MAY PREVIEW ISSUE ALACognotes 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE May 2013 Issue Opening General Session Sets the Stage for Conference teven D. Levitt, co- matter? These may not author of the upcom- sound like typical ques- Sing Think Like A tions for an economist Freak and of the smash to ask, but Levitt is not #1 international bestseller a typical economist. He Freakonomics: A Rogue studies the riddles of ev- Economist Explores the eryday life – from cheat- Hidden Side of Every- ing and crime to parenting thing, promises to turn and sports – and reaches your brain inside out be- conclusions that turn con- fore the conference even ventional wisdom on its starts. He’s likely get your head. problem-solving juices Think Like A Freak (Oc- Steven D. Levitt flowing to the benefit of tober 2013), a “must-have you and your library, showing how ap- handbook for decision making,” in- Chicago is one of the world’s most interesting and attraction-filled cities. plying counterintuitive approaches to tends to radically transform the way Join us for the ALA Annual Conference June 27–July 2, and click here to see everyday problems can bear surpris- you look at every aspect of your life. all that “Chicagoland” has to offer during your visit. Photo: Cloud Gate at ing results. Levitt and co-author Stephen J. Dubner Millennium Park (©Cesar Russ Photography). Which is more dangerous, a gun analyze the decisions we make, the or a swimming pool? What do school- plans we create, and the morals we teachers and sumo wrestlers have in choose and show how their insights Make Your Plans Now for Chicago common? How much do parents really » see page 9 here’s never been a better time, Slozberg, leadership expert Karol Exhibits Open Friday, Events and Stages Set or better reasons to attend, the M. Wasylyshyn, and Lee Rainie, Ribbon Cutting TALA Annual Conference and Ex- Director of the Pew Internet and & Exhibits Opening hibition in Chicago, June 27 – July 2. American Life Project. Reception Attendees will benefit from: • 800+ exhibitors highlighting new The Exhibit Hall • 500+ programs, discussions, and and favorite titles, products, and opens on Friday eve- sessions on hot topics services, and related fun events at ning, June 28, with a • Free access for full registrants to all exhibit hall stages and pavilions – ribbon-cutting ceremony programs that are recorded – new and 100’s of authors featuring a brief wel- benefit! • Preconferences offering in-depth come by ALA and Chi- • Memorable speakers and events, in- professional development cago dignitaries. The cluding bestselling authors Khaled • Key policy, research, and other Exhibits Opening in- Hosseini and Temple Grandin, updates from leading institutions cludes food, drink, and Congressman John Lewis, award- and offices entertainment through winning education writer Jonathan • In-depth, facilitated, and informal the exhibit hall, giving Kozol, founder of wordnik.com conversations on advancing library- exhibitors and attendees exhibitors will offer discounts and Erin McKean, Visual Thinking led community engagement and their first chance to network as the special giveaways in their booths. The Strategies Executive Director Oren practical steps, strategies, and tools exhibits kick off. Exhibits Closing will be followed by • Library Unconference on Friday, the Wrap Up/Rev Up party, which will Library Camp on Monday, and Exhibits Closing feature raffle prizes and fun. Networking Uncommons for im- & Wrap Up/Rev Up promptu sessions, follow-up con- Celebration » see page 6 for exhibitor list and floor plan versations, and small get-togethers Join us Monday afternoon, July 1, » Janis Ian at Wrap Up/Rev Up! see page 8 Click here to see • ALA JobLIST Placement Center con- to close the exhibits and rev up for » see pages 9, 12, 13 and 17 for Pavilions our ad on page 3. necting job seekers and employers, the Midwinter Meeting in Philadel- and Special Feature Areas information » see page 2 phia. Start in the Exhibit Hall where Click here for Click here to Click here for TRAVEL REGISTER for EXHIBITS & HOUSING CHICAGO INFORMATION Page 2 • Cognotes 2013 Annual Conference Auditorium Speaker Series Octavia Spencer to Close ALA Features Top Authors, Dignitaries Annual Conference on a Lively Note Don’t miss the rare opportunity ctavia Spencer has recently to hear speakers such as bestselling Auditorium Speaker been busy, appearing on authors Khaled Hosseini and Temple Series Schedule O“30 Rock” and writing her Grandin, Congressman John Lewis, first novel in addition to her other and other leading authors, thought- Jaron Lanier star turns. Attendees will find out leaders, and experts from adult and Saturday, June 29 more when she appears as keynote youth fiction, technology, and popular 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. speaker at the Closing General Ses- culture at these stimulating general sion on Tuesday, July 2, 9:30 – 11:00 sessions at key points throughout the Khaled Hosseini a.m. She’ll be talking (among other Annual Conference schedule. Saturday, June 29 things) about her upcoming first 