[Libs-Or] PNBA Invitation-10 Reasons Librarians Should Attend

[Robin Beerbower]

Please excuse cross-posting:

TOP TEN REASONS WHY LIBRARIANS SHOULD ATTEND PNBA’S TRADE SHOW

For the past four years the Pacific NW Booksellers Association has been
inviting librarians to their annual
trade show held in Portland. And it’s not just for booksellers! PNBA
is being held October 13-15 at the
Portland Airport Holiday Inn and is again welcoming librarians. I have
attended for the past two years 
and have been amazed at what was offered and how helpful it was for
collection
development, author programming, networking, and education.  I will
follow this post with a letter from PNBA outlining more details. In
the
meantime, please consider attending and here are ten reasons why:

1. Straight from New York it’s BEA presenters! Didn’t get to attend
Book Expo America in New
York City last May? No problem! Three librarians (plus a special
guest—see #10) who presented
sessions will be reprising their programs at this year’s PNBA. Every
year PNBA offers a selection
of educational sessions to rival anything offered at library
conferences and this year topics will
include Readalike authors, e-book readers (along with a petting zoo),
and NW authors who write
for kids and teens.

2. It won’t break your training budget! If your library joins PNBA
(cost $150), then up to FOUR
people from your library may attend the show for free. (Individual book
professionals may
attend the show for a $85 badge fee.) That’s a mere $37.50 per staff
member! Where else can you
attend educational sessions, meet and greet authors of great renown,
and tour exhibits for that
amount? Granted, meals are extra, but notable authors will be at each
meal.

3. It’s exclusive! The shows are not open to the public so everyone
you meet will be associated with
books in some way. It’s a bibliomaniac’s paradise.

4. Meet and chat with authors! The Thursday night Nightcapper party is
free and you will meet 20
authors. The meals also feature famous authors, and this year three
notable authors appearing
are Chuck Palahniuk, David Guterson, and Christopher Paolini. Last year
those attending the
Feast of Authors dinner literally rubbed elbows with the likes of Lisa
Jackson and Eric Kimmel.

5. It’s not just for adults! There are educational sessions aimed at
serving youth, many children’s
book authors present at the meals, and exhibitors give away many books
for children and teens.

6. It’s valuable for collection development librarians! Hearing the
authors speak and touring
exhibits will give you a heads up as to what’s new and forthcoming.
Your patrons will be most
impressed when you get books of local interest in your library before
they are reviewed in your
local newspaper.

7. Books, books, and more books are available! Exhibitors give away
advance reading copies and
authors will be signing their forthcoming or new books (purchase a low
cost literary badge to
receive everything available).

8. Network! You will meet Indie booksellers from all over the NW and
it’s fun to meet new book
smart people.

9. PNBA is courting librarians! Come feel the love.

10. And saving the best for last, Nora Rawlinson, former editor of
Library Journal and Publishers
Weekly, and currently co-founder of EarlyWord, a fantastic blog for
librarians, will be giving a
special presentation on Thursday. You won’t want to miss it!

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Robin Beerbower
Salem Public Library