Four years ago I submitted a Top of the Morning regarding my appreciation of the city’s welcoming of the 2004 Mississippi Library Association Conference. Librarians from around the state and speakers and vendors from around the country visited our city and had a wonderful time dining and shopping — and attending meetings!

My comments that morning were that I hoped they would return in 2008. Well, guess what? They’re coming back this week!

The 2008 Mississippi Library Association Conference will be this week, bringing librarians, vendors, speakers and guests back to Natchez. With over 500 registered attendees expected to invade Natchez during this week, local shops and restaurants should expect to see many librarians and vendors about town.

Among the programs planned are “An Afternoon Tea with Authors” and the Mississippi Authors’ Awards Dinner with Natchez’s own, Robert Dalby (Rob Kuehnle). Our keynote speaker will be Jim Rettig, 2008 President of the American Library Association. Other authors to be featured are Pulitzer Prize nominated author, Rheta Grimsley Johnson, author of “Poor Man’s Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana” and Mississippi’s Walt Grayson, Patty Roper and Sherry Pace.

Tuesday evening (still leaving time for people to dine out!) we will honor our president, Jeff Slagell, and raise funds for our two scholarships with a wine and cheese party at Monmouth. Wednesday evening is a “free time” event (no conference meal is planned), so restaurants should be prepared for the crowds!

On Thursday morning, Friends of Libraries, USA will place a bronze marker at the NAPAC Museum, dedicating the Richard Wright Exhibit Hall as a National Literary Landmark. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the George W. Armstrong Library, Friends of Mississippi Libraries, the Mississippi Library Association and the Mississippi Library Commission. We are honored and pleased to be a part of this dedication, honoring Richard Wright, just one month after the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The mission of the Mississippi Library Association is to provide professional leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarians in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

The Mississippi Library Association is an organization for librarians from all types of libraries.

So, if you notice someone that looks like a lost librarian, please stop and offer assistance. We want them to have a good time — and to come back every four or so years!

The Mississippi Library Association Conference has about a half a million dollar economic impact on our city’s economy each time they come.

Nancy McLemore, director of the library at Co-Lin and I have worked very hard to ensure that all have a good time.

Let us all do what we do best — be wonderful hosts.

Susan Cassagne is the director of the Armstrong Library.