ALA Revisited

As I sit and reflect on the many highlights of this summer, picking a singular favorite would be a tall order. One that stands out, at least for purposes of this particular blog, was my visit to the American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition which took place June 22-27. With this year's event featured in Chicago, being able to drive proved to be a blessing in disguise. You see, a great benefit to the 'Exhibition' portion of such gatherings is the abundance of merchandise regularly distributed. Had this trip been to a faraway destination, lugging back 40 (yes 40) books wouldn't have been feasible (space and cost factors). Add in the 7 tote bags and 8 buttons, I'd have had to exchange bringing back clothing to make room for Patricia Bailey’s The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan. I'm not positive, but that might be a TSA infraction.

It's not just about the giveaways, mind you. There's also the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow librarians…my peeps. You get to talk shop with associates hailing from around the 50 states, share ideas and notes, celebrate the happenings in your community. Furthermore, the platform provides us in the library world a venue to meet with authors and artists within the publishing world. With a host of panel discussions, programs, and classes, the only difficulty resides in trying to coordinate a schedule to attend as many presentations as possible. That being said, here are several of the forums I attended:

The Rise of Graphic Novels for Kids in Europe and the USA

European and American publishers and authors discussed the emergence of the format and its phenomenal rise internationally in the past decade. Amongst those headlining – Teresa Radice and Stefano Turconi, with their award-winning Globetrotting Viola, and Caldecott Award winner Vera Brosgol (Anya's Ghost).

YA Authors Dish about YA!

Authors from Blink, HarlequinTEEN, and Balzer + Bray explored some of the newest trends and topical issues facing Young Adult authors and books today. Panelists included: Jen Lancaster (The Gatekeepers), Angie Thomas (The Hate You Give), McCall Hoyle (The Thing with Feathers), Amanda Foody (Daughter of the Burning City), Alison Gervais (In 27 Days), and Gregory Scott Katsoulis (All Rights Reserved).

Tools of Engagement: Inspiring Younger Readers, and the Adults Who Guide Them

Laurie Arnold (Hello There, We've Been Waiting for You!) and Sally Sanford (Henry and the Huckleberries) examined how to use modern media and traditional tools to help librarians connect children to books appropriate for their reading levels.

WNDB Presents: Spooky Tales for Middle Grade Readers

We Need Diverse Books brought together middle grade authors for a dialog on folk tales and contemporary works. Through their stories, the aim is to show how dark narratives can be uplifting and teach readers to see themselves as the hero(ine). National Book Award winner Will Alexander was part of the roundtable.

Location, Location, Location: When Setting Becomes as Important as Character

Three 2017 Debut Middle Grade Authors reflected on the importance of setting in books for middle grade readers. They discussed how a fully developed setting shapes the story, helps readers relate to a variety of characters and themes, and brings books to life across a range of genres.

WORLDS and WORDS beyond: Gateways into Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Sara Ella (Unraveling) and Mary Weber (The Evaporation of Sofi Snow) explained why libraries are the perfect place to introduce fantasy and sci-fi to readers who have never tried the style. As library professionals, we're personally challenged in helping our patrons find new and exciting stories and authors.

Getting Kids Excited About STEM

Bestselling author Andrea Beaty talked about encouraging STEM for young readers with her collection of picture books Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect. Gregory Mone discussed his new series, Jack and the Geniuses, which is co-authored by Bill Nye the Science Guy.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the conference, or have specific questions about the various expositions, drop me a line!

This musing brought to you by YA Librarian, Chris.