The 2025 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, held from June 26–30 in Philadelphia, was a powerful, high-energy gathering of over 14,000 librarians, educators, authors, and exhibitors from around the world. Taking place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the event pulsed with a sense of urgency and purpose. At its heart were timely conversations about intellectual freedom, democracy, and the evolving role of libraries in society, topics that felt especially resonant in the current political climate.
At the conference, ARPress made a memorable impression on attendees with a vibrant and inviting booth that celebrated the power of storytelling. Nestled among hundreds of publishers, their exhibit stood out for its emphasis on bestselling titles and authentic, diverse voices. Visitors were drawn to ARPress’ carefully curated collection, which spanned memoirs, self-help, children’s literature, and thought-provoking nonfiction. What truly brought the exhibit to life were the personal connections, librarians, educators, and book lovers engaged in meaningful conversations with ARPress representatives.
Among the most talked-about titles were inspirational memoirs that offered hope and perspective, empowering self-help books that resonated with both personal and professional audiences, and heartwarming stories that emphasized kindness, resilience, and diversity. Each of these reflected ARPress’ mission to publish meaningful stories that matter, books that stay with readers long after the final page.
The energy at ALA 2025 was unmistakable. From panels on intellectual freedom to networking across the bustling exhibition floor, the conference offered a platform for publishers like ARPress to connect directly with those who bring books into communities: librarians. For ARPress, the highlight wasn’t just showcasing bestselling books, it was building lasting relationships with the people who champion them in schools, libraries, and bookstores nationwide.
Amid the innovation, the emotional core of the conference remained clear: librarians are not just keepers of books, they’re frontline defenders of access, free speech, and community well-being. Whether through panels on book bans, hands-on zine workshops, or impromptu hallway conversations, the spirit of collaboration and resilience was ever-present.
From the cheesesteak-fueled streets of Philadelphia to the packed session rooms, ALA 2025 was more than a conference, it was a reaffirmation of why libraries matter. And with the 150th anniversary celebration already on the horizon for 2026 in Chicago, the momentum is only growing.
Looking ahead, ARPress is building on the momentum from Philadelphia and is set to appear at several other international book fairs throughout 2025. With an expanding catalog and a deepening connection to its readers, ARPress continues to bring powerful stories into the hands of those who need them most. ALA 2025 was more than just an exhibit, it was a celebration of books, voices, and the shared love of reading.
Heaven!… Boring? by Greg Thomas explores the age-old question of eternal life, is it a dream come true or an ominous threat? For those who worry that floating on clouds and playing harps might sound incredibly dull, this book offers a unique, engaging, and compelling perspective on heaven. Heaven!… Boring? departs from typical explorations of the afterlife to examine the concept of life-ever-after from fresh and surprising vantage points.
Greg Thomas, MD, brings together history, biology, cosmology, philosophy, and personal experience, along with whimsical and relevant anecdotes, to stimulate the intellect while simultaneously entertaining. He explores how modern science sheds light on the relationship between the temporal and the eternal, and how this can deepen our appreciation for the biblical promise of eternal life. Readers are invited to consider how our current sensory experiences both reveal and conceal glimpses of the eternal. Most importantly, Thomas reflects on how the gospel promise of eternal life is truly good news. It is not sentimental or wishful thinking; it is serious business.
This book is for anyone who has ever wondered, Will I get bored in heaven?
Greg Thomas is a seasoned family physician from Salem, Oregon, with an MD and nearly forty years of medical practice under his belt. He isn’t your typical theologian, and that’s precisely why Heaven!… Boring? feels refreshingly down-to-earth. Alongside lively anecdotes, from whimsical Sunday school lessons to scientific musings, he weaves together history, biology, cosmology, philosophy, and Scripture in a thought-provoking exploration of eternity that is both intellectually stimulating and spiritually nourishing.
Thomas addresses the questions many of us quietly ponder: “Will heaven get dull?” “Will there be creativity, sex, sports?” With genuine curiosity, light humor, and scholarly insight, he explores the nature of eternal life. Rather than offering vague platitudes, he insists that eternity is “serious business,” arguing that our present sensory experiences may both veil and reveal more than we realize, and that heaven, far from being stagnant, promises ongoing delight, discovery, and depth.
For readers who fear that eternity might feel like an endless harp recital, Thomas offers a compelling alternative: heaven isn’t a one-note echo of earthly pleasures but a vibrant, evolving reality where wonder, relationship, creativity, and meaning continue infinitely. It’s a persuasive invitation to rethink eternity, not as endless tedium, but as unending wonder.
