The purpose of this paper is to give an overview and a few highlights from the author's experience at the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair.
The author visited the Frankfurt Book Fair from October 10 through October 12, visiting a wide variety of vendors across all exhibition halls and attending a number of special presentations. All empirical data are based on personal observations recorded by journal during and directly after each fair visit.
The fair was an excellent chance to learn more about the publishing industry, particularly with respect to the author's prior interests in education and children's and young adult literature. The event is so large, and the vendors so numerous, that all areas of interest to publishers, librarians, educators, booksellers, and others in the book trade are represented.
This report should be of particular interest to those thinking of attending the Frankfurt Book Fair for the first time, as well as those who are familiar with the event but were unable to attend in 2012. Educators and library media specialists will find this viewpoint to be written from a perspective that is especially relevant to them and their work.
