READ OUR ARTICLES
LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS
WATCH OUR VIDEOS
Anaheim, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Orlando, and now Atlanta — the librarian takeover is in full effect. In our humble opinion, librarians make the world go round. We’ve witnessed their magic firsthand: in partnership with these fierce fighters for literacy, community, and access, we’ve connected more people than ever to language learning and cultural resources that can change lives. So for us, the American Library Association’s (ALA) annual Midwinter event is our Disney World.
It’s a one-stop shop for the latest innovations, products, and changemakers that will make 2017 your library’s best year yet. From January 20 - 24, we’ll be rubbing elbows with many of the incredible librarians that are leading the charge — and we’re excited to share with them what’s new for Mango in 2017 (visit us at booth #1156!).
Whether you’re attending ALA Midwinter this year or following along from home, there’s a lot to look forward to from this year’s conference. From inspiring keynote speakers to game-changing exhibitors, here are four reasons we can’t wait for #ALAMW17 this year.
The conversation starts here.
ALA Midwinter, you’re really speaking our language. As if we could be any more excited for this year’s conference (our bags are already packed with Mango swag!), this year’s theme is also “The conversation starts here.” Mango’s core purpose revolves around empowering people with the tools they need to start a conversation — and working with our libraries to carry that message into their communities. This year’s conference will expand on that powerful theme by curating inspiring speakers and exhibitors to discuss some of the most important conversations impacting your libraries and communities.
Stop by the Mango booth (we’re #1156) to learn about our 2016 highlights and what’s new in the year ahead. Along with expanding our Farsi and Korean courses, we’re also launching a fresh new design that will make it easier than ever to use Mango. We’ve also invested in making our learning programs more accessible for people with disabilities. And thanks to SIP 2 integration, users will enjoy easier than ever access to Mango through your library. But that’s not all — we’re excited to share everything we have in store for 2017, so stop by booth #1156 and start a conversation (see what we did there?). Pro tip: everyone walks away from the Mango booth with at least some of our famous swag, but those who flash us their Mango mobile app will get swag from our VIP box. Show us what you’ve got!
Don’t miss a word from these inspiring speakers.
A highlight of any ALA event is the incredible roster of speakers. This year is no exception: hear political insights and comedic takes from stand-up comedian and social commentator W. Kamau Bell. Best-selling illustrators and authors LeUyen Pham, Susan Tan, and Scott Westerfeld will be in conversation on Saturday to share their stories. The ALA President’s Program will present poet, author, and educator Kwame Alexander on Sunday to explore his belief that poetry can change the world. And then there’s Monday’s closing session, featuring none other than acclaimed actor Neil Patrick Harris to share about his first book for young readers, The Magic Misfits. Remember to plan ahead and schedule your can’t-miss events — use the ALA’s handy scheduler to explore this year’s many speakers, presentations, and sessions.
Get to know Atlanta.
For attendees, the fun doesn’t stop after the last event of the day. ALA always picks incredible cities to host their conferences, and this year is no exception. In the evening, make plans with your fellow attendees to get out and explore all that Hotlanta has to offer (hot-ish — expect temperatures to be in the mid-fifties). The majority of the conference will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center, located in the heart of Atlanta. That means you’re steps away from the Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park. From visiting the College Football Hall of Fame to stopping by the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta is the perfect backdrop for this year’s Midwinter conference.
Follow along with #ALAMW17.
Whether you’re tweeting live from the conference floor or following along from the circulation desk, use the Midwinter hashtag #ALAMW17. Across platforms, this will allow librarians to virtually gather ‘round and share the ideas, wisdom, and cool new products coming out of Midwinter 2017. For those attending the event, be sure to snap photos, jot down notes, and share it all under the hashtag for colleagues back home. Mango’s notoriously bright & bold booth will make the perfect backdrop for a selfie or two with your favorite language-learning aficionados — stop by booth #1156 and strike a pose with us!
Here at the Mango Grove, we’re counting down the days until #ALAMW17. Keep up with Mango on social media to virtually explore the conference with us and get inspired. There’s so much ahead for Mango in 2017, and there’s no better way to kick things off than with ALA Midwinter 2017. We’ll see you in January!
Comments