The American Booksellers Association, founded in 1900, promotes the development and growth of independent bookstores and ongoing education of booksellers across the country.

The Association of American Publishers, with members ranging from the nation's largest commercial publishers to the smallest university presses, encourages the publication of printed and audio books on virtually every subject and monitors legal copyright decisions.

Both organizations promote literacy programs for all ages and seek to promote the First Amendment rights of every American year-round. Every spring, the two organizations come together for four days to host BookExpo America.

The second-largest book fair in the world, BEA features educational workshops, author panels, publishers' breakfasts and more than 2,000 exhibitors booths. About 37,000 publishers, writers, booksellers and sales reps from more than 80 countries participate each year.

This year's BookExpo was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 29 through June 1. I visited the exhibit floor for one stimulating — and exhausting — day. What's happening in the publishing world? I'll share the answer in future columns.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Toddler Story Times 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Monday. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 446-2820.

Literary Options Group 7 p.m. Monday. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 446-2820.

Themed Story Time 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 650-9688.

Train of Thought 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Poetry reading at 856 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 642-1146.

Themed Story Time 3 p.m. Saturday. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 650-9688.

LIBRARY NEWS

Storyteller Jim Cogan 2 p.m. today. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

Computer Workshop 10 a.m. Monday. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

Read to Pepper the Dog 3 p.m. Monday. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

PAWS for Reading 3:30 p.m. Monday. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

Audrey Wood Stories 6:30 p.m. Monday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Vacation Stories 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura. 648-2716.

Summer Reading Program Event 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.

Folk Singer Adam Miller 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

Preschool Story Time 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

Mad Science Bugology 1 and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.

Drop-In Computer Help 2 p.m. Wednesday. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

Preschool Stories 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.

Nature Walker's Craft 4 p.m. Thursday. Colonia Library, 1500 Camino del Sol, Oxnard. 385-8108.

Writers Workshop 6 p.m. Thursday. Sponsored by Ojai Library. Twice-Sold Tales Bookstore, 122 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 646-1639.

Paws for Reading 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Bilingual Stories and Crafts 2 p.m. Saturday. Avenue Library, 606 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 643-6393.

— We'd like to announce your news about book/author events in Ventura County. Send items at least three weeks in advance to Jo Ellen Heil at P.O. Box 7083, Ventura, CA 93006; samheil@hotmail.com; or fax to 482-6167.