New York City, May 31 - June 3 BookExpo America (BEA) is back for its biennial visit to Manhattan's west side, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, May 31–June 3, with the show floor open June 1–3. The industry confab will reflect both the local publishing power of New York City and the industry's global reach. Even this year's BEA web site comes in two versions, one in English and one in Chinese. And, with special programming in place, the number of librarians attending may well top the 2005 blockbuster New York show, when over 2200 librarians came to BEA, so you will be in good company. The web site is rich with information on exhibitors (with over 2000 publishing houses participating) and authors. It also newly offers its own social networking platform (although BEA itself is just that!), My BEA, so preregistered attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and press can create “a personalized show experience,” by networking and maintaining their schedules there. As in previous years, librarians can register at a special rate of $75 for a three-day pass (after May 11, it goes up to $100, still well below the industrywide price of $175/$225). This also covers admission to the conference sessions (both BEA and American Bookseller Association–sponsored), including the kickoff keynote by Alan Greenspan on June 1 at 11 a.m. There is a greater variety of sessions than ever, and BEA's lens on librarians is in Hi-Def on Saturday, with panels custom created for that crucial angle, revealing how librarians and the publishing industry can continue to learn from each other. BEA's new Librarian Friendly features actually start before the conference, with a Nancy Pearl podcast available in May and with exhibitors primed for their own part in the Librarian Friendly program by showing a special icon in their directory listing, with floor decals and special flashing buttons for booth staff—all to indicate active interest in speaking with librarians at BEA. Landmarks of this year's show floor include pavilions dedicated to African American, religion, travel, and art titles. And, of course, the Spanish Book Pavilion (hosted by our sister publication Críticas) returns. There will be author signings at publishers' booths (list available on BEA web site) as well as an autographing area that hosts more signings than anywhere else in the country. And don't forget that LJ, with apologies to Mr. Greenspan, offers the true kickoff event of the conference on May 31 with its Day of Dialog (see below). Once the show is underway, we'll be at Booth 4131 and hosting the Librarian's Lounge (Booth 5131), where you can meet LJ editors and staff along with colleagues from around the globe!

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Thursday, May 31 9 a.m.–4 p.m. A Day of Dialog for Publishers, Vendors, and Librarians (McGraw-Hill Conference Center); registration required Library Journal's annual, free, day-long program. This year's lineup includes playwright/producer Peter Parnell (QED, West Wing) and psychiatrist/Columbia prof Justin Richardson [coauthor, Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids To Know About Sex (but Were Afraid They'd Ask)], authors of And Tango Makes Three, the most banned book of 2006, along with their editor at S. & S., David Gale, and librarian/intellectual freedom advocate Pat Scales. Next, editors from Random, HarperCollins, Holtzbrinck, and other adult trade houses discuss the latest trends and what's hot for fall. The afternoon features adult/YA crossover books: Michael Chabon writing YA titles? Ann Brashares writing for adults? Many books speak to both adults and young people, but how do editors, authors, and librarians make the decision to pitch them to one audience or the other—or both? Finally, indulge yourself in Romance: author Eloisa James (Desperate Duchesses, Avon, June), LJ romance columnist Kris Ramsdell, and editors from Harlequin and Kensington on the latest trends in this most popular of genres, which now includes ebooks, erotica, and NASCAR-branded stories! Then get happy—happier!—with cocktails (4–5 p.m.). Although free, registration is required and is limited. Go to www.libraryjournal.com/dayofdialog to sign up.9 a.m.–4 p.m. Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) (Rms. 1E2,3,4,11) Sessions cover the ever-increasing range of challenges that go along with the growth of the audiobook market, from new mobile devices and eReading software to how a university press launched new media partnerships. There's a panel on new digital initiatives from Random, Ingram, HarperCollins, and Holtzbrinck and a final hour for “Evangelism” from Microsoft: introduction of its Live Search Book Service. Separate registration at www.audiopub.org.11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Upfront & Unscripted: The BEA Interview Series One-on-one informal talks with leading lights in publishing—and not just authors. Six half-hour sets, each with guest and host to be announced.

