit of Arctic Canada. The emotional depth and honesty of her lyrics, her pure, clear voice and her themes of hope, spirit and encouragement have captivated and inspired listeners everywhere.

Lawrence Lessig is a Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and founder of the school’s Center for Internet and Society. Prior to joining the Stanford faculty, he was the Berkman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Lessig was named one of Scientific American's Top 50 Visionaries, for arguing "against interpretations of copyright that could stifle innovation and discourse online."

Stephen Abram is President 2004/05 of the CLA and Vice President, Innovation of Sirsi Corporation. Library Journal listed him as one of the top 50 people influencing the future of libraries and librarianship. He has been awarded SLA’s John Cotton Dana Award as well as being a Fellow of the SLA. Stephen was Canadian Special Librarian of the Year and Alumni of the Year for the Faculty of Information Studies at the University of Toronto where he teaches library management. (Sessions C8, F5)

Kathy Bantle has worked at the Claresholm Public Library since 1984, serving as Head Librarian for the past 18 years. While serving on Town Council from 1989 to 2001, one of her duties was to oversee renovations of the Claresholm Museum. The Town of Claresholm built a new public library in 2004. (Session F1)

Neil Barber is the Lottery Funding Program’s Community Liaison Officer for Northern Alberta. For the past 13 years, he has reviewed grant applications with a geographical focus of Edmonton and Northern Alberta. His expertise with reviewing grant initiatives is further enhanced by his extensive personal involvement in the non-profit sector in his own community. (Session H6)

Jennifer Branch is a professor at the University of Alberta and co-author of Focus on Inquiry: A Teacher's Guide to Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning. (Session C3)

Reegan Breu is an Internship librarian with the Edmonton Public Library and a member of its Library Services for Aboriginal Peoples (LSAP) Task Force. Reegan has seven years' prior experience working with Aboriginal communities in Manitoba, and has written on the subject of library services for Aboriginal peoples. (Session H4)

Barbara Brydges is the Acting Director of the Doucette Library of Teaching Resources at the University of Calgary. She has long had an interest in the history of Alberta libraries and is the co-author of a biography of Calgary’s first public librarian, Alexander Calhoun. (Session B8)

Robert Cole is the bibliographer and digital content coordinator for the Peel’s Prairie Provinces project at the University of Alberta Libraries. He has pursued graduate studies in History at both the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta and has worked as an editor and researcher at Chinook Multimedia. (Session C5)

Joanne de Groot is a teacher and librarian who has worked in public, school and regional libraries. Currently, she is a sessional instructor with the Teacher-Librarianship by Distance Learning program at the University of Alberta. (Sessions B7, F2)

Kathleen Delong is Associate Director (Finance and Human Resources), University of Alberta Libraries. She sits on the 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resources Study Steering Committee.(Sessions B1, C1)

Jennifer Delvecchio is a teacher-librarian consultant with the Calgary Board of Education. She is responsible for an area (approximately 45 schools) within the system. (Session G2)

Carolyn Fisher's illustrations have been commissioned by hundreds of magazines and newspapers from Businessweek to Disney Adventure magazine after 13 years of freelancing. Her pictures have earned awards from the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Applied Arts, and others and her art has been exhibited in Florida, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Alberta. Her book, Two Old Potatoes and Me will be featured on PBS educational TV show, Reading Rainbow in 2005. Carolyn Fisher teaches illustration at the Alberta College of Art and Design. When not illustrating and writing, she talks to kids and grownups in Canada and United States about writing and art. (Session H2)

Barbara Franchetto is the Deputy Director of Resource Sharing of the Southern Ontario Library Service. She earned her Masters in Library Science from McGill University and has worked for over 16 years in the public library sector in Ontario. Barbara is a founding member and Chair of COOL (Consortium of Ontario Libraries) which includes libraries from universities, colleges, public libraries and schools. The Consortium launched its provincial shared e-book collection in 2002. (Session G4)

Diane Galloway Salowon was a teacher-librarian for 24 years prior to her secondment to Alberta Learning in 2003. Her passion is enabling students and teachers to become confident, critical and effective users of electronic resources in everyday classroom activity, as well as when directly engaged in the inquiry process. She is presently coordinator of the Online Reference Center, a project of Alberta Learning. (Session H10)

