In the meantime, here’s a fun look at what’s happened so far, starting off with what we’re calling the “tearjerker video” that sent more than a few booksellers reaching for the tissues.

President Barack Obama welcomed booksellers with a special video message.

ABA CEO Allison K Hill and futurist Brian David Johnson talked about the future of bookselling, which booksellers seem pretty well prepared for, according to our expert guest speaker.

Amanda Gorman, Warsan Shire, and torrin a. greathouse brought the house down with incredible poems.

Booksellers learned about hand-selling and upselling in a hybrid world, as well as creating a work environment that embraces access, equity, and justice.

And the Virtual Hangouts were a hit, with the genre rooms overflowing — both Romance and Sci-Fi/Fantasy proved to be the bookseller favorites!

This morning, we kicked off with the keynote “Novelist as Citizen,” a panel that many booksellers begged not to end. Authors Lauren Groff, Viet Thahn Nguyen, and Colson Whitehead chatted with moderator Michelle Malonzo of Changing Hands.

More poetry interludes brought Ross Gay and Warsan Shire to the stage. For all of you asking if we’ll keep doing these at future institutes — we hear you!!!

Education sessions were held on financial planning for a successful year, managing online sales growth, and LGBTQ+ romance.

Many of you chimed in on social media, and we thank you for the shout-outs!!

And after all that, we’re off to tonight’s virtual author social. See many of you tomorrow morning for the final day of Wi16!