What is your favorite memory from the weekend? Was it getting a first look at some exciting, soon-to-be-published books? Maybe it was taking in one of the many star-studded forums, like Jason Segel’s talk on how he experienced libraries as a child, or Levar Burton’s discussion about releasing his first children’s book?
Whatever aspect you found most inspiring and insightful, there is no doubt ALA Midwinter continues to be an indispensable resource for all things library. AGATI had the pleasure of posting up at booth #2826 and chatting with a number of attendees. Some faces we’ve seen for years, while others were newcomers who we were eager to meet for the first time. It never ceases to amaze us how much we learn from our casual booth conversations about what librarians find important for their spaces.
The Library Interiors Discussion forum brought 40 librarians and designers together in an open discussion about universal issues and topics in contemporary library design, such as furniture durability, creating co-existing collaborative and silent study spaces, and what library furniture truly counts in teen spaces. Together, designers, architects, and librarians from both public libraries and academic libraries helped one another solve some of these issues using their years of experience and expertise to provide insight unavailable anywhere else outside of ALA Midwinter. Joe Agati has participated in the forum for years and continues to engage in it not only to help others create the best space possible, but to learn about the challenges librarians face so AGATI can design products that meet real needs.
Another highlight of the weekend was the Librarian Bowl hosted in the AGATI showroom. The showroom hosted guests from the show who made the trip in the blizzard and treated them to local Chicago food and beer, with a comfy place to kick up their feet and enjoy the game after the long weekend. A little snow (only 20 inches or so and gusty winds) couldn’t stop the food, friends, and football from being enjoyed!
What will next year bring? Hopefully not a blizzard, of course, but we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at ALA Midwinter 2016 in Boston!
