Audio version

MIDWINTER SEATTLE PREVIEW
ALA Cognotes
2013 MIDWINTER MEETING
December 2012

Caroline Kennedy to Speak Sunday Morning in Seattle

Take advantage of this special opportunity to hear the widely admired Caroline Kennedy in conversation with ALA President-Elect Barbara Stripling. Kennedy is well known as the bestselling author of ten books on American history, politics, and poetry, as well as for continuing the strong Kennedy family tradition of public service.

Kennedy is a serious advocate for reading, literacy, and libraries, which occupy a special place in her life—especially in her work as Vice Chair of the New York City Fund for Public Schools from 2002-2012 and her upcoming participation as Honorary Chair of National Library Week in April, 2013. She was also keynote speaker at the 2011 I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony in New York City. In that speech, she said that many librarians she has met are "professionals who are excited about their changing role in a changing world— who are dedicated to serving others, who respect scholarship, and who understand that you are our guides

» see page 2

Auditorium Speaker
Sunday, January 27
10:00-11:00 a.m.

ALA Midwinter Conversations

Community Engagement and the Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities

For libraries of all types located in all kinds of communities, innovation in engaging those communities is a compelling and critical strand of conversation right now. 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting offers several important opportunities to participate in and move the conversation forward, to examine the issues, process the implications, and consider practical steps and strategies. Four sessions of in-depth, facilitated conversations around community engagement, including Rich Harwood and Peggy Holman, will offer new tools and ideas ready to implement, with a focus on how to engage the community.

The four sessions are:

The Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities: A Presidential Initiative, Saturday, January 26, 8:30-10:00am. ALA President Maureen Sullivan will moderate a panel of civic innovators including Rich Harwood, Founder and President of the Harwood Institute, Tim Henkel, President and CEO, of Spokane County United Way and Carlton Sears, past Director at Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and certified coach with the Harwood

» see page 4

Innovative
Click here to see our ad on page 3.

Seattle has lots to offer! The Convention Bureau will be putting together itineraries for your free time with all the local information on a special website dedicated to ALA Midwinter Meeting attendees. In the meantime, CLICK HERE to visit their website for ideas to help you plan. (Photo © Tim Thompson)

The Novel is Alive and Well

Bestselling author Terry Brooks will join previously announced authors Ivan Doig, Greg Olsen, and Ruth Ozeki for the popular ERT/ Booklist Author Forum on Friday, January 25, 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. Booklist Adult Books Editor Brad Hooper will be discussing with all four authors how their books contribute to the thriving of the novel form and the influence of the Pacific Northwest on their work.

Reading The Lord of the Rings in college changed Terry Brooks' life; in it, he discovered all the elements combined that helped him fully explore his own writing in the separate genres of science fiction, western, and fiction. A writer since high school now with more than 25 books under his belt (including many New York Times bestsellers), and with two novels selected by the Rocky Mountain News as among the best of 20th-century science fiction/fantasy, he will add a fascinating voice to the panel.

ERT/Booklist Author Forum
Friday, January 25
4:00-5:15 p.m.

» see page 10

Ribbon Cutting & Exhibits Opening Reception

The Exhibit Hall opens immediately following the Author Forum. The Exhibits Opening includes food, drink, and entertainment throughout the exhibit hall.

» see page 6 for exhibitor list and floor plan

Click here to REGISTER for Midwinter

Click here for TRAVEL & HOUSING for Midwinter

Click here for EXHIBITS information at Midwinter

Click here to learn more about SEATTLE