The 2023 Annual Conference – #alaac2023 – is on! Are you unable to attend and wondering how you can keep up with all that’s going on at this year’s American Library Association conference? We’ve got you covered!
Let me be among the first to offer special thanks to the conference bloggers who will be reporting for the ALSC Blog on what’s happening at this “live and in-person” conference. Here are some of the people who will be writing about their experiences:
Alex Bell (she/her/hers) is a Children’s Librarian at the Bloomington Public Library. Since her time as chair of the 2022 Notable Children’s Books Committee was virtual (but still amazing) she is very excited to see ALSC colleagues and friends in person again. She’s looking forward to the Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Banquet and the closing session by Amanda Gorman and Christian Robinson! Even though she lives in Illinois she still *relishes* the chance to eat Chicago-style hot dogs while in the city and will also be snacking on some Garrett’s popcorn! She’s not on Twitter but you can follow her library TikTok account, @bpl_kids.
Jaime Eastman (she/her/hers) is a senior Public Services Librarian and Family Place Coordinator at the Harrington Library, one of the Plano (Texas) Public Library locations. She’s currently serving as a member of the ALSC Board of Directors. This will be her second Annual Conference. She is looking forward to many things, including finalizing the strategic plan with the rest of the Board, seeing great educational sessions sponsored by ALSC, and connecting with members both in person and through the blog. Jaime is currently working on at least two ambitious cross stitch projects, dreaming of future travel plans, and reading far too many books at once. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be an author. Writing for the blog and publishing with Children and Libraries feel like a good start, and she regrets nothing about her adult decision to be a librarian doing storytimes who didn’t have to grow up too much.
Aanii boozhoo nwiijiikwenhak! Waganakasing Odawak ndaadibendaagwaz, mshiiken ndodem. Allie Genia ndizhinikaaz. (Translation: Hello friends! My name is Allie Genia (they/them/theirs). They are a member of the Turtle Clan of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. ) They are a Children’s Librarian at the DC Public Library in Washington, DC. They’re a member of this year’s Emerging Leaders cohort and they’re excited to attend an ALA Annual Conference in Chicago! They are looking forward to being near Lake Michigan for the whole weekend. When not presenting a story time, you can often find them making things, practicing music, or playing video games, although this weekend they will be indulging in Chicago-style pizza as much as humanly possible. They also write Mzinigan Mshiiken, a book review blog focusing on diverse voices in children’s literature.
Soline Holmes (she/her/hers) is a librarian and the Information Services Department chair at Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a Member-at-Large (and the incoming Secretary) for ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable and a member of ALSC’s Children and Libraries Editorial Advisory Committee. She also serves on the Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award committees for K-2 and 3-5, is a board member of the New Orleans Information Literacy Collective (2021-22 Chair), and is a Teaching with Primary Sources Network Mentor. She has given presentations on graphic novels, Mother Goose and STEM, Primary Sources, and Global Education at local and national conferences. At ALA, she is looking forward to some of her favorite events: the GNCRT Magical Tea and the Newbery/Caldecott/Legacy Banquet. At conference, you might be able to find her munching on red Twizzlers.
Emily Mroczek-Bayci (she/her/hers) is a Youth Services Librarian at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library in IL. Her specialities include all things technology, bringing the energy and being an idea machine. She cannot wait to catch up with Librarian friends old and new at ALA. When she was young she wanted to be a librarian and forgot about it until her mother reminded her (thanks mom!).
Laura Schulte-Cooper (she/her/hers) is a senior program officer for communications in the ALSC office. She’s attending her 30th in-person ALA summer conference and looking forward to catching up with ALSC members, ALA staff, and favorite conference contractors. Her go-to conference fuel is Big Gulps (diet coke with lots of ice) and any kind of nuts (except macadamia, yuck!). If she could read one book again for the first time, it would be Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.
Dr. Christine Sturgeon (she/her/hers) has been working in school libraries for 42 years, getting her start as a volunteer in her elementary school library (or, if you want to be pedantic, 12 years as a licensed educator – BA, 2009, MLS, 2011, PhD, 2020). You can read about Christine’s libraries in articles she co-wrote in the Winter 2021 YALS special issue on student voice and the March/April 2023 School Library Connections. She’s the district teacher librarian for Fort Dodge (Iowa) Community School District, where her best days are spent doing preschool storytime.
Lacy Wolfe (she/her/hers) is currently the Youth Services Manager at the North Little Rock Public Library. She is so excited to return to an in-person ALA conference! Lacy has served on Council as a Chapter Councilor and has missed all the energy, ideas, and networking from attending conference. She has recently moved back to public libraries after 10 years as an Instruction Librarian at academic libraries so you’ll find her at ALSC and YALSA sessions with an iced coffee in hand!
In the coming days, check the ALSC Blog for Conference photos and information. You can also check in on Twitter – just track the hashtag #ALAAC23. Are you hoping we’ll cover a particular session? Let us know in the comments below!