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. novel, Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detec- Jaron Lanier tive: The Case of the Time-Capsule Saturday, June 29 Ping Fu Bandit (October 2013, Simon & 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 29 Schuster). The revolutionary ways in which 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. In the book, Randi Rhodes is a technology has transformed our cul- 12-year-old Brooklyn vigilante with ture have also transformed and con- Congressman John Lewis a black belt, who has moved to Ten- Octavia Spencer tinue to transform libraries. Bestsell- Saturday, June 29 nessee after her mother dies and (Photo © Randee St. Nicholas) ing author of You Are Not a Gadget, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. must solve a mystery in the town. the father of virtual reality, and one Spencer, who was a fan of Nancy and a Broadcast Film Critics’ of the most influential thinkers of Temple Grandin Drew and Encyclopedia Brown Choice Award, among countless our time, Jaron Lanier has drawn on Sunday, June 30 growing up, said in a statement other honors. Her appearance is his expertise and 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. quoted in USA Today, “My biggest sponsored by Simon & Schuster. experience as a hope is that after meeting these The Closing General Session is computer scien- Giada De Laurentiis young detectives, kids will experi- a not-to-miss event, repeating the tist, musician, Sunday,June 30 ence the same sense of magic I felt format introduced in 2012, where and digital media 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. when solving my first mystery.” current ALA President Maureen pioneer to pre- A veteran character actor, and Sullivan will pass the gavel to the dict these chang- Ann Patchett one of Hollywood’s most-sought- 2013-14 ALA President Barbara K. es for decades. Sunday, June 30 after talents, Spencer has become Stripling and introduce new Divi- Lanier kicks off 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. a familiar fixture on both television sion Presidents. The Closing Gen- the Auditorium and silver screen. Her critically eral Session will be immediately Speaker Series Oliver Stone acclaimed performance as Minny followed by the elegant Inaugural at 2013 ALA An- & Peter Kuznick in the DreamWorks feature film Brunch honoring Stripling and nual Conference Jaron Lanier Monday July 1 “The Help” won her a 2012 Acad- the new Division Presidents. This (photo by on Saturday, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. emy Award, a BAFTA Award, a ticketed brunch event includes food, June 29, 8:30 – Jonathan Sprague) Golden Globe Award, a SAG Award, entertainment, and more. 9:30 a.m. Alice Walker Lanier will speak about his vision- Monday, July 1 ference overview or to show how they’ll ary reckoning with the effects net- 12:00 p.m. Chicago be more valuable to their institution work technologies have had on our by attending the Annual Conference » from page 1 economy, asserting that the rise of can use the “Making your case to at- digital networks led our economy into allowing technology to own our future, and offering free career counseling tend” resource page, which includes recession and decimated the middle outlining a path toward a new infor- • Celebrations of the 75th anniver- guidelines for what information to class – an argument laid out in his mation economy that will stabilize the sary of the Caldecott Medal, with present, what previous attendees have new book, Who Owns the Future? Now, middle class and allow it to grow, mak- the participation of high-profile said about what they took home, a as technology flattens more and more ing the point that he considers it time experts and children’s book illus- sample budget worksheet, and more. industries – from media to medicine for ordinary people to be rewarded for trators including Paul O. Zelinsky, Use the links below to register and to manufacturing – we are facing even what they do and share on the web. Brian Selznick, Jerry Pinkney, Erin book housing for 2013 ALA Annual greater challenges to employment and The ideas and questions in Who Stead, Chris Raschka, and Eric Conference & Exhibition. personal wealth, challenges that af- Owns the Future? are insightful and Rohmann. The 2013 ALA Annual Conference fect libraries and librarians in many provocative for everyone who lives a • The amazing city of Chicago! & Exhibition. Transforming our librar- ways. Lanier charts an alternative to » see page 4 Anyone requiring an Annual Con- ies, ourselves. Dan Cohen, Digital Public Library of America, to be Featured President’s Program Speaker at 2013 ALA Annual Conference Click here to an Cohen, of Libraries Transforming Com- tion and of using technology to en- Founding munities.” able new knowledge and discoveries REGISTER for DExecutive Di- Cohen will offer an introduc- in the U.S.” CHICAGO rector of the Digi- tion and overview of the recently After Cohen’s presentation, Sul- tal Public Library launched DPLA – called by Nicho- livan will conduct an interview and of America (DPLA) las Carr “the Library of Utopia” moderate a Q&A with the audience.