Angie Gerrard is a 2000 U of A SLIS graduate and is currently the Off-Campus Library Services Coordinator at the University of Saskatchewan Library. Prior to this, she was employed at the University of Alberta Libraries for three years in a variety of professional positions. (Session C5)

Andrea Glover is the Coordinator of Reference Services at the University of Lethbridge and teaches a credit course, "Library Research" for the First Nations Transition Program. For the past 17 years she has been trying her darndest to reduce users' information anxiety and increase their information literacy skills. (Session G7)

Kenton Good is the Web Development Librarian for the University of Alberta Libraries. He has been developing Web sites for the past 9 years and from 2000 to 2004, he taught the Digital Librarianship course at the School of Library and Information Studies, U of A. (Session F3)

Don Gorman represents Literary Press Group. (Session C2)

Bonnie Gray is Manager of Public Library Services with the Libraries, Community and Voluntary Sector Services Branch of Alberta Community Development. She has an MLS from UWO and worked with county and regional libraries in Ontario prior to coming to Alberta in 1980. In Alberta, she has worked with public library staff and trustees on projects related to training and continuing education and spent several years working to create regional library systems, particularly in Southern Alberta. She is currently involved in library policy development and strategic planning, library service planning and cooperative initiatives with provincial library organizations. (Session C9)

Wendy Grønnestad-Damur is the Teen Services Librarian at the Centre for Reading & the Arts, Stanley A. Milner Library, Edmonton Public Library. She is EPL’s first Teen Services Librarian and previously worked with teens for many years as a summer music camp administrator and a junior high teacher. She is also known as the "Pink Haired Librarian". (Sessions C4, G6)

Donna Grove is a teacher-librarian consultant with the Calgary Board of Education. She is responsible for an area (approximately 45 schools) within the system. (Session G2)

Chris Hackett designed a number of digital resources in his capacity as the former owner and technical director of Chinook Multimedia. He has pursued graduate studies in Canadian History at both the University of Manitoba and the University of Alberta. He is the author of a number of works about the Canadian Prairies, including the second edition of the Bibliography of Manitoba: A guide to local and regional histories about communities in Manitoba. (Session C5)

George Hall is the manager of Corporate Services at Lethbridge Public Library. He initiated their Friends group in 1992. The group is known for its innovative approach to used book sales. (Session C7)

Ken Haycock is senior partner with Ken Haycock & Associates Inc., building capacity for collaboration, leadership and advocacy through effective board governance and library leadership. He is a past president of the CLA and served on the Executive Board of the ALA. Ken has been a public library trustee, an elected school board trustee and Chair, and an elected municipal councillor. Ken Haycock holds master’s degrees in Business Administration, Education and Library and Information Studies, and is a Certified Human Resources Professional. (Sessions F4, H9)

Laird Hunter is a native of Edmonton where currently he is a partner in the law firm Worton Hunter & Callaghan. He has for some time carried on a significant portion of his practice on the affairs of charitable organizations and non-profit societies. Laird Hunter is a member of the Charities Advisory Committee, a vehicle through which charities and charity experts can provide advice, assistance, and feedback to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on matters related to the CRA’s responsibility for regulating charities. (Session G5)

Kelly Huxley was hired by Onoway Public Library in March 1998, just in time to begin the library automation process. Both she and OPL survived and thrived throughout a changing Board and completing a renovation project. Prior to working at OPL, she was an Executive Assistant for a major concrete product company in Edmonton. (Session G10)

Ernie Ingles is Associate Vice-President (Learning Systems) and Chief Librarian at the U of A. He was the founding Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions, and has held library positions at many Canadian academic institutions. He is also an active player within the Canadian library community and has held numerous executive positions on public and private sector Boards. He is currently the Chair of the Steering Committee for the 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resource Study. (Sessions B1, C1)

Colleen Jensen is very committed to the Penhold & District Public Library – as a former librarian, avid user with her family, and now Board Chair for the past several years. As Director of Community Services for the City of Red Deer, she has responsibility for liaison with the Red Deer Public Library. (Session B5)

