Some conscientious ALA members launched a campaign to encourage the use of reusable mugs at the midwinter meeting this year. Old habits die hard, though; according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, paper and Styrofoam cups were plentiful.

MLA ‘08 sponsor EBSCO will give every registered attendee a reusable water bottle for use during the meeting and afterwards. That’s the carrot, and here’s the stick: Chicago Mayor Richard Daley hopes to impose a 10 cent tax on all disposable bottles, making that hotel bottle of water even more obscenely expensive.

So go ahead and reuse EBSCO’s bottle! Our thanks for their help in making MLA ‘08 our greenest meeting ever.

- Marcus Banks