FAQ's

The conference will take place on Thursday, June 20 through Tuesday, June 25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, in Washington DC.

Librarians, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators and students - anyone who is passionate about books, libraries, and eager to learn and shape the future of the industry.

No, you may register and attend the conference at the non-member registration rate. To learn more about membership, go to www.ala.org/membership/joinala

ALA relies on exhibitors to sponsor the appearance of top authors with forthcoming books.  Potential speakers names are submitted to ALA for review by many groups including the Conference Committee.  When selected, ALA then relies on the sponsor to lock in the speaking date and make many arrangements.  Although this process often begins nine months prior to conference, ALA does not always control the timeline and announcement date. Some speakers do not finalize their tour schedules until the spring and often other factors, like security, impact the release of information.  ALA does not pay any speaker fees or honorariums and is grateful to the sponsors who provide a higher level of speaker to the conference.

In order to best facilitate your planning as an attendee, ALA does provide a schedule-at-a-glance for each conference while we finalize the full agenda.  This schedule-at-a-glance highlights all of the sessions that may be of interest to the majority of attendees.

To register for a preconference, you can include it with your initial registration or add it later using the unique link in your email confirmation. If you don't have your registration confirmation handy, you can request a copy by emailing [email protected].

With many registrants in the past waiting until the last minute to register or book their housing, an afternoon deadline allows us proper time to hire adequate staffing and other appropriate resources.

We accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express onsite.

Yes, you will find the Statement of Appropriate Conduct at ALA Conferences posted on our website.

ALA is pleased to offer scooters and/or interpreter services for attendees at Annual Conference. Please visit the Accessibility page or contact the Conference Services Accessibility Hotline 312-280-3225 or email [email protected] for details.

Audio and video recordings of the sessions we have permission to release will be made available 4-6 weeks, post-conference. An announcement will be made via email to all registrants.

Yes, ALA and Gale Cengage Learning provide complimentary shuttle services from the official ALA hotels to the Convention Center. 

 ALA will reimburse the charges expended on childcare in the amount of $25 per day, per child to a maximum of $50 per day, per family to any fully registered parent for each day of the Annual Conference. You must provide a receipt for childcare.  This covers only childcare in the parent’s hotel room or other residence in the meeting city (Washington DC) and does not include charges for children’s food, transportation, gratuities, or for the sitter. ALA will not reimburse childcare expenses to attendees who live within the Washington DC area that would be paid to the regular provider whether the parent was attending the Annual Conference or not. Parents may contact their hotel childcare center/babysitting service where it is available or find one online. Reimbursement forms are available at the ALA Conference Services Desk and must be signed by the individual performing the childcare services and presented by the parent to the ALA Conference Services Desk by June 25. Please note that all reimbursement will be mailed out to the attendee post-conference.

Yes. There will be a private and comfortable space allocated to nursing mothers located in the Convention Center.

Yes, award-winning products can be found at the ALA Store located in the Convention Center. The ALA Store offers products that meet the widest range of your promotional and continuing education/professional development needs. Plenty of new and bestselling items are available.

Yes, coat/luggage check will be available in the Convention Center. There is a fee of $3.00 per item checked. 

Coat/Luggage Check Hours:

• Friday, June 21 | 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM
• Saturday, June 22 | 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Sunday, June 23 | 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Monday, June 24 | 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  
   

Yes, the letter can be accessed through your dashboard from your registration confirmation. An email containing your letter of attendance will also be sent when you pick up your badge at registration.

Yes, non-members who are registered for the day of a committee meeting, or for the full Conference can attend any meeting not noted as "Closed."

Attendees registered for the full conference are able to attend ALA Awards ceremonies.

Yes. Exhibits Only registrants can attend author signings in the Exhibit Hall on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only.

Strollers and scooters are permitted on the exhibit floor as long as they are in use at all times.  Wheeled carts, however, are not permitted at any time. If you have a medical condition requiring you to use a cart, please bring a doctor's note to the accessibility booth in the registration area.

Yes, please click on the following link for general Safety Tips to follow while at conference and for general travel. Safety Tips. Make the most of conference, especially if you’re a first-timer. First Timer. Job or employee seekers: Stay in touch with the ALA JobLIST Placement Center.

As of January 22, 2018, passengers who have driver’s licenses issued by a state that is not yet compliant with REAL ID and that has not received an extension will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel. Please see TSA’s website for a list of acceptable forms of identification. Passengers who have licenses issued by a state that is compliant or that has an extension to become compliant with REAL ID requirements may continue to use their licenses as usual. For a list of states already in compliance or with an extension visit DHS’s REAL ID webpage. DHS continually updates this list as more states come into compliance or obtain extensions.  

Beginning October 1, 2020, every air traveler will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel. A REAL ID compliant license is one that meets, and is issued by a state that complies with, the REAL ID Act’s security standards. 

Travelers can check DHS’s REAL ID webpage at any time to learn if your state is compliant and can check with your state’s agency that issues driver’s licenses about how to acquire a compliant license. The earlier your state becomes compliant, the more likely you will be able to acquire a compliant license as part of the normal renewal cycle.

Try the  4 L's:

Layers - Dress in layers, as you will be moving from the heat outside to the cool in meeting rooms and hotels.

Liquids - Drink plenty of "good" fluids; there will be water stations in the hotels and Convention Center. 

Lighten - Lighten your load, and don't carry extra stuff with you as you'll likely be walking a lot. Plan your day for what you will need.

Leisurely - Walk at a leisurely pace, whether you are inside, or out.

Because the Conference serves as an open forum, opinions expressed and/or materials distributed by program participants do not necessarily reflect, or imply advocacy or endorsement by the American Library Association, its officers, or members.

The statements and opinions contained in the exhibitor descriptions in the Annual Conference Meeting Guide and Exhibits Directory are solely those of the individual exhibitors and not of the American Library Association. The appearance of advertisements in the Annual Conference Guide and Exhibits Directory is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of the effectiveness or quality. To the extent permissable under applicable laws, no responsibility is assumed by the ALA for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a result of any actual or alleged libelous statements, infringement of intellectual property or privacy rights, or products liability, whether resulting from the negligence or otherwise, or from any use of operation, ideas, instructions, procedures, products, or methods contained in the material therein.

Strollers are permitted on the exhibit floor, but only if there is a child in them at all times. Un-escorted children are not permitted on the exhibit floor. Children under the age of five must be under control at all times (stroller, pack, etc.). Any child over the age of five must have an Exhibits Only badge to be admitted to the exhibit floor. These badges are available at onsite registration for $75. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 16.

For more information regarding the conference recordings, including how to access and purchase them, please visit https://2019.alaannual.org/whats-happening/conference-recordings.

Ask using the Contact Us form.

Throughout the conference, you can find information via Conference Scheduler updates, Cognotes, and American Libraries coverage. And don't forget to:

• track #alaac19 onTwitter
• follow the fun on Instagram