Charlene Jones is the Marketing & Promotions Coordinator of the Red Deer College Library. (Session H1)

Grant Kaiser is the Manager of Marketing and Development for the Calgary Public Library, where he is responsible for fundraising, communications, and marketing in North America’s sixth largest municipal library system. He has won numerous international awards for advertising, marketing, and public relations, and has helped CPL raise over $6 million in the past five years for Library collections, building programs, and services. (Session G8)

Nigel Long is a Library Services Consultant with OCLC Canada. Based in Calgary, he has worked with the Alberta library community over the past 15 years. He is currently responsible for introducing the OCLC cooperative’s services to libraries in Western Canada. (Session G4)

Anita Lunden has served on the Olds Municipal Library Board for five years, two and one half years as Chair. She previously served on the Library Board in Chetwynd, BC for three years. Presently working as Manager of Program Development with Business Management Innovations Branch of Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, she has also been a teacher and business owner. (Session B5)

Maggie MacDonald has been the CEO of Chinook Arch Regional Library System since it was founded in 1992, and has significant experience working with a number of Board Chairs. In addition, as the Chair of the Steering Committee for APLEN for four years, she led the development of strategic plans and the consolidation of APLEN as on ongoing provincial initiative. (Session B5)

Clive Maishment has been Director of Yellowhead Regional Library since 1997. He has served on the APLEN Steering Committee since 2000, and was elected Chair of the Committee in May of 2003. He served as regional library representative on the TAL Executive from 2001 to 2003 and continues to serve on the TAL Executive in his current capacity as Chair of APLEN. (Session B4)

Merinda McLure is currently the Education Librarian and First-year Experience Coordinator at The University of Montana-Missoula’s Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. She began researching information literacy instruction for First-Year experience programs as an Academic Library Intern at the University of Alberta Libraries. In 2004, she attended the Summer Institute on First-year Assessment, facilitated by the National Resource Center for the First- Year Experience and Students in Transition. (Session B6)

Alice McNair is Chairperson, Red Deer College Library and oversaw the construction of the library’s new Information Common. (Session H1)

Pat McNamee has been a library consultant with Alberta Community Development for nineteen years. Formerly she was the director of the Banff Public Library and a Branch Manager at Calgary Public Library. (Session F8)

Cate McNeely is the Deputy Chief Librarian of the award winning Richmond Public Library in Richmond, BC. She is a frequent keynote speaker and consultant to libraries and associations throughout North America. In 2002, Library Journal named her a Mover and Shaker in their Visionary category in recognition of her innovation and leadership. (Session H5)

Barbara McNeil is a professional librarian and teacher in Regina, Saskatchewan. She has presented across Canada on a variety of topics. Her research interests are boys and literacy, media literacy, literacy among transient / mobile children, and multicultural education. (Sessions B3, G9)

Susan Moisey is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Distance Education at Athabasca University where she teaches in the Masters of Distance Education program. Her research interests include instructional technology and distance education for learners with disabilities. (Session H8)

Teddy Moline has been in the education business for over 30 years, as a classroom teacher, a teacher-librarian, Alberta Education staff, a university experience in China, district office staff, and now a student in a PhD program at the University of Alberta. She holds a Masters in School Libraries and has done presentations and workshops on a variety of topics for teachers, administrators, and parents throughout the province. As project manager with Alberta Learning for Focus on inquiry, she coordinated the shepherded the document to production.

Heather Morrison is a Project Coordinator with the BC Electronic Library Network and works with post secondary libraries across BC, with major responsibilities in the areas of resource sharing and communications. She has worked on drafting resolutions on Open Access on behalf of the BCLA and CLA Information Policy Committees, and has published a related article entitled “Why Professional Library and Information Associations Should Rise to the Challenge of Open Access and Lead by Example” in Library Hi Tech News. In November 2004, she spoke at the Charleston conference on the topic of Open Access from the non-U.S. / non-U.K. perspective. (Session F7)

Linda Naccarato is the Director of Stony Plain Public Library where the Friends group has been reactivated after a period of exhaustion and dormancy. (Sessions B7, C7)

Byron Norman has been a trustee on the Stettler Public Library Board since 1997 and is presently serving as Chair. He also sits on the Adult Basic Literacy Board. (Session G10)

