Note: Conable Scholarship recipient, Aubrey Madler, will be blogging her thoughts about the ALA Annual Conference throughout the week.  Check back daily for her perspectives on the meetings, programs, and other events she’s partaking in.

Well, Wednesday earmarked the start of my intensive ALA Annual conference experience, which I am fortunate enough to attend thanks to the Freedom to Read Foundation and their Gordon M. Conable Scholarship.

A networking dinner kicked off my DC visit where I met members of the FTRF, including its Executive Director, Barbara Jones, and a number of other welcoming and energetic advocates with whom I fit right in.

Thursday was filled with a series of FTRF meetings, where I learned details about many court cases with which the foundation is involved. They sure keep busy throughout the year advocating for our First Amendment right to read and access information.

The day concluded with a warm reception where I met even more members of the FTRF and learned some tips about sharing information on issues surrounding intellectual freedom.

I look forward to Friday’s sessions hosted by the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC), the Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT), and the Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF).