ALA's Social Responsibilities Round Table celebrated its 40th anniversary July 13 at the Alternative Media Reception co-organized with the Alternative Press Center. The party, held at Hyde Park's funky Experimental Station, included a Mediterranean food buffet, impromptu speeches, jazz from the three-piece combo Brian Sandstrom and Friends, three kinds of vegan cake, and some far left publisher types.
The Exhibits Hall is great, for sure. It's how we hear about new products the big vendors are rolling out. But thanks to the Alternative Press Center, this party hosted a mix of about a dozen publishers you didn't get to see at McCormick Place, such as aforementioned Revolution. Also in the mix–and more likely to be added to my reading list–were Chicago-based pubs Stop Smiling and The Point.
SRRT coordinator LaJuan Pringle (below) emceed the event, and several members gave impromptu speeches about SRRT's achievements in passing resolutions in ALA Council, including their urging ALA to come out against the Vietnam war. SRRT Secretary Mike Marlin told me he was happy about the turnout but wished the city offered better public transportation to Hyde Park, a location that likely prohibited a bigger crowd. 
Even despite difficulty getting there, SRRT couldn't have picked a more appropriate venue. The Experimental Station calls itself an "incubator of innovative cultural, educational, and environmental projects and small-scale enterprises." Named from Frank Lloyd Wright's 1901 speech "The Art and Craft of the Machine," the Experimental Station blends art and technology under the same roof, according to the Stations's website. But you may not want to stand on that roof, which also serves as a large balcony from the second floor. We did but were warned it's not up to code.