The exhibits hall is one of the “must do” aspects of an ALA Conference. Be prepared – the exhibits hall at ALA is huge. It can be overwhelming and, if you try to cover it all, exhausting.

• Decide ahead of time what you want to see. You won’t be able to stop at all of the booths, so you need to prioritize. A reference librarian may want to see what databases are available in a particular subject area, while a children’s librarian may want to see what new books are being published. The exhibits can also be a great time to identify vendors and products in an area that is new to you (e.g., if your library is planning to purchase a new ILS, look for those vendors). Stop at booths that are relevant to your professional needs and skip the others. 
• When you pick up your conference packet, you’ll get a list of exhibitors and a map of the exhibit hall. Skim the list of exhibitors – if there are any you are particularly interested in, note the booth numbers. The exhibits are laid out as a grid with each aisle marked, so it is relatively easy to locate an exhibitor by booth number.
• Don’t take too many brochures. You’ll quickly overload your bag and your back. If you are genuinely interested in a product, grab a brochure, but otherwise resist the urge to take paper from every booth you visit. Remember that most vendors have the same information available on their website – rather than grabbing every brochure a vendor has out, take one as a reminder and look up additional information when you get home.
• Vendor swag is fun! All those pens, pencils and post-it notes are useful later and make fun little gifts to give for colleagues who did not make it to the conference (the ALA Store is located in the exhibit hall, too, and can be a place to grab a small library-themed gift). But as with brochures, don’t take more than you really need and can easily carry.
• Stop by your library school’s booth (they’ll be located all together in one corner of the hall). You may see a familiar face, since the booths are staffed by school administrators and faculty. And if you are feeling overwhelmed by the anonymity of ALA, when you find your alma mater, you’ll find friendly faces who are happy to see you.
• Don’t feel you have to do it all – there’s lots to do at ALA and while the exhibits can be fun and educational, they can also be overwhelming and exhausting (did I already say that?). If you’ve had enough, leave. You can come back another day or simply use your time in other ways.

A few students have asked for advice on going to ALA. I’m not an ALA expert, as I rarely go, but here are some resources.

• The ALA Wiki has tons of information and advice.
• There are many events for new members and new conference goers. Some are designed to orient you to the conference, while others provide introductions to various ALA chapters and special interest groups.
• Once you register, you can use the Event Planner to select the programs and events you want to attend.

ALA Annual is a huge conference and there will be a lot happening simultaneously, so you’ll need to prioritize what you attend. 

• As you develop your schedule, pay attention to where programs are being held and make sure you can get from one location to another in the time available (there are usually conference buses running from hotel to hotel, which can help you get from place to place for free).
• In addition to the educational programs (lectures, panels, etc.) that you would expect, there are many social programs. The social programs are good opportunities to meet other librarians, so I recommend you add a few to your schedule.
• Make time for a big name, controversial or oddball speaker. They are usually very good speakers and even the wacky ones make for an interesting topic of conversation at social events (or when you get home and people ask what you did at ALA).
• Library schools usually host receptions for their alums – these are great opportunities to see old friends and faculty and make new acquaintances.
• Be realistic. You can’t do it all, so don’t try to. Also know what you can handle – if meeting new people is stressful, don’t add four social events a day to your calendar.
• Buddy up. I find conferences are a lot more fun if I have someone to hang out with. Arrange to meet a friend for an afternoon program or dinner. If you don’t know anyone going to ALA, the library school receptions are a great place to reconnect with former classmates and meet new people. Be brave and ask a new acquaintance if he or she would like to grab dinner or walk to an evening program.  
• Take care of yourself – take time for regular meals, stay hydrated, and get your sleep. You’ll enjoy the conference more and better remember what you learned if you feel healthy and alert.
• Make time to see the host city. For this year’s ALA Annual, my top recommendations would be Millennium Park , which you can walk through on your way to a program, and the Art Institute, which is free Thursday and Friday evenings.

Finally, have fun! Going to a conference should be a special treat and leave you energized about the profession you’ve chosen.