Wi4: Some Last-Minute Reminders

Just about a week from now, hundreds of ABA members will be gathering in Salt Lake City for the kickoff of the Fourth Annual Winter Institute. Here are some last minute reminders about next Thursday's shop local pre-conference, getting to the hotel, the opening night receptions, the ABA Welcome Desk, the event schedule, and more.

For the first time ever, ABA is presenting a full day of independent business alliance education for booksellers participating in established Local First campaigns and those who want to learn more about these community-focused initiatives. Thursday, January 29, the day before the Winter Institute, will feature focused education from an array of experts, as well as a field trip to prominent Salt Lake independent business Rico Mexican Market and Catering.

The full-day schedule for ABA's Pre-Winter Institute Conference on Local First/Shop Local Initiatives can be previewed here. If you're registered but no longer planning to attend the pre-conference, ABA asks that you send an e-mail to wi4@bookweb.org immediately, so that the food and beverage order can be adjusted accordingly.

If you're flying into Salt Lake City International Airport, you have several options to get to the headquarters hotel:

The Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown
75 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801) 531-0800

ABA has arranged a special $8 per person shuttle bus rate with All Resorts Transportation Service, and reservations can be made in advance. The $8 rate is per person for a shared ride.

The cost of hopping a taxi from the airport to the hotel is about $15 (plus tip). Taxi service booths are located in the baggage claim areas outside Door #7 in Terminal One and Door #11 in Terminal Two.

Most major rental car companies are located in the airport, and parking is available at the Marriott for $2/hour or $12/day. Valet parking is $15/day.

When you arrive at the hotel, be sure to stop by the ABA Welcome Desk to pick up your badge and other goodies. Your badge is your means of access to all Wi4 events and sessions, so it's best to pick it up at your earliest convenience.

The ABA Welcome Desk will be located in the hotel lobby and will be open during the following hours:

• Wednesday, January 28, from 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• Thursday, January 29, from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 30, from 8:00 a.m. - Noon

This year's Winter Institute features not one, but two opening night receptions.

On Wednesday night, January 28, The King's English will welcome participants in the Thursday Shop Local pre-conference. A shuttle bus will run a loop between the hotel and the bookstore between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The King's English is located at:

1511 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
(801) 484-9100

On Thursday night, January 29, Sam Weller's Bookstore is hosting the traditional Winter Institute Opening Reception, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (For details about the fun activities planned, check out the personal invitation from Tony Weller in this week's issue.) The store is within walking distance of the hotel, and ABA staff members will be on hand to show you the way. Directions can also be previewed here.

Sam Weller's is located at:
254 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801) 328-2586

ABA asks Wi4 participants to join in thanking The King's English and Sam Weller's for their gracious welcome.

The Winter Institute will offer a diverse selection of 30 education seminars, keynotes, and users group meetings as well as a number of truly special events, highlighted by the Friday night author reception, featuring 38 stellar authors.

To run as green a meeting as possible, ABA will not have session handouts available on site in Salt Lake City. Session handouts are being posted on BookWeb for download in advance of the event. Some handouts are already available, and more are being added every day.

The Rep Picks -- your chance to hear about the hot books shipping this winter and spring -- has been retooled for Wi4. The publishers' reps will move from table to table at lunch on Friday to present their titles. This new "speed dating" format for the rep picks promises to be fun and invigorating.

Special note: To help ABA assign seats for the rep picks, booksellers with a special interest in children's books are asked to send an e-mail to mark@bookweb.org.

Immediately following the rep picks, and right outside the ballroom, you'll find galleys and ARCs of the books just discussed. Booksellers will have a half-hour to sort through the books and pick up copies. After this, the books will be moved to this year's Galley Room, located in the Cottonwood Room. The Galley Room will open for browsing, Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. (A full listing of Galley Room hours will be posted outside the room.)

Ingram Book Company and Ingram Publisher Services have generously sponsored the Winter Institute and all of ABA's 2009 educational efforts. Through their support, ABA is able to offer stellar programs and events for booksellers, as well as to make available low-cost hotel rates. ABA is asking all Wi4 participants to join in extending a special thanks to Ingram and to all of Wi4's publisher and other partners, whose gracious support helps keep this event free to booksellers:

Between the Galley Room and the Friday Author Reception, you'll likely pick up a lot of books. ABA and the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown have joined together to help make shipping them home easy. Simply bring your Fed-Ex or UPS airbill with you, and fill it in when you're ready. We'll provide boxes (recycled from the shipments we'll receive from publishers) and packing tape, and the hotel will get your boxes home.

Look for our shipping and info desk outside the Main Ballroom on Saturday and Sunday.

If your plans have changed, and you're not going to attend the Winter Institute, let ABA know by sending an e-mail to wi4@bookweb.org. It will help ensure that you don't get charged a "no-show" fee by the hotel and will help ABA get an accurate headcount for meal functions.

ABA has created a list of booksellers registered for the Winter Institute (as of Tuesday, January 20).