Boston -- ALA Midwinter

Beacon Hill (I hear this is John Kerry's neighborhood)

The Cheers bar!

I traveled to Boston last weekend for the American Library Association's Midwinter meeting. It was a good trip. Here's a photo of the exhibit hall, where library vendors come to give away tote bags, books, drinks, etc.
I got to hear Al Gore speak about his new book, Our Choice. I have very warm feelings for Al, as he was my first-ever Presidential vote in 2000 when I was 18. This is not a very good picture, but it was the best I could get in the convention center ballroom
Although much of my time was spent in meetings, I spent one afternoon on the Freedom Trail with two friends from work. It's a tour of some important historical sites in Boston. Here are a few images from the trail:

Ice skaters in Boston Common, the oldest park in the country, established by the citizens in 1634.
The old statehouse in Boston. The Declaration of Independence was read to Bostonians from this balcony.
Here lies Paul Revere.

As a Westerner, all these sites seemed truly, impressively old. It was interesting to note just how many public, democratic gathering places are built in to Boston's downtown area.

The Boston meetings were great. I got to catch up with librarian friends from Utah State and from University of Illinois. I got some good ideas from the Instruction Section meetings I went to, including one that I used in class yesterday. I also had yummy seafood!