Journeyman

My duties don't include fiction purchases, but what I notice on my way to the automation vendors is:
* Posters are very popular, especially those with attractive graphics (think enlarged versions of book covers). Roll up a poster with copies of reviews from respected library publications (Library Journal, School Library Journal, Horn Book, etc.) inside. Secure with a rubber band. Leave one poster out for viewing. People pick these up by the dozens.
* Manga and graphic novel booths are attracting a lot more attention and librarians tend to stop and chat there as they try to become more knowledgeable about a new area of collection. If you can get a booth near one or two of them, you might collect some added attention from the lingerers.
* Book signings attract attention, especially if you can get a line going. Maybe you can call in some shills at high traffic hours.... ;)
* This might be a little more than you are ready to spend, but it is possible to "sponsor" a program at ALA. For sometimes a very small amount of money you can arrange to have yourself thanked publically and to put publicity material at the entrance to the venue. (My knowledge of this kind of arrangement comes from ALCTS, the technical services division of ALA; policy might differ somewhat on the Public Services side) This brings you to the attention of a large number of grateful librarians. You might contact YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association); they do a lot of programming at the conference. You can contact the YALSA offices by:

* calling 800-545-2433 ext 4390
* faxing 312-664-7459
* sending postal mail to YALSA, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
* sending e-mail to YALSA@ala.org


Here's a note from the Jan 24 Publisher's Weekly about the Boston Midwinter Conference: "As in the past, publishers sold books at their booths for discounts ranging from 20% to 50%, but there were also a lot more freebies. 'Yes, there are more galleys,' observed Steve Geck, executive editor of Harper-Collin's Greenwillow Books. 'A lot of time the best use of your advertising dollars is bound galleys.' However the fastest moving item may well have been a poster for Jim Edgar's bestselling Bad Cat. Workman reportedly gave out 500 posters in two hours."

Publishers also often use some of their time at ALA to schmooze. If you have some free time, you might stop by the big jobbers (Yankee Book Peddler and Ingram Library Services come to mind) and introduce yourselves and ask about how to get onto their approval plan lists. Many smaller libraries lack the staff to do their own selection and rely on these plans for fiction purchases. They probably won't snap you up right off the bat, but name and face recognition can only help if your name comes up later.

Hope this helps.
Judy Ahronheim, University of Michigan Graduate Library