ALC 2020 Cancellation
Dear ALC Community,
With heavy hearts we must inform you that we are cancelling the 2020 Alberta Library Conference due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
We did not take this decision lightly. As well as cancelling the conference, we considered postponing until later in the year but concluded that the situation may continue to be uncertain for a considerable time. The health and safety of our conference attendees and exhibitors is of paramount importance. Public health officials and governments have stressed that social distancing and avoiding large gatherings is key to reducing and slowing the spread of the virus.
The survey we circulated last week indicated that a fall conference would severely impact the success of ALC 2021 the following April. Most people were not in favour of moving ALC permanently to October so we will not be pursuing that option.
We also took into account the financial and emotional toll of the current situation. Libraries will be in recovery mode when they reopen and it could take many months to resume normal operations.
All ALC registration fees will be refunded over the course of the next few weeks. Credit card purchases will be refunded back to the card. If you sent a cheque as payment, it will be destroyed as no cheques have yet been processed.
All existing Jasper Park Lodge reservations will automatically be cancelled, and your deposit will be refunded. Please allow time for this process to take place as each reservation has to be individually cancelled and they are dealing with thousands of them. If you have a reservation at another hotel, you will need to contact them directly.
We are truly sorry that we will not be seeing you in Jasper in April. Our annual gathering fosters community-building and the sharing of important information for our libraries.
The ALC Committee is deeply saddened that the conference we have worked so hard to create will not take place, but know that it is the only way to protect the health of everyone, and particularly those people more vulnerable to the effects of the virus.
May you all remain in good health and we hope to see you in Jasper in April 2021.
Deb Cryderman, Chair
ALC 2020 Planning Committee
Original link to letter: https://www.albertalibraryconference.com/page/email.aspx?queueid=2361E9E7-4A02-4429-B277-04F61B856D3D
