The season of Southern California Summer Conferences continues. Last month it was BEA, next month is Comic Con. But this month, this month is our center of gravity, the biggest library conference in the known universe, ALA Annual in sunny Anaheim. Come to booth 2577 and you will find:

• Gene and I signing Frequently Asked Questions and listening to your true stories.
• Jana selling Unshelved merch, including some new items not yet on the site, and some items soon to be discontinued. Have something specific in mind? Come early because at ALA we always start running out of stuff by day two. Our challenge: we never know exactly what that stuff will be, or we'd bring more of it.
• Our trademark badge ribbons, while supplies last.
• And, best of all, smiling Dave Kellett of Sheldon, selling his great books and t-shirts. Dave is among the nicest and most talented folks you'll ever meet. If you aren't a Sheldon fan you will be once you've met Dave. It's his first library conference, so help give him a big ALA welcome!

Elsewhere at ALA you'll find:

• Conference Tips in every issue of CogNotes, the daily ALA newspaper
• Tutor.com giving away Unshelved tote bags (while supplies last) to anyone who will participate in their demo at booth 2560

And when it's over, guess where we're going! Well, home, actually, to get some sleep, but I'm sure someone is going to Disneyland. Have fun, someone!

Our second Book Slam is up. Jen Childs and Marcia Purcell from Random House, Inc. tell Gene and me their picks for the coming season in ten minutes (or so). Jen will forever have my respect for leading with a broadside against Gene.

Unshelved is made possible this week by our friends at W.T. Cox, who provide subscription services to libraries. If you sign up for information you'll be registered for a drawing at ALA for an Contains Printed Matter messenger bag containing all six (count 'em, 6) Unshelved collections (which we'll be happy to sign) so give 'em your name. They did this at PLA, here is the winner Deborah LeBeau with W.T.Cox rep Mike Perrine:

W.T.Cox is also part of an ALA Spotlight, Tommorowland, not Fantasyland: Redefining the Role of Your Subscription Agent, Sunday at 10:40, and is sponsoring a session entitled Making the Switch from Print to Online: Why, When, How? Sunday from 1:30-3:30 in room 204b. And you can our dear sponsor at booth 844. Give them a big hug for us.

Feb 20 morning Spartanburg, SC
Spartanburg Public Library Staff Day (staff only)
Keynote (Gene & Bill)

Feb 20 7pm Columbia, SC
USC LISSA event
Program (Gene & Bill)

Mar 13-17 Philadelphia, PA
Public Library Association
Booth (Gene & Bill)

Mar 30-April 1 Seattle, WA
Emerald City Comic Con
Booth (Gene & Bill)

April 13-15 Chicago, IL
Chicago Comic Entertainment Expo
Booth & Talk (Gene & Bill)