Category: ALA Annual 2010

Well, just over 2 months to left to go and counting….. For many of the tourists who visit Washington, D.C., the “high point” of their time here is a trip to the top of the Washington Monument.  Did you know that there are two other places to get a great view of our nation’s capital (and avoid the crowds)?  The Old Post Office Pavilion — 12th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Near Federal Triangle Metro Station (Blue and Orange Lines) Built in 1899, the 315 ft. tower offers an observation deck at 270 feet, the third highest viewing point in D.C.  Enjoy the unparalleled views and check out the Bells of Congress, just below the observation deck.  Don’t forget to grab a snack or a souvenir at the shops and food court on the ground level.   Washington National Cathedral Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW Construction was begun in 1907 and…

If you’re planning an extended visit in the Washington DC area before or after the annual conference, consider a day trip to one of the near-by cities accessible from DC by car or public transportation.  During the week, commuter trains service both Frederick (MD) and Harper’s Ferry (WV)   and Fredericksburg (VA).   By car, these are a short drive away when commuters aren’t on the road.  These cities offer lots of charm, shopping, and tourist attractions. Baseball aficionados may want to visit Baltimore (MD), also reachable by commuter rail and Amtrak.  Baltimore was the birthplace of George Herman “Babe” Ruth.  During the Annual Conference, Oriole Park at Camden Yards will be the site of the “Battle of the Beltways,” part of the MLB interleague series between the Baltimore Orioles (AL) and the Washington Nationals (NL). Check out the ALSC Annual Conference Wiki for additional tips for theatre-lovers, shoppers, history buffs, and more.  The ALSC Local Arrangements Committee…

The ALSC Local Arrangements Committee is ready and waiting to welcome you to our nation’s capital for this year’s ALA Annual Conference, June 24-29.  We’ll be periodically sharing tidbits of information about D.C. and the conference here on the ALSC Blog during the next 2 1/2 months as we blogdown to the Annual Conference. Getting Around D.C. – The Metro The key to getting around Washington is familiarizing yourself with our Metro Transit System.  Known to locals as simply the Metro (several of its lines run at or above ground level, so it’s not strictly a subway), the transit system’s rail portion has been in operation since April 1976.  If you find yourself traveling on the Red Line through Downtown D.C., you’ll be on the oldest part of the system.  With 106.3 miles of tracks and 86 stations in 2 states and the District of Columbia, Metro is the 2nd largest…

Learn to better utilize picturebooks in your library’s programming by seeing these books through the eyes of the people who create them!  Register for the ALSC 2010 Annual Conference Preconference, Drawn to Delight: How Picturebooks Work (And Play) Today, taking place on Friday, June 25, 2010, from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.  Why the ALSC Preconference?  Provides you with a one of a kind look into the world of picturebooks–you won’t find a more in-depth, day-long workshop on the subject anywhere else! Learn from more than 15 top authors and illustrators including three Caldecott medal winners, two Caldecott honor winners and one Belpré medal winner. Transfer the knowledge gained back to your library to provide better experiences for young patrons and families reading picturebooks Hands-on opportunities during artist-lead small group studio sessions taking place throughout the gallery Unbeatable ALSC member rate of $195 for the…