Shelley O'Connor has worked with the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission as Training Coordinator since June 2003. She has over 9 years' experience working with not-for-profit agencies and she uses this background to provide clear and helpful information sessions to charitable and religious groups. (Session H6)

Dianne Oberg is a professor at the University of Alberta and co-author of Focus on Inquiry: A Teacher's Guide to Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning. (Session C3)

Karla Palichuk has been the APLEN Program Manager since 2003. She joined The Alberta Library in 2000 as the Technology Implementation Coordinator for APLEN where she worked with the public library community to coordinate and deliver on-going training to public library staff. (Session B4)

Barbara Palmer began her university studies as an adult following a number of careers as a professional musician, special education teacher assistant, carpenter, and welder. She obtained her MLIS degree from the U of A in 2001 and spent two years as a professional librarian at the U of A prior to her current position of Head Librarian, Portage Collage in Lac la Biche, Alberta. (Session C5)

N. Pas Paskaran, of the Institute for Unlocking Human Potential, has a mission to share the age old wisdom with all and to provide the opportunity for everyone to experience life at its fullest and challenge everyone to dare to dream big to realize their full potential. (Sessions F10, H7)

Sheryl Pelletier has worked at High level Municipal Library since 1998. In that time she has revamped interlibrary loan procedures within the library six times. (Session C10)

Elenore Powell is involved with the Society of Friends of Cold Lake Library which has been active since 1991. (Session C7)

Lindy Pratch works in Teen Services at the Centre for Reading & the Arts, Stanley A. Milner Library, Edmonton Public Library. She loves mature wines, elderly dogs and young adult literature. She has facilitated a variety of readers’ advisory workshops for staff at EPL. (Session C4)

Fern Reirson has been involved with school libraries for the past 15 years and is currently the teacher-librarian of Jackson Heights school in Edmonton. She is currently the president of the Greater Edmonton Regional Learning Resources Council and is on the executive of the Provincial learning Resources Council. Fern is a sessional instructor for the teacher-Librarianship by Distance learning Program at the University of Alberta. She teacher about different models for inquiry, including the Alberta Inquiry model, in her distance education course.

Diane Rhyason is Associate Director, Legal Studies Program (LSP), Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta. As Associate Director of Information Strategies, she is responsible for the development and project management of law-related and justice-related LSP services and initiatives. She has extensive experience in the post-secondary environment in both library and administrative roles. She has been involved with the LSP since its inception in 1975 initially as an advisor and since 2000 as a team member. (Session B9)

Jenny Ryan is a student at the School of Library and Information Studies (2005 graduate). She has explored and presented on the issues of Internet filtering and censorship with a focus on public libraries and young users. Previous work experiences have included both education and advocacy for children of all ages. After graduation she hopes to work in the field of family literacy and children’s advocacy in libraries. (Session B10)

Pam Ryan is Assessment Librarian, U of A Libraries, the 2004/05 President of the Library Association of Alberta and co-chair of the 2005 Alberta Library Conference planning committee. She coordinated the U of A’s patron-selected e-books acquisitions project. (Session G4)

Toni Samek teaches at the School of Library and Information Studies at the U of A. She has a special interest in the ethics of intellectual freedom and the general principles of human rights. She has served as Convener of the CLA Advisory Committee on Intellectual Freedom and as Chair of LAA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee. (Sessions C6, G1)

Howard Saunders is Manager of the Highlands and Penny McKee, Abbottsfield Branches of Edmonton Public Library and Chair of the Library Services for Aboriginal Peoples (LSAP) Task Force. He has long been active in outreach in the community. (Session H4)

Ellen Sears is a teacher-librarian consultant with the Calgary Board of Education. She is responsible for an area (approximately 45 schools) within the system. (Session G2)

Keith Seel is the Director of the Institute for Non Profit Studies at Mount Royal College. He has written and been published on a variety of subjects including board governance, ethics, sustainability and social marketing. His experience includes several years as a consultant working with large private and non profit sector clients, leadership roles on governance boards, researcher and strategic thinker. (Sessions F6, G3, H3)

