What I've Learned from ALA 2010

• Beware the Mad Rush of the Exhibit Hall openings. You have been warned
  
• Publishers are not interested in you unless you are a Public Library Director/Collections Manager/Reviewer/Adorable Child
  
• Wheeled carts are Not Allowed. You will see them Everywhere Anyway.
• Avoid the Exhibit Halls after one or two runs. Especially Monday morning; nothing new is put out for free, and everyone is just waiting for the 'giveaway' around 4 pm
• If at all possible, demagnetize your card (I discovered this one by accident). With luck, vendors will assume that their machine is broken, so you will a) still get free stuff and b) avoid junk mail
• When approaching someone, try to figure out their area of interest and pitch your introduction to that
• Chat with fellow librarians! They are generally surprisingly eager to share their tips and experience with you
• Talk with your fellow newbie colleagues as well, even though none of you has a job. Relationships are valuable no matter what; you can't predict what will come down the road
• Paula Poundstone is hilarious
• Give away your business cards like they are on fire (it will generally take 10 conversations/contacts for every 'connection' made)