Alright team, here it is in all its glory! The ALA Think Tank’s Party Hard Guide to ALA Midwinter 2012. Each of these links to an event in Facebook because they are not all on the official conference scheduler and they are not all Official Conference events. Some of these are just meetups and good times put together by folks who want to meet and network. The events that don’t have a link are only in the conference scheduler and for some reason the links don’t work in the scheduler. But if you want to try, here is a link to take you to all the Official Social Events at ALA.

I have a strong belief that these social events are becoming more and more important. We trade ideas, talk, celebrate our profession, network and meet people, and freely brainstorm amazing new ideas. I can’t tell you how many things have come to my career by simply talking and interacting with librarians in these social events. I have so many stories about some of the things that have happened through these events that I won’t share the details of them here, but know that most of the things I talk about on this blog were helped in some great way by the people I’ve met. So I’m not asking you, I’m telling you (especially newcomers to the field) take the time to socialize and meet everyone you can! With that in mind, here is my current list of networking and meeting opportunities at ALA Midwinter 2012.

Thursday
Pre-ALA EL & Friends Meetup
8:30pm-?
Iron Cactus Mexican Grill And Bar

Friday
Lita Happy Hour
5pm-8pm
City Tavern 1402 Main Street, Dallas, Texas

YA Lit Trivia Night FUNdraiser
8pm-10pm
Omni Hotel, Dallas Room B

Emerging Leaders Meetup
8pm-10pm
City Tavern 1402 Main Street, Dallas, Texas

Saturday
Yalsa Happy Hour
5:30-7pm
Iron Cactus

NMRT Social,
5:30pm-7:30pm
The City Tavern, in Dallas, TX

The 5th ALA MW Newbie & Veteran Librarian Tweet-up
7:30pm-10pm
Anvil Pub, 638 Elm St, dallas TX

ALA MW ’12 After-Hours Social
10pm-2am (or they kick us out)
LaGrange 2704 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas

Sunday
Hacklibschool / Library Boing Boing Meetup
7:00pm-9:00pm
Adairs Saloon 2624 Commerce St. dallas TX

Social (GLBT RT)
6:00pm-8:00pm
Dallas Public Library, J. Erik Jonsson Central Branch, 1515 Young Street, 4th Floor Gallery.

Elsevier Desert Reception
7:00pm-11:00pm
Eddie Deen’s Ranch, 944 S. Lamar St., Dallas TX

The Amazing Erica Findley even made a map! Check it out.

I’m sure there are far more being put together that I don’t know about. If you know of one, feel free to leave a comment below, email me, reach me on twitter, or Facebook, and let me know! I’ll add them to the master list.