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As part of an ongoing effort to improve its member experience, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) will host a series of conversations at the 2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta.

The focus of these 90-minute Kitchen Table Conversations will be on a key aspect of inclusion: accessibility for people with physical, mobility, visual, auditory or cognitive disabilities. All conference attendees are encouraged to take part, whether or not they use accessible services.

The conversations will explore how ¾«¶«´«Ã½can better create products, services and environments that enable people with disabilities to participate fully in the ¾«¶«´«Ã½community. ¾«¶«´«Ã½staff and member leaders will ask volunteers a series of open-ended questions about their experience with ALA. A note-taker will be present to record comments, but they will be kept anonymous.

The will be held from Jan. 20 to 24 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta.

The Kitchen Table Conversations are open to all conference-goers, regardless of membership status, and will be held at the following times. All gatherings will take place in GWCC room B317.

• Sunday, Jan. 22, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 22, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 23, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 23, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

These Kitchen Table Conversations are part of ALA’s efforts to celebrate diversity and create a more inclusive culture throughout the association and library profession.

¾«¶«´«Ã½has conducted Kitchen Table Conversations at previous national conferences; past topics have included ¾«¶«´«Ã½member communications, library advocacy and the ¾«¶«´«Ã½conference experience. Previous participants in these conversations have said they welcome the opportunity to sit down with other attendees to share their thoughts and ideas with ALA.