Linda Shantz-Kerestzes is a teacher-librarian consultant with the Calgary Board of Education. She is responsible for an area (approximately 45 schools) within the system. (Session G2) Patricia Silver is the Director of the Parkland Regional Library. (Session H1)

Allison Sivak is a librarian in the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library, U of A. She is a research associate involved with the 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resources Study. (Sessions B1, C1)

Lynda Smith is a teacher-librarian consultant with the Calgary Board of Education. She is responsible for an area (approximately 45 schools) within the system. (Session G2)

Mike Sosteric is a faculty member at Athabasca University and is the founder and director of the International Consortium for the Advancement of Academic Publication (ICAAP). ICAAP is a research institute and publication house that provides technological support and production expertise for independent scholars seeking to publish their own journals. (Session F7)

Christine Spring-Gifford is a teacher-librarian and curriculum leader for School and Professional Development at Dr. E.P. Scarlet Sr. High in Calgary, Alberta. She has written a dissertation entitled The Development of School Libraries in Alberta. (Session F9)

Rosalyn Steele is Library Account manager for H.B. Fenn & Company. (Sessions B2, C2)

Anne Stevens is North American Library Account Manager for McClelland & Stewart and Tundra Books. (Sessions B2, C2)

Robert Tannas has been a trustee for the Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives in Athabasca for over 25 years and the County of Athabasca Library Board for 19 years. He was awarded the ALTA Deserving Trustee Award in 2000. (Session G10)

Rob Taylor has been a resident of Beaumont for over 28 years as it grew from a village of 900 residents with mud access roads to a thriving town of over 8,000 residents and a four-lane highway access in the plans. During the time he was a member of Town Council and served on the Library Board, the idea of a new public library was conceived and Rob Taylor acted as chair of the Building Committee that guided the project through construction. (Session F1)

Valerie Thomson is a student at the School of Library and Information Studies (2005 graduate). She has previously presented on children's rights in the library, and has conducted textual research on issues regarding library access and juvenile delinquents. She has spent this past year working with the children’s and youth librarians at Strathcona County Library. After graduation she plans to work as a children’s and youth librarian in Alberta. (Session B10)

Maureen Toews was the project manager of the Red Deer College Library building project. (Session H1)

Lahring Tribe represents Random House Canada. (Sessions B2, C2)

Judith Umbach was appointed to the Calgary Public Library Board in 2000, is presently the Board Chair and also sits on the Services & Facilities Committee. She is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Information Technology Officer with the City of Calgary. In addition, she writes the “Planning for Information Technology” column for the Canadian Library Association magazine, Feliciter. (Session B5)

Judy Vogt is the Coordinator of General Information Literacy at the University of Lethbridge and teaches a credit course, Library Research and information Systems. Since coming to the University in 1987, she has been actively involved in the development and implementation of the Library’s information literacy program. (Session G7)

Andrew Waller is Serials Librarian at the University of Calgary Library. He has a long-term interest in scholarly communication issues, particularly those relating to academic journals. At the UofC, Andrew Waller is a member of the Information Resources Scholarly Resources Committee, which developed policies for the U of C’s institutional repository, and a member of the University of Calgary Press Journal Committee, which reviews and provides advice for the Press’ journal program. (Session F7)

Robyn Wegenseil is an Occupational Health and Safety officer. (Session F8)

Sharon Wesgate was part of a determined ten member Trochu Municipal Library Board with a dream. Together with a dedicated community with a population of 1033, and a supportive Town Council, they brought to reality a $96,000 library purchase/renovation project. (Session F1)

Kit Wilson is Acquisitions and Collections Coordinator, University of Alberta Libraries. (Session G4)

Maureen Woods began her library career in Saskatchewan, working for the Regina Public Library, the Northern Library Region, and finally as Provincial Librarian. She then moved to Alberta, serving as manager of APLEN for four years. In 2003 she became the Director of the Public Library Services Branch for the province of British Columbia. (Session B5)

Kirsten Wurmann is Librarian, Legal Studies, Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta. She is a recent graduate of SLIS at the U of A. She joins the Legal Studies team with responsibilities for ACJNet, and as web librarian on several other law-related projects and initiatives. (Session B9)