2013 ALA Conference

I'm missing it this year.

Last year it was in the OC which is close by and cheap for me to attend. Next year it will be in Las Vegas, another close cheap location. Chicago, though is hard for me to get to.

Last year I only had a couple of hours. My husband dropped me off and took the kids somewhere fun while I ran around the convention floor like a kid in a candy store. I filled bags and bags full of books, catalogs, and posters for my library. I had thought I would do anything to get to the 2013 conference since I had such an amazing time at the 2012 conference.

I registered myself with the free DEMCO pass, shopped flights for the past 3 months and even looked up flights today ($700), and I just couldn't get there. It was going to cost around $1500 and just don't have the cash right now. Plus there is the fact that I will be leaving in a few weeks to drive out to Illinois for some personal stuff at the end of July. I just couldn't  go.

I am devastated. I want to see all the authors. I want to get all the free galleys. I want to collect all the posters for the new books and the new series releases. I want free book marks, and free books to try out  in my library. It makes me drool just thinking of all that swag I will be missing out on.

I feel like I am less of a librarian for not attending.

Next year in Vegas I'm going to take that place by storm. I'll be at all the author events, get all the signed books, see all the awards ceremonies. Planning the next one is the only thing that is getting me through missing this one.