When School Library Association (SLA) convenes its annual conference in Washington, DC, June 14-17, 2009, the association will be celebrating its 100th birthday. This occasion allows for grand gestures--the SLA Salutes! Awards and Leadership Reception will be held in the Library of Congress's Great Hall. The conference also draws upon Washington notables as speakers. Librarian of Congress James Billington will address the SLA President's Series. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will be the featured keynote speaker at the Opening General Session and Awards Presentation, to be immediately followed by the SLA Centennial Reception. Noted journalist Judy Woodruff will moderate a panel of "thought leaders" at the Closing General Session and Membership Meeting. Zamora told "Library Journal" that this year's meeting will again offer fewer but longer sessions. Conference planners are studying metrics for three concurrent years to improve the conference model. In this second year, they asked divisions once more to contribute fewer programs but cosponsor more with one another. Zamora characterized the sessions as higher in quality, more advanced, and broader in appeal. Additionally, seven Spotlight Sessions, introduced last year, will focus on popular topics and are expected to attract some 300 people. Conference planners will examine metrics after the conference to make adjustments.