Attendee Services
To help make your conference experience a great one!
Accessibility & Mobility Assistance
PLA has put in place features to ensure the conference is accessible to all. These include, but are not limited to: captioning of the Opening Session, Closing Session, and Big Ideas Series; accessible sleeping rooms; ASL interpreters; and mobility assistance like scooters and wheelchairs. Please contact Melissa Faubel Johnson at mfaubel@ala.org no later than January 31, 2020, to reserve a scooter/wheelchair or to request an ASL interpreter.
Scooters and wheelchairs are permitted on the exhibit floor as long as they are in use at all times. Wheeled carts, however, are not permitted at any time. If you have a medical condition requiring you to use a cart, please bring a doctor's note to the special assistance counter in the registration area.
For more onsite information or help, please call the PLA Office in Music City Center room 214 at 615-345-6500.
Appropriate Conduct
All participants are expected to observe the rules and behaviors described in the Statement of Appropriate Conduct in all conference venues, including online venues, and conference social events. The statement includes contact information to report incidents of harassment.
Career Center
Once again, we’re working on building a helpful and resourceful spot for job seekers, recruiting libraries, and advisors to connect at PLA Conference. The Career Center, at the end of the 1000 aisle in the Exhibits Hall, will have coordinated events at select times—including the Career Fair, résumé reviews, speed mentoring, interview coaching, and career-related Crash Courses—but will remain open during conference hours to enable job posting or impromptu interviews.
Coat/Bag Check
Coat/bag check is in the Music City Center outside the Exhibits Hall, across from Exhibit Hall D. Open Tuesday–Saturday.
CPLA Re-certification Hours
Are you a Certified Public Library Administrator®? Attend the full PLA 2020 Conference and receive 10 re-certification hours for the CPLA program.
First Aid/Medical Emergencies
The Music City Center first aid room, staffed by an EMT and supplied with over-the-counter medications, is located just outside the entrance to Exhibit Hall B on Level 3.
If a medical emergency occurs in Music City Center, DO NOT call 911. Please pick up any house phone in the building or call 615-401-1300 and be prepared to state your location and emergency.
Food Options in Music City Center
Fresh Pick Market & Café
MCC Level 3, past the Exhibits Hall
Hours: Monday–Friday 6:00 AM–8:00 PM; Saturday 7:00 AM–8:00 PM
A fast-casual option that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with grab-and-go snack and drink options.
Al Taglio
MCC Level 1, corner of 5th Avenue and Korean Veteran's Boulevard
Hours: 11:00 AM–8:30 PM
A Roman-style pizzeria offering a pizza and café menu along with a full bar featuring local beers and spirits.
Dunkin Donuts
MCC Level 1, corner of 5th Avenue and Korean Veteran's Boulevard
Hours: Monday–Friday 6:00 AM–7:00 PM; Saturday 6:00 AM–6:00 PM
Hot and iced coffee, espresso drinks, donuts, muffins, oatmeal, and bagels.
Gender-Neutral Restrooms
Facilities that people of all gender identities and expressions are welcome to use without interference. At PLA, we assign multiple restrooms throughout the conference center for this purpose. These restrooms are referred to as "gender-neutral restrooms," "gender-inclusive restrooms," or "all-gender restrooms."
Gender-neutral restrooms are designated in the Music City Center:
- End of hallway near rooms 104 and 106.
- End of hallway near rooms 207 and 209.
- In the Exhibits Hall, front of Exhibit Hall B.
- Level 4 Grand Ballroom, nearest to outside balcony.
Anyone can use the gender-neutral restrooms. Their purpose is to provide facilities that are safe, accessible, and convenient for all.
People who are transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming have been subjected to many kinds of discrimination and disrespectful behavior. All people have a right to feel safe when using restroom facilities. Gender-neutral restrooms also meet medical and accessibility needs of all conference attendees.
Gender-specific (female/women and male/ men) restrooms are also available.
Handouts
For programs: If presenters uploaded handouts in advance of the conference, then you’ll find them attached to program detail pages. Go to Programs & Handouts and click a program title to open its detail page. Handouts will also be attached to programs in the mobile app. If you don’t find handout links on a program's detail page, or attached to a program in the mobile app, this most likely means the presenter(s) didn’t upload handouts.
For preconferences: Sorry, but handouts for preconferences are not available to download.
Lactation Rooms
For convenience and privacy, lactation rooms are located on Music City Center Levels 1 and 3. There is soft furniture, a changing table, and a sink. There are also power outlets.
Local Transportation
Visit the Getting Around Nashville page for information about buses, taxis, rideshare services, and commuter rail. For printable and interactive city maps, visit visitmusiccity.com.
