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RE: NAJVS at LC

From: Brian Taves <btav~at~loc.gov>
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 15:05:24 -0500 (EST)
To: jvforum <jvf~at~math.technion.ac.il>

For those of you planning to attend the forthcoming conference of the
North American Jules Verne Society from May 12-15, 2004, cosponsored by
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and What If ... the
Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum of the Library of Congress Professional
Association, I encourage you to examine the information at the meeting
portion of the society's website at http://najvs.org/mindex.htm. This
gives a preliminary outline of the event and program.

There are a number of changes this year, largely because of events taking
place in the facilities of the co-hosting organizations.

Here are some differences with previous NAJVS meetings.

Any one interested in giving a paper or more informal presentation needs
to contact me by April 15 to allow sufficient time for scheduling. There
are already more than 10 speakers lined up, and it will be a busy and
invigorating program. Presentations will be on May 14, possibly
continuing the next morning (followed by the business meeting; NAJVS
concludes Saturday because Library buildings are closed Sunday).

There is a registration form on the website for you to send in to indicate
planned attendance at events (NAJVS members will also get this form with
the newsletter that was just mailed out). Send these no later than April
16 (a later date is given in the newsletter, but please use the earlier
date); mail service in DC is very slow and unreliable. For instance, I
need to know who will be coming to the May 12 evening seminar at the
Alliance Française (a fantastic program--check the four speakers--not to
be missed). Members also need to sign up for the Rare Books tour at the
Library, which can only handle up to ten people per hour. Also, I need
preliminary "head counts" for the dinners, etc., and the registration
indicates the type of food planned if that is a factor.

There are other key differences. Since this event will be open to the
public, we'll meet many more people sharing our enthusiasm for Verne. In
particular, the Library has a large and active Science Fiction and Fantasy
Forum (which I co-chair). The help of NAJVS members will be welcome in
recruiting new members and in answering questions, such as books and
translations to read, etc. There will be a sales desk featuring the
Wesleyan series and other new translations, open during the lunch hour on
May 14. Some of our authors/contributors/editors/illustrators who are
members have kindly agreed to sign copies of their books.

However, like all governmental buildings, the Library has restricted
access and all visitors (and staff) must enter through security sometimes
only slightly less rigorous than that found in an airport. Moreover,
bags, computers, and especially *books* are checked on the way out.
Guards are suspicious--especially of antiquarian books. They will look at
each book to see that it does not have a Library of Congress stamp of some
sort. Consequently, we are suggesting anyone having something "vintage" to
show, please bring it along to the Alliance Française evening, where a
display is planned.

Additional information on the Alliance Francais event can be found at
their website:

http://www.francedc.org/culture/calendar0504.htm#verne

AF has promised to waive the ticket fee for NAJVS members, but I will need
to know the names of those attending in advance. We will be meeting at a
restaurant beforehand, as noted on the NAJVS website.

For anyone arriving early to visit DC, What If..., the Library's Science
Fiction and Fantasy Forum that is cosponsoring the Verne meeting, is
pleased to have one of the conference speakers, Jean-Louis Trudel, giving
an additional talk. This will be on May 11, 12-1, in Room LM-139 of the
Madison building of the Library, and the subject will be 20th Century
French Science Fiction. There will be a luncheon afterward to which
everyone is invited.

Thanks to Mark Eckell, whose sage arrangements on hotel accommodations are
given on

http://najvs.org/mindex.htm

For more information on the Library's Verne collection, go to:

http://jv.gilead.org.il/taves/lcib/LCCollection.html

Other than the evening at the Alliance Française, all events are in the
area of and adjoining the blocks immediately around the Library, which you
can see at:

http://lcweb.loc.gov/loc/maps/images/map.gif

Thanks also to NAJVS webmaster Dennis Kytasaari.

There will be additional updates to the website, so please let me know of
any questions you may have.


Brian Taves
110 D Street, S.E. #515
Washington, D.C. 20003-1815
email: <btav~at~loc.gov>

Disclaimer--All opinions expressed are my own.
Received on Fri 02 Apr 2004 - 22:05:34 IST

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