FAQs About ALA’s 2021 Annual Conference & Expo

What measures will be put into place to protect the health and safety of attendees?

As we plan for an in-person Annual Conference & Expo, the health and safety of our attendees remains paramount. As the situation with COVID-19 changes, we will adapt our preparation accordingly to ensure a safe environment for all our attendees.

Safe Community
All Annual Conference & Expo attendees (including guests if applicable) will be required to*:

• Agree to and sign an assumption of risk and waiver of claims.
• Complete an attendee screening checklist to verify that they are not experiencing symptoms, have not had close contact with a positive case, have not been advised to self-isolate and have not traveled in an area under a travel health advisory.
• Wear a mask or face covering at all times while at the conference and its social functions, except in limited settings such as during meals. This is in accordance with the City of Austin’s mask mandate for its properties, which include the Convention Center.
• Adhere to social distancing guidelines and safety-related instructions during the event.

If you are unwilling or unable to comply with the above health and safety measures on-site, please contact [email protected] by September 3 to discuss alternative options for your registration. We regret that we will be unable to grant access to noncompliant participants.

*Any attendee refusing to comply with the above health and safety measures on-site will not be granted access to the event, nor will any refunds or expense reimbursements be issued.

Safe Environment

We have also created a safe and secure conference plan that prioritizes the health and safety of all in attendance. This plan includes:

• Attendance screening
• Facial coverings as mandated by the City of Austin
• Staggered start and end times on educational programming to allow for physical distancing and sanitation measures.
• Physical distancing protocols where needed, such as directional signage and markers throughout the venue.
• Reduced touchpoints to ensure minimal handling of materials and food/beverages.
• Increased cleaning, sanitation and hygiene stations during and throughout the event.
• Plus, our venue, the Austin Convention Center, has achieved the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation — the gold standard for prepared facilities — and has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention for the facility. More information on their COVID-19 response is available here.

We are closely monitoring industry best practices and will be evaluating further additional measures pertaining to attendance requirements, on-site screening and other safety protocols based on the advice of health authorities. Please visit www.ALAannualconf.org/safety for more information and updates.