We took the Peter Pan bus home from Philadelphia to New York City. Only $18.50 for me, my husband and baby! Cheap ride and tons of room. The bus driver didn’t bat an eye at all my tote bags of books and baby things. He encouraged me to put them in the empty seats.
It was a long day and wonderful conference.
Of the books in my totes, I’m most looking forward to reading:
- The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
- Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Where We Go From Here by Lucas Rocha
- King and the Dragon Flies by Kacen Callendar
- The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
- the EveryLibrary Annual Report
- the IMLS grant-funded EXCITE project and future papers
- Marxism: A Graphic Guide by Rupert Woodfin and Oscar Zarate
- The Eighth Life by Ninoharatischvili
- The Light in The Lake by Sarah R. Baughman
- The Oracle Code by Marilee Nijkamp
Conference wind-down highlights included the great exhibit hall empty out of 2020, future planning, design thinking and EXCITE talk with Dawn from the Connecticut State Library, ramen/sushi takeout and girl time with library school bestie in the conference hotel, mamava nursing and break time, and …
YMAs!!!!
It was my second time attending the Youth Media Awards in-person. I arrived during the Odyssey Awards for best audiobooks. The Odyssey is one of my favorite awards. When I’m able to attend ALA Annual, I always make sure to attend the Odyssey Awards presentation. They give out free signed audiobooks, have the authors speak and voice actors perform.
It took a little while to get ready and catch the conference shuttle to the YMAs so Hunter and I were a little late. Luckily, my girl Allison sent live updates from the first award announcements.
Excited to get back to work, and to get reading…
Hard to believe there’s only one more ALA Midwinter conference before SKOE changes start to take effect. I forget what SKOE stands for … but it’s the people who change things. The last Midwinter will be in Indianapolis.