Lost and Found
Articles may be turned in and reclaimed at the PLA Office in room 214 of the Music City Center. Office hours are:
Tuesday, February 25, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Wednesday, February 26, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Thursday, February 27, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday, February 28, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday, February 29, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
After the conference, contact PLA at pla@ala.org to inquire about items lost onsite.
Member Lounge
The PLA Member Lounge, located in the back of the Exhibits Hall, down the 600 aisle, is an area where attendees can relax, charge their electronic devices, meet with other PLA members, and learn more about PLA programs and initiatives. There will also be fun photo opportunities for you to post and show off how much fun you’re having in Music City!
Mobile App
The PLA 2020 Conference mobile app is now available, and all advance registrants will receive an email invitation (sent to the address in your registration record) to download the app. While onsite, the mobile app is your primary source for conference information. Although a compact schedule (made from 100% recycled papers) will be distributed at registration, for detailed information—including program descriptions, presenters, evaluations, and more—please refer to the mobile app.
The mobile app requires iOS 11 and higher or Android 7.0 and higher. Non-supported mobile devices have access to a mobile-friendly web-based version of the app that can also be used on any computer.
PLA Member Headshot Studio
Available exclusively to PLA members!
Say "Cheese" and update your profile photos with a complimentary headshot from the PLA Member Headshot Studio, located in the back of the Exhibits Hall near the Career Center. Available exclusively to PLA members, the studio will provide makeup stations and supplies for light touch-ups, a professional photographer, one 4"x6" printed headshot photo, and kiosks for participants to email themselves an electronic copy. The studio will be open Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 28 during exhibit hours and is available on a first come, first served basis. Attendees can verify their PLA membership by showing their badge or going to the American Library Association booth (#845) to receive verification.
Pop-Up Shops
Shop for a cause between program sessions on Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 28! Local organizations will host pop-up shops outside the Exhibits Hall so attendees can support their missions. Participating organizations include:
- Thistle Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise, based in Nashville, dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Thistle Farms provides a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sisterhood of support because they believe love is the most powerful force in the world.
- BRANDED Collective works with survivors of human trafficking from Nashville-based non-profit End Slavery Tennessee. BRANDED is an economic empowerment jobs program where the women design and handcraft the jewelry collection.
- Humphreys Street, a social enterprise of Harvest Hands CDC, was born out of a desire to raise up leaders within the neighborhood by creating jobs, providing mentorship opportunities, and teaching job skills that empower youth. 100% of profits are reinvested into programs and scholarships that support their students.
Registration/Attendee Materials Pick-up
Your conference badge and event tickets (for preconferences and meal events) will be mailed to you by the end of January. If you registered recently or too late to receive your badge in the mail by the end of January, your badge will be available at registration. A photo ID is required to receive your badge onsite. Your badge must be presented at the Attendee Materials Pick-up counters on Level 2 of the Music City Center to complete the registration process. Registration is open:
Tuesday, February 25, 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
Wednesday, February 26, 7:30 AM–6:30 PM
Thursday, February 27, 7:30 AM–5:30 PM
Friday, February 28, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM
Saturday, February 29, 8:00 AM–10:00 AM
Badge and Tickets
Please remember to bring your badge and tickets. There is a $10.00 fee for a replacement badge. Badges must be worn at all times. PLA reserves the right to deny entrance without proper badge. If your badge or tickets require changes, please proceed to the registration area at the Music City Center.
Materials
As of 2018, we've replaced the bulky onsite program book and registration handouts with a compact schedule (made from 100% recycled papers). With this reduction of materials, the conference tote bag has become a thing of the past. If you still enjoy having a tote bag for carrying non-registration items, please plan ahead and bring your own bag or swing through the Exhibits Hall to see which vendors are providing bags. The reduction of printed materials helps PLA to invest in other attendee resources to enhance your conference experience.
Shipping
For your shipping needs, the UPS Store is set up in the back of the Exhibits Hall between aisles 1600 and 1700:
Thursday, February 27, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday, February 28, 9:00 AM–1:30 PM
The UPS Store in the Omni Nashville Hotel, adjacent to Music City Center, is also open:
Friday, February 28, 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Saturday, February 29, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Wellness Center
The PLA Wellness Center—in room 107 of the Music City Center—is available as a quiet, reflective space for attendees Thursday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, and Saturday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. This room will also host yoga (pre-registration required) and meditation sessions (first come, first served) throughout the conference.
WiFi/Internet Access
Complimentary WiFi is available in the Music City Center. Connect your device to the "MCC WiFi" network. Attendees may also access the Internet from desktop computers located near the 200 Level meeting rooms and outside the entrance to the Exhibits Hall on Level 3.
Have a question about something that’s not listed? Many commonly asked questions are answered in our FAQ. You can also check the conference Contact page or contact PLA at
