Patti says she got inspired to try out the trade show by Barb Sorenson, the late past director of the Amery Public Library. When she is there, she meets authors and vendors, attends sessions (including one about hosting book-related events even if you don’t have an author), and loads up on freebies. Though it is expensive to attend ($200 for the library’s membership to MBA and $50 for the show), it is also exciting, and the payoff is great, according to Patti. She came home with what she estimates as $2000 worth of books, plus great display items –a 6-foot dragon to celebrate the new book in the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini, for one thing! She promises to send photos once she receives it. Best of all is the chance that every librarian dreams of, rubbing elbows with long-admired authors for kids, teens and adults.
Eau Claire Memorial’s reading specialist Annis Williams, who many of you know as a presenter at IFLS workshops, attends the trade show every year with a few teens–members of the Teen Literacy Initiative group. For the group, it is a great chance to do all of the above.
Next year, the show is in early October. If you want to talk to people who have direct experience with attending, contact Patti (PBlount@durand.k12.wi.us) or Annis (awilliams@ecasd.k12.wi.us)!