RWA Librarians Day 2012

The annual Romance Writers of America conference is being held in my back yard (well, not literally) this year, and the final touches have been added to the Librarians Day event - which will be held on Wednesday, July 25 at the lovely Anaheim Marriott Hotel.  The cost is a ridiculously low price of $25 for the day.  If you are a librarian and the cost of attending the whole conference makes your wallet weep?  I cannot strongly encourage you enough to at least attend this one day.  For that $25 you get a half-day of workshops, lunch, and access to the kick-ass Librarian Goodie Room (which for the last several years has been off-the-chain).  This will be my seventh (?) Librarians Day and I have never had anything less than a wonderful time.

You can register via the RWA web site, and they cap registration at 100 attendees.  Check out the day's itinerary below - it's pretty awesome!

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.
Registration/ Badge Pick-Up

• This would be where you also get your first round of freebies.  Typically the conference bag along with several free books.

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Creative Marketing: Connecting Romance Readers and Authors at the Library
Speakers: Amy Alessio, Simone Elkeles, and Susan Gibberman
Description: Make the most of your resources with some interactive romance-themed programs for teens and adults including book launch parties, online book discussions, chocolate tastings and writing workshops. The 2008 RWA Librarian of the Year, Susan Gibberman, will join notable teen librarian Amy Alessio as well as best-selling and RITA award-winning author Simone Elkeles to highlight creative ways to market events to capture the attention of romance lovers.  Fill seats at your events, and keep them coming back for more.

• WooHoo!  Program ideas!  Also, Simone Elkeles = awesome.  I've heard her speak before.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Focus on Historical Romance
Speakers: Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Sabrina Jeffries, and Julia London
Description:  Chat with four popular (and hilarious) historical romance authors. What’s popular in historical romance now? What do they see coming in the subgenre?  What do they love about historical romance, and why do they write it? Who are their “must-read” romance authors?  Attend this fun discussion, and bring your questions, too!

• Out of this group, I'm most familiar with Sabrina Jeffries - who is a very good presenter.  This should be a fun panel!

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Break
Stretch your legs and enjoy some refreshments, but don’t wander too far! We’ll be hosting a fun romance trivia during the break and handing out prizes to librarians who correctly answer questions about the genre.

• A chance to win more freebies!  Plus, caffeine!  Cookies!  Woot!

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Blast from the Past
Speakers: John Charles, Joanne Hamilton-Selway, and Shelley Mosley
Description: Tired of the continuing focus on what is “new” and “hot” and “trendy” in romance fiction? Three former RWA Librarians of the Year will share with you their choices for a dozen “classic” romance writers whose books belong in every public library collection.

• Really happy to see this panel.  Bookstores are great, but one area where libraries have a distinct advantage is with "back list."  Also, I'm a firm believer in "core collection."  Every genre has one, including romance, and every library needs to strive to have the "essentials."

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Romance Readers’ Advisory
Speakers: Wendy Crutcher, Kristan Higgins, and Kristin Ramsdell
Description: Two former RWA Librarians of the Year and bestselling romance author Kristan Higgins will share their tips for “romance readers’ advisory 101.”  From the RA interview to information on the genre, find out what you need to know.

• Oh, hey!  Look, it's me!  And Kristin Ramsdell (who has written the book on romance readers advisory) and World Famous Author Kristan Higgins.  Which begs the question - how did I end up here?  RWA, letting in the riff-raff again.....

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Librarian Luncheon Featuring New York Times Best-selling Author Kerrelyn Sparks 

• Trying to think of the last paranormal author we had at Librarians Day.  Sherrilyn Kenyon a few years ago me thinks.  Anywho, have never met Kerrelyn Sparks - so looking forward to this!
  

Last year's Goodie Room haul

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Librarian/Bookseller Networking Event with Authors
Come to this fun, informal meet-and-greet with romance authors!

• Along with the networking?  Yeah, this is the Librarian Goodie Room.  You do not want to miss this!

Don’t forget to come to RWA’s “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center, where hundreds of romance authors will be signing copies of their novels. Proceeds from book sales go to ProLiteracy Worldwide.  

• The best part of the whole dang conference (well, that happens outside of the hotel bar).  Free and open to the public, an event that I think every romance fan should try to attend at least once in their lifetime - if only to see 400 authors and scores of fans crammed into a ballroom. 

It really is a fabulous day, and I cannot strongly encourage librarians enough to attend this event.  RWA has consistently done a lovely job of organizing the day, and you really get some major bang for your buck.  Hopefully I'll see a lot of you librarian-types there.....