Volunteer With Me: #alaac25 Day Three!

Today was the most full day of my conference yet! I started my morning at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast. It was such an honor to be in the room with children’s/YA lit. legends like Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds. The highlight of the breakfast for me was definitely when Coretta Scott King Award Winner C.G. Esperanza hosted a mini trivia with the attendees, giving away original artworks of horses as prizes. He then finished his speech by giving “big neighs!” to his team and asking the audience to “neigh” along with him. 

After breakfast I headed over to Youth Social Action in the Library: Cultivating Change Makers. While the presenter was a school librarian, she did a great job of generalizing her presentation to be applicable in academic or public libraries. After this session, I am definitely interested in her book, which was published with the same title as the session.

Since today was my longest day at the convention center, I decided it was finally time for Reading Terminal Market. I got some delicious food from an Indian restaurant and some chocolate-covered strawberries as well. The market was rather crowded today, with lines out the door. While almost every food stand had a long line, it was all so worth it. 

For the remainder of the afternoon, I met up with some colleagues from my library system. We did a thorough investigation of the Exhibit Hall, aisle by aisle. We were able to connect with some amazing organizations and of course – score some super cool giveaways. Then – it was time to head out to a few networking events.

First up was a DCLA meet-up at a local restaurant. It was so great to connect with librarians from outside of my own organization. I connected with professionals from museums and higher education. We chatted about our differences – but mostly our similarities. It was so interesting to learn about another side of the profession that I do not get to experience frequently. We all bonded so much, that we headed over to our next stop – an ALA After Hours comics meet-up – together! I am very hopeful that these connections will last well beyond the final days of the conference, and that I can carry them back home with me. Tomorrow I am looking forward to the ALSC Awards Ceremony and my final shift at the Zine Pavillion! Come back then to hear about my last day in Philly.

Anna Melvin (she/they) is a children’s librarian at the Cleveland Park Library in Washington, D.C. She is originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, and is happy to head home for this year’s conference to where her love for libraries began. As an elementary school student, Anna used to come in early to help her school librarian reshelve books and to discuss their most recent reads. This is her third time attending ALA, but her first working at the Zine Pavilion. She is very excited to be able to volunteer this year, and hopes to be able to connect with a larger range of library professionals while working at the Pavilion. Anna is most looking forward to this year’s conference because at the conclusion, she will begin a two-year term serving on the Library Service to Underserved Youth and Their Caregivers Committee. Anna is also eagerly anticipating attending sessions on serving patrons with disabilities, expanding her at-home library with some great reads from this year’s conference, and fan-girling over Geena Davis. Come say hi to Anna at the Zine Pavillion, or at the ALSC Membership Meeting! 

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 Today was the most full day of my conference yet! I started my morning at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast. It was such an honor to be in the room with children’s/YA lit. legends like Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds. The highlight of the breakfast for me was definitely when Coretta Scott King Award Winner C.G. Esperanza hosted a mini trivia with the attendees, giving away original artworks of horses as prizes. He then finished his speech by giving “big neighs!” to his team and asking the audience to “neigh” along with him.  After breakfast I headed over to Youth Social Action in the Library: Cultivating Change Makers. While the presenter was a school librarian, she did a great job of generalizing her presentation to be applicable in academic or public libraries. After this session, I am definitely interested in her book, which was published with the same…
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