Chilis & sunshine: ALA in San Antonio: opportunities abound when midwinter's meetings end.(slj news)(American Library Association)

The American Library Association's (ALA) midwinter meeting from January 20 to 25 in San Antonio, TX, is the association's business meeting, but it needn't be all work and no play. After all, ALA is as much about networking as anything else, and midwinter's many receptions are perfect for schmoozing. You're on your own to ferret out the best parties--just don't blame us if you miss that 7 a.m. breakfast. Here's a highly selective list of events.

Learn about "Library Media Best Practices," a daylong pre-midwinter institute sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and featuring the San Antonio Northside Independent School District, winners of …