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Friday, June 1 7:30–9 a.m. Random House/ Library Journal Author Breakfast for Collection Development Librarians The annual breakfast for adult collection development librarians will leave you feeling pleasantly full as you indulge in a feast of five authors talking about their new works: Patricia Gaffney (Mad Dash,Shaye Areheart Bks.),Mary Gordon (Circling My Mother, Pantheon), Nancy Horan (Loving Frank, Random), Penny Vincenzi (Sheer Abandon, Doubleday), and Kris Radish (The Sunday List of Dreams, Bantam).10–11 a.m. Blogs: Is Their Growing Influence a Tastemaker's Dilemma? The Crossover Hurdle (Rm. 1E4) Bud Parr, founder of the litblog Metaxu Cafe, hosts panelists from across the lit blogosphere, including writers, editors, reviewers, and faculty—almost all of whom have blogs. Are you put off by blogs? Or addicted? Either way, this may be for you.The American Culture Behind the Bestsellers: An Examination of Readers' Perspectives (Rm. 1E6) Lisa Adams and John Heath, coauthors of Why We Read What We Read, analyze what we read—and what it means.11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Ethics in Book Reviewing: The More Things Change...? The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) has updated its 1989 survey of NBCC members about ethics in book reviewing. Publishing has changed dramatically but have reviewing ethics? Carlin Romano (Philadelphia Inquirer), who did the previous and current surveys, will moderate a panel that includes John Leonard (Harper's) and other NBCC member/reviewers, comparing 1989 and 2007 findings. Be there!1–2 p.m. Book Industry Study Group Presents Book Industry TRENDS 2007. The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) takes the metrics, the info, the data, and crunches the numbers to give us book market growth projections through 2011. Across the industry, professionals rely on this data in their business plans. BISG executive director Michael Healy will moderate.2–5 p.m. ¡Ajá, leyendo! with AAP's Publishing Latino Voices for America (Rm. 1E6) A program celebrating and promoting the Latino book market. First: “English Spoken Here: How To Work with Nonprofits To Reach the Latino Market Without Having To Learn Spanish,” presented by Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say; then “Celebrate the Best in Latina Literature 2007!” with “Leyendo Con Las Comadres!” Followed by (4–5 p.m.) a reception and launch of Latinos in Publishing (LIP).2:30–3:30 p.m. Graphic Novel Buzz: Editors Share Highlights of Forthcoming Titles (Rm. 1E3) Sponsored by New York Comic Con and moderated by Publishers Weekly's Calvin Reid, with panelists to be announced.A Mighty Heart: From Manuscript to Screen (Rm. 1E12) Mariane Pearl's 2003 memoir, subtitled The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl, has been made into a movie due out later this year. Pearl will join Scribner vice president and editor in chief Nan Graham and others to discuss the book's evolution from shelf to screen. There'll be a clip from the film, too, which stars Angelina Jolie.4–5:30 p.m. BEA Editors Buzz Forum (Rm. 1E12) Top editors convene and offer you—and their colleagues—full-strength prognostication on the forthcoming books they like best. Publishers Weekly editor in chief Sara Nelson moderates as execs and editors from Ecco/HarperCollins, Random, Riverhead, Mira Books, Simon & Schuster, and Grove Atlantic pitch their titles.

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Saturday, June 2 1–2 p.m. The Changing Face of Science Fiction and Fantasy and Why It's Breaking into the Mainstream (Rm. 1E4) Diana Gill, editor at Eos/HarperCollins will host a panel of editors, publishers, and authors on the evolution of sf.3–4 p.m. Editors' Buzz on Debut Fiction (Rm. 1E11) Just one of many title-oriented programs competing for librarians' attention on Saturday; duck out of other groups to check it out. Also, consider exploring discussions of publishing trends in green activism, atheism, the cult of Jane Austen, and more.

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Margaret Heilbrun is Social Sciences Editor, LJ Book Review