Mary Helen Guider-Shaw Library of Social Science on-site book exhibit manager, and author of this report. PUBLISHERS THAT EXHIBITED AT THE CDS CONFERENCE: APA Planners Press Ashgate Publishing Banff Centre Press Berrett-Koehler Publishers Brill Cambridge Scholars Publishing Cengage Learning U. of Chicago Press Common Ground Publishing Cornell U. Press Grey House Publishing ISBS Johns Hopkins U. Press Little, Brown & Co. McGraw-Hill Education Nehora Press New Society Publishers Polity Practical Action Publishing Sounds True Springer SBM SUNY Press Taylor & Francis/CRC Press Taylor & Francis Journals US Temple U. Press Urban Land Institute Verso Books West Virginia U. Press Wipf & Stock Publishers World Scientific Publishing Co. Annual Conference of the Community Development Society (CDS), July 19-22, Lexington, KY The 2015 annual CDS meeting offered researchers and practitioners—from the US and over 30 other countries—a unique opportunity to share innovative strategies for sustainable development supporting positive, inclusive community change. CDS members represent a wide range of fields, including education, health care, social services, sociology, economics and government.

CDS conferees are always an energetic group: professors, activists, researchers and those working in the field to create transformational strategies for communities. The conference is as varied as its attendees, with preconference workshops, panel sessions, mobile learning workshops, poster sessions and networking receptions.

I set up shop on Sunday afternoon, and was immediately greeted by conferees eager to see all the titles we had on display! There were plenty of familiar faces, and I received quite a few thank you’s for coming again—and compliments on the breadth and quality of the book exhibit.

The conference theme this year was “Creativity and Culture,” and the meeting definitely fostered both. Conferees were engaged with the sessions and often carried on discussions long after panels concluded. Many would then stop by the exhibit and recommend to colleagues books about the very topics they had just been discussing.

I received glowing feedback about the book exhibit, which featured 271 titles, from 31 publishers, spread over 10 tables in the foyer of the Grand Kentucky Ballroom. It was definitely a sight to behold (see photos below). Polity Press sent 82 books, and with such varied titles as Africa Emerges, Disasters without Borders and What Is a Social Movement?, it’s hardly surprising that they sparked the interest of many conferees.

Alongside Polity, Berrett-Koehler’s important titles on community and conversation (including Deeping Community, Turning to One Another and Walk Out Walk On) were great hits with attendees, as were Johns Hopkins’ books (perennial favorites) on topics ranging from health and advocacy, to governance, the Washington metro and the Amish.

Among our other regular publishers, Common Ground, Cornell, Springer, SUNY and Verso titles did very well with attendees.

We also welcomed a number of publishers at CDS for the first time—or welcomed them back after a time away. West Virginia University Press’ Community Effects of Leadership and Hippie Homesteaders were continually being looked through.

Sounds True’s CD collections, such as Living Nonviolent Communication and The Power of Vulnerability, and Wipf & Stock’s books Earth, Faith & Mission and Evangelism & Social Concern, helped remind everyone that community development requires more than just politics.

New Society Publishers’ books, due in no small part to The Color of Food (more on that below) and Toward Sustainable Communities, were important additions to the broad range of topics discussed at the conference.

In addition to books, all the journals sent by Routledge—including the Society’s official journal, Community Development—were eagerly snapped up.

More than one conference-goer commented that the titles we had on display were relevant and important to their work. We encouraged attendees to take order forms to share with colleagues—and to consider books for course use.

McGraw-Hill’s Crucial Accountability, Crucial Conversations and Widgets were leafed through early and often, and we received inquiries about using Berrett-Koehler, New Society and SUNY titles as course books.

The conference concluded on Wednesday afternoon with a wonderful luncheon and plenary session by Natasha Bowen. The author of The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience, and Farming (New Society) gave an inspiring presentation—and afterwards led her audience, Pied Piper-like, to the book exhibit for a book signing. Those lucky enough to hear Natasha were glowing (see photo below!), and all our copies of her book were sold and signed.

CDS proved to be a truly inspiring conference for attendees. We’d like to congratulate Karen Holt and the CDS organizers for a job well done. Thanks also to all the publishers who exhibited with us. We look forward to providing another stunning display next year at the Society’s Bloomington, MN, conference.

Books from Temple University Press, Berrett-Koehler, APA Planners Press and Verso.

LSS did a special signing for CDS Keynote speaker and best-seling author, Natasha Bowen.

Attendees stopping in during a slow period of the conference.

An attendee thrilled to have Natasha Bowen sign her copy of The Color of Food.

The Grand Kentucky Ballroom, home to LSS’ book exhibit for the Community Development Society conference.

West Virginia University Press’ titles, flanked by Banff Centre Press and Edinburgh University Press.

Wide-ranging titles from Cornell University Press, Sounds True, Grey House, Ashgate and McGraw-Hill Education.

Two popular CDS publishers, side by side: Johns Hopkins University Press and Springer SBM.

Cengage titles.