Over Christmas break I found out that Barnes & Noble nationwide will be having the first 2010 Educator Appreciation Week from January 16-24. Many of the stores will be hosting special receptions on the 16th to start the week off with a flair. The Smithfield (RI) store at Smithfield Crossings on Rt. 44, for example, is hosting a party from 11:00-12:30 that day with special refreshments and give-aways. All week long, Educators can get special discounts on items purchased for both their classroom and personal use. I've even gotten the discount at the cafe in the past! Families and children are welcome at these events.
Don't forget about the American Library Association's Mid-Winter Conference, which is being held in Boston this year during the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, January 15-18. The Mid-Winter meeting is especially exciting because the various award winners, including the Newbery and Caldecott, are announced at this time. The 2010 meeting will be at the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center on Summer Street. If you've never attended an ALA conference, here's your chance. Who knows? You can meet people from all over the world there. You could even wind up having a cup of coffee with a famous author! It happened to me! There are quite a few workshops during the weekend, but I suggest you register as soon as possible, if you want to attend them. Conference Admission is $190 for ALA members or $300 for non-members. Registration is available on-site. Personally, the draw is the Exhibit Hall with dozens of different jobbers enticing us with goodies and giveaways and special deals. Be sureThe Exhibit Hall entrance fee is only $25 for the entire weekend from Friday evening through Monday. This year, they also have something called an Exhibits Supreme which, for $50, includes all four days of the exhibits as well as the three Sunrise Speakers. Exhibit Hall fees are the same for members and non-members, but are non-refundable. Check out the link for more information about the Conference.
The ALA Annual Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from June 24-29 this year. You can check out the information about that conference at their website.
If anyone would be interested in attending Mid-Winter and car-pooling or taking the MBTA up to Boston, please post a comment at the bottom of this post. When we find out who's interested, we can make plans.
