ALA 2023
The American Library Association chooses a city to hold its annual conference and exhibition every year. This year, the lucky city is Chicago, and librarians of all sorts will be descending on the city (and virtually) to learn, network, and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded individuals.
The conference page lists many event details and even the local places to stay while attending. This year, the famous Judy Blume will be the featured guest author and a very welcome one. With a jam-packed schedule of events, it’s shaping up to be a great week of learning, networking, and fun. Based on the website, there appear to be:
- 600 opportunities to meet authors, a walking tour of Chicago
- 65 instances of hot topics being discussed
- 199 education-themed programs to attend
- 4.5 days worth of digital experience for those who are virtual
- 33 President & Chair programs
- 23 opportunities to discuss recent library news
If you can’t attend (like me), keep an eye on Twitter and other social media for updates of what’s going on. There’s also the virtual option, which I strongly encourage you to try even though it costs a lot. Participating in these conferences is a great way to learn and keep up with library industry trends. You can also join listservs and follow the ALA on social media.