Takin’ it (Big) Easy: ALA Annual 2011

Next weekend I’m heading to New Orleans for my 3rd American Library Association Annual Conference. I’m excited for the following reasons:

1. My ALSC committee (Children & Technology) is putting on a program. And it’s all new fangled: Picture Books Go Digital. In case you’re interested, it’s from 8:00-10:00am on Sunday in room 285 of the convention center. I’ll also be hitting as many other programs as time will allow.
2. Notable Children’s Books committee meetings. I’m not on the committee, but these discussions of the best books of the year are open to the masses. I’ve attended in the past and highly recommend it.
3. The possibility of seeing cardigan sweaters with the sleeves ripped off. What else is a librarian to do in the midst of uncompromising heat and humidity? Wear a (*scoff*) t-shirt?
4. Meeting up with book-related friends. This is always a highlight. Want to meet up? Send me an email (scopenotes (at) gmail (dot) com).
5. Exhibits. Also known as I Walk in Circles Time. Publishers put their latest and greatest on display. No matter how many times I stroll through the aisles, I always find something new.
6. Library of the Early Mind screening. I can’t wait to check out this documentary on children’s literature, showing Saturday night at 9:00pm and featuring a Q&A session hosted by Horn Book editor Roger Sutton. Here’s the trailer:
7. Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet. This is where the winners of the biggest awards in children’s lit collect their prizes and the Newbery and Caldecott winners give speeches. Watch for me cheering on fellow Michigander Erin Stead. I’ll be sitting with the fine folks at Albert Whitman during the revelry.

Along the way I’ll post dispatches from New Orleans. A couple, two, three photos may turn up. A video, perhaps. Some words are also likely – here and on Twitter.

See you there?

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