We'll admit it. Our favorite library conference isn't technically a library conference at all - it's BookExpo America. Last year was the first time we teamed up with them and we had a blast. We drew a 14-page comic, gave a talk, sold things at our booth, and, most importantly, got tons of free books and met dozens of authors. But it wasn't just us - everyone there seemed to be having a good time.

Today we're excited to announce that we're upping the ante on our partnership, and you are the direct beneficiaries. Because if you are a librarian or educator who registers for BEA 2008 through Unshelved you will qualify to win the following great prizes:

• Appearance in an upcoming Unshelved comic strip
• Coffee @ BEA with Bill and Gene
• Gold Autographing Pass
• Discount on shipping books
• FREE Author's Breakfast of your choice
• FREE Lewis Black tickets

Eighteen of you will win one of the above, and one lucky attendee will win the grand prize - all of them! There will be four drawings between now and the beginning of BEA 2008, so the earlier you register the more chances you have to win!

Over the next weeks we'll tell you all about the Unshelved Library Lounge and all of the fun library-friendly programming we're creating for BEA. Meanwhile, go to our Unshelved @ BEA 2008 page, learn more, and register today!

With all the gazillions of awards given to kid's books by various committees, I think it's cool that the Children's Book Council is letting kids vote for their own favorite books. They can do so until Sunday, May 4th, and the awards willbe announced during Children's Book Week (May 12-18, 2008). If my son have anything to say the winner will be Usage Yojimbo.

Last week I got a new book - Rolling Thunder - by my favorite author - John Varley - and I found myself creating a little romantic getaway for the two of us.Yesterday's Book Club was the logical conclusion.

I wanted to share some of the responses we got about this week's sponsor, Tutor.com:

We use Tutor.com in our library system, and it works great. It is nice to see these services get some kudos.

I would love to have Tutor.com at my library and appreciate the publicity your strip has give potential collaborators and my Library Director.

As someone with an Art History degree, I quake with fear when I get a math question... a physics question would be too terrifying! Fortunately where I work - a community college library - there is a tutoring center AND access to tutor.com.

Tutor.com is a great product.

Those are the good ones, but there weren't any bad ones (although, like Mel, a few folks bemoaned that it costs money!) If you'd like to find out how Tutor.com is helping libraries find innovative ways to make their service available, register for their webinar web seminar Internet conference online thingy April 22nd here.