exhibit hall Archives | American Libraries Magazine

The Library Marketplace at the American Library Association's 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition, held June 22–27 in Chicago. Photo by Rebecca Lomax at American Libraries.

Trending Upward

By Marshall Breeding | July 19, 2023

From energetic demos and mascots to giveaways and games, vendors continue to invest in their exhibit hall spaces for the opportunity to interact with current and potential customers. Additionally, many businesses act as sponsors, contributing to the overall success of Annual Conference and the Association. While this wasn’t a year for breaking news in the … Continue reading Trending Upward →

Daphene Keys, public services librarian at Houston Community College, with the Baker & Taylor mascots

A Marketplace of Ideas

By Marshall Breeding | July 20, 2022

ALA mandated COVID-19 vaccinations and face masks for conference attendees, which lent some confidence for personal interactions on the exhibit floor. While some vendors noted lighter traffic than in past years, there appeared to be a sense of appreciation for the return of a live marketplace—and a consensus that virtual conferences have not been able … Continue reading A Marketplace of Ideas →

Exhibit hall candids from the American Library Association's 2022 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C. Clockwise from top right: Steph McHugh (left) and Mary Hamer (right), media specialists and librarians at Yorkville (Ill.) Community Unit School District 115, pose with author Rosemary Wells during a signing of her book If You Believe in Me. María Daniela “Dani” Thurber, reference librarian in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress and immediate past president of the District of Columbia Library Association, makes a conductive bracelet at the Tech Test Pilot Playground. Luke Sutherland, access services specialist at Montgomery College Library in Takoma Park, Maryland, creates a page for the #alaac22 collaborative zine in the Zine Pavilion. Shayna Szabo, youth services librarian at LA County (Calif.) Library, pets Oliver, a rabbit from Peacebunny Island, an island on the Mississippi River where rabbits are trained to become comfort and emotional support animals.

Bookend: Reunited, and It Feels So Good

By Terra Dankowski | July 20, 2022

Steph McHugh (left) and Mary Hamer (right), media specialists and librarians at Yorkville (Ill.) Community Unit School District 115, pose with author Rosemary Wells during a signing of her book If You Believe in Me. María Daniela “Dani” Thurber, reference librarian in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress and immediate past president … Continue reading Bookend: Reunited, and It Feels So Good →

On Display in the Exhibit Hall

By Marshall Breeding | July 17, 2019

The ongoing allure of books Traditional books still dominate much of the hall. Publishers and distributors pull out all the stops to win the attention of librarians, appreciated for their influence in promoting titles they recognize as quality literature. Many librarians schedule their exhibit visits around the times when their favorite authors are present to … Continue reading On Display in the Exhibit Hall →

Photos: Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries

Bookend: Exhibiting Energy

July 17, 2019

Jim Cowen, music reference librarian at University of the Arts Libraries in Philadelphia, takes the Star Wars READ Selfie Challenge. Shanna Hollich, collection management librarian at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, learns to play Illimat at the Gaming and Graphic Novel Pavilion. Carolyn Long (right), volunteer at STAR Academy Charter School in Memphis, Tennessee, poses … Continue reading Bookend: Exhibiting Energy →

The American Library Association's 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition will be held in Washington, D.C., June 20–25. Photo: ©Tono Balaguer/Adobe Stock

2019 Annual Conference Preview

By Greg Landgraf | June 3, 2019

Conference highlights Sonia Sotomayor, associate justice of the US Supreme Court and author of four books, will take the stage 8:30–9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, for a conversation with her editor, Jill Santopolo of Philomel Books. For more on Sotomayor, whose latest book Just Ask! is forthcoming in September, read our interview. The Opening General Session features Jason Reynolds, author … Continue reading 2019 Annual Conference Preview →

Tech in the Exhibit Hall

By Marshall Breeding | July 18, 2018

The conference brought together more than 750 companies and organizations in the world’s largest exhibition of library-oriented technology. This roundup describes a few of the products that caught my eye. It’s not a comprehensive report; there were just too many interesting items on hand to write about them all. Seeking synergies ProQuest is a good … Continue reading Tech in the Exhibit Hall →

Young patrons at Santa Ana (Calif.) Public Library participate in a computational thinking activity at the library’s Coding Playground event in April 2018. Photo: Santa Ana Public Library

Libraries Ready to Code Collection Beta Release at Annual

By Marijke Visser and Nicky Rigg | June 12, 2018

The Libraries Ready to Code Collection is a cache of resources developed, tested, and curated by libraries, for libraries to create, implement, and enhance their computer science (CS) programming for youth. In the nine months since Libraries Ready to Code announced the 28 grantee libraries participating in the project, the cohort has piloted a range … Continue reading Libraries Ready to Code Collection Beta Release at Annual →

2018 Annual Conference Must-Dos

By Donna Hunter | May 1, 2018

Use the Annual Conference Scheduler to start planning. Speakers who inspire ALA President Jim Neal welcomes Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, filmmaker, immigrant rights advocate, and CEO of Define American Jose Antonio Vargas as his President’s Program speaker (June 24). This year’s slate of Auditorium Speaker Session presenters includes presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin … Continue reading 2018 Annual Conference Must-Dos →

Google promoted its “Libraries Ready to Code” joint initiative with ALA.

Tech Power

By Marshall Breeding | July 19, 2017

I probably spend more time in the exhibit hall than most conference attendees—you may have seen me browsing the aisles or rushing to my next appointment. The meetings I have with company executives and product experts inform much of my research and writing for months to come as a chronicler of the library technology industry. … Continue reading Tech Power →

ALA's Annual Conference and Exhibition returns to Chicago, June 22–27. Photo: City of Chicago

2017 ALA Annual Conference Preview

By Greg Landgraf | June 1, 2017

Returning to McCormick Place—and ALA’s hometown—after four years, Annual will offer a host of professional development opportunities, new ideas to help shape the future of libraries, a full slate of author programs and fascinating speakers, and a variety of special events and other activities. This preview offers a small sample of what to expect. Click … Continue reading 2017 ALA Annual Conference Preview →

ALA Annual Chicago Conference and Exhibition

2017 ALA Annual Conference Must-Dos

By Mary Mackay | May 1, 2017

Use the Annual Conference Scheduler to start planning. Speakers who inspire Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology, will be the featured speaker at the Opening General Session (June 23). ALA President Julie B. Todaro welcomes actor, producer, designer, and library and literacy … Continue reading 2017 ALA Annual Conference Must-Dos →

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“A new Taylor Swift album is always a big event on the internet, including fans carefully reading into every line for hidden meaning—a little like close reading poetry. But while Swifties have celebrated Taylor Swift’s lyricism from the beginning, no album invites comparisons to literature quite like The Tortured Poets Department, if just for the title. Already, outlets have been putting together reading lists to pair with each song on the album. Here are just a few to get you started.”

Book Riot, Apr. 22
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PC World, Apr. 17
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Librarian by Day, Apr. 19; BBC, Apr. 9
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International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Apr. 22
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Jezebel, Apr. 18; Book Riot, Apr. 22
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ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Apr. 22
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