On the opening night, members enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner and an award presentation that included the 38th Ludington Award Presentation to Mr. Ashley Bryan. A beloved author and illustrator, Ashley Bryan has written and/or illustrated over fifty works for children, including Beautiful Blackbird, Let It Shine, and Freedom Over Me. He has received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Lee Bennet Hopkins Award for Poetry, and the Coretta Scott King Award. He has been a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and the recipient of both the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award and the Dartmouth College Social Justice Award for Lifetime Achievement. Unfortunately, Mr. Bryan was unable to accept the award in person, however he pre-recorded a video accepting the award. To learn more about the Ludington Award, Ashley Bryan or past receipients, click here.

The 2017 program brought together authors and industry professionals to explore how to reach readers in an ever changing marketplace. Presenters and Authors included:

• Rebecca Miller, Editorial Director, Library Journal and School Library Journal
  
• Kent Oliver, Library Director, Nashville Public Library
• Manya Shorr, Director, Public Services at DC Public Library
• Dr. Annie Norman, Director, The DE Division of Libraries
• Amie Wright, Manager, MyLibraryNYC at the New York Public Library
• Katie Cerqua, Youth & Family Services Manager, VA Beach Public Library
• Rachel Reinwald, School Liaison Librarian at Lake Villa District Library, IL
• Chris Grabenstein, Author, Penguin Random House
• Donna Gephart, Author, Penguin Random House
• Laurie Halse Anderson, Author, Simon & Schuster 

In addition to these presentations, Jill Faherty, EBMA President, updated the association on current EBMA business, and how it can best continue to serve its members.

Presentations were made available, to view these click here.