Library Transformation
At the ALA Annual Convention
This past weekend, Cameron + Co. had the pleasure of attending the annual conference for the American Library Association (ALA). Though each year this national conference is held in different locations across the country, this year’s event took place in downtown San Francisco, at the Moscone Center. And so, alongside many other publishing houses under the Publishers Group West (PGW) umbrella, we set up shop at a little booth of our own, displaying past books that we’ve published, as well as books soon to be released, such as Vanishing Act and The Art of Hotel Transylvania 2. With thousands of librarians, endless aisles of publishers’ booths spanning across every genre imaginable, and interesting speakers and films, the 2015 ALA conference practically bursted at the seams with sights to see and people to meet.
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Growing up, the book fair was the closest my elementary school ever got to a real-life carnival. Though we spent a great deal of time in our library, listening to stories and playing games, the book fair completely transformed the familiar aisles of books. We would crowd in the doorway, eyes shining with wonder at the colorful displays and glossy new books. Whatever money my parents gave me to spend evaporated at an alarming rate. Arms full of books and gadgets, we reluctantly returned to the classroom, eager to break open our new reads.
The ALA conference is sort of like an adult version of this fondly remembered book fair. Attendees may be in blazers and pencil skirts, but the childlike spirit of excitement is the same. Women and men bustle through the aisles with shouldered bags of stacked books. Lines of people wrap around the massive room’s perimeter as these bibliophiles eagerly await book giveaways and author signings. And it’s not all books — there are demonstrations of games for young readers, presentations on the integration of digital technology in reading — all centered around an enthusiastic discussion on the future of reading.
As I strolled through rows and rows of books, I was struck by the diverse range of cultures and interests represented on each book cover. There was no single story here, but a wonderful array of difference. The more I saw, the more I became convinced that this is an excellent form of empowerment for young minds — to give value to individual stories, to teach early on that diversity is beautiful and important.
As the Cameron Books intern, I have recognized this encouragement of young minds to pursue a diverse range of hobbies and interests through many of the children’s books published here. For example, Amy Gutierrez’s Smarty Marty’s Got Game tells the inspiring story of older sister Marty, who teaches the game (and love) of baseball to her younger brother Mikey. That’s right, a girl explaining sports to her brother — a subtle message that sports are not just a boy’s thing, but something in which anyone can partake.
If anyone imagines a library as a boring place, where grouchy hooked-nose ladies shush any audible voices, the ALA completely shatters this image. Instead, this association of librarians perpetuates a colorful, exciting hub of learning, through all different avenues and mediums. And the passion in the air for the future of reading is nothing short of contagious.
Lily Greenberg is from Nashville, Tennessee, and has just finished her sophomore year at Gordon College in Massachusetts, where she studies English and Creative Writing. Lily is living in Petaluma for the summer, and serving as the Cameron Books intern.
