Opening Reception
The conference kicked off with an Opening Reception in the lobby of The Oread, a distinctive hotel perched on the edge of the University of Kansas campus. Attendees gathered to reconnect with colleagues and meet new faces in a relaxed setting before the full program began.
Banquet
A conference banquet brought participants together for an evening of dining and conversation. The banquet provided an opportunity to celebrate the week's discussions and strengthen professional connections in a more formal atmosphere.
Tour Kansas City
Post-Conference Excursion
A post-conference tour of Kansas City was offered, giving attendees a chance to experience the region beyond Lawrence. The itinerary included a stop at Crescent Moon Winery, among other local highlights.
Crescent Moon Winery
Participants visited this Kansas City–area winery as part of the tour, enjoying a taste of the local wine scene and a change of pace after several days of sessions and workshops.
Local Favorites
A curated guide to Lawrence's dining, shopping, and cultural spots helped attendees make the most of their free time. Downtown Lawrence — within walking distance of the Kansas Union — offered a variety of options.
- Massachusetts Street (Mass Street) — The heart of downtown Lawrence, lined with independent restaurants, cafés, bookstores, and boutiques.
- Local Breweries & Coffeehouses — Several craft breweries and roasters within a short walk of campus and the conference hotels.
- Cultural Stops — Galleries, live music venues, and historic sites dotted the downtown corridor for those with an hour or an evening to explore.
Beyond the formal sessions, the social events of IASSIST 2017 offered attendees a chance to experience the welcoming spirit of the Kansas City region. The opening reception at The Oread set a collegial tone, allowing data professionals from libraries, archives, and research agencies to connect informally against the backdrop of the University of Kansas campus. The conference banquet later in the week provided a more formal yet equally warm setting for conversation and camaraderie. These gatherings reinforced the conference theme of data as a common language, reminding participants that the relationships built over meals and shared experiences are just as vital to advancing the data community as the ideas exchanged during presentations and workshops.