June has arrived, which means one thing: It’s once again time for the annual American Libraries Association Conference! This year’s event will bring 25,000 librarians, publishers, and other book-related organizations to beautiful San Francisco from June 25–30 for several days of author events and education opportunities. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, library funding, digital literacy, and the importance of diversity.
Of course, the star attraction of ALA is all of the new books. Be sure to schedule a stop at Free Spirit’s booth (#1018) and chat with Anastasia and Penne about our latest and forthcoming releases.We’d love to say hello and hear how you’ve been using Free Spirit titles in your programming.
Here’s what we have on the docket:
Saturday June 27
Book signing with Erin Frankel and Paula Heaphy from 12:00–1:00 PM
Stop by the Free Spirit booth to get your complimentary copy of Nobody! signed by the author and illustrator. From the same pair who brought you the Weird series, Nobody! follows Thomas—a third-grade boy who loves soccer, drawing, and science—as he grapples with persistent bullying at school.
Sunday, June 28 and Monday, June 29
The first 25 people to stop by the Free Spirit booth on Sunday and Monday will receive a complimentary copy of one of our recent releases!
- Sunday: Inspiring Stories of Sportsmanship by Brad Herzog
- Monday: Stand Tall! by Cheri J. Meiners
While you’re in town, you might also consider visiting some of these literary landmarks:
- City Lights Bookstore—Don’t miss a trip to one of San Francisco’s oldest and most respected bookish institutions.
- The Beat Museum—Make a pilgrimage to the Beat Museum and pay tribute to beatnik writers and artists like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.
- San Francisco Public Library—Of course, if you’re in town for ALA, the attraction you might be most interested in seeing is the gorgeous main branch of the San Francisco Public Library, famous for its bright, five-story atrium.
- The Golden Era Building—Named after The Golden Era literary magazine that was published here, this site was a haven for writers in the mid-19th century. It was here that Mark Twain honed his writing talent while working as a news reporter.
- The Booksmith—Another fabulous, not-to-be-missed indie shop famous for its “Book Swap” nights, where patrons bring in used books they’ve loved to trade with other customers.
Wherever the conference takes you, remember the cardinal trade show rule: Wear comfortable shoes!
Safe travels, and see you in San Francisco!
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