Our complete coverage of ALA 2013, including a survey of the main events; the speakers; the readings, discussions, and presentations; the panels, and more.

Jaron Lanier Tells Librarians Why Information Shouldn't Be Free
In an early morning talk, Jaron Lanier, the technologist and bestselling author of You are Not a Gadget, kicked off the ALA 2013 auditorium speaker series with a rousing wake-up call to librarians: don’t let technology dehumanize the world.

The Day Congressman John Lewis Got his Library Card
Congressman John Lewis drew a standing ovation from a packed auditorium at the American Library Association’s 2013 Annual Conference in Chicago. On hand to celebrate the first book of his new three-part graphic retelling of the civil rights movement from Top Shelf, March, authored with Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, Lewis told librarians of a special day in his life, some 25 years earlier.

ALA Kicks Up E-Book Advocacy Efforts with Author Campaign
It’s hot in Chicago, but librarians gathering in the Windy City for the 2013 American Library Association annual conference are beginning to feel a breeze at their backs on the long-simmering e-book issue. As the conference opens, all of the big six publishers are now involved with e-book lending in some capacity. And now, ALA officials have announced a major new advocacy initiative with authors.

Libraries to Offer Monthly 'Top 10' Book List
Over the last few years of tussling of e-books, librarians have constantly reminded publishers of the role they play in the discovery of books and authors. And now, with the launch of a new partnership, librarians and publishers will be pulling in the same directions: LibraryReads, a new recommendation program, will highlight public librarians’ favorite new books. Set to launch in fall 2013, the venture is open to all public library staff, and will serve as a national “library staff picks list.”

ALA 2013: Sweet Home Chicago!

ALA 2013: Authors at the Show

ALA 2013: 11 Rules for a Great ALA Experience

ALA 2013: Cut to the Core

ALA 2013: The Library of 2020 Will Be…

ALA 2013: The Golden Age of Piracy: PW Talks with Robert Spoo