More than 500 booksellers and visitors from as far away as New Zealand and Norway will be gathering less than a week from now for ABA’s Sixth Annual Winter Institute. The event, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, is made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor the Ingram Content Group and Wi6’s publisher sponsors.

Here’s one last look at some of what’s in store for booksellers next week.

Tuesday, January 18

Take the hotel shuttle or the Metro from Reagan National Airport to the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. If you take the Metro – the Yellow or Blue line one stop to “Crystal City” – be sure to follow the Marriott signs that specify “Crystal Gateway” as there’s another Marriott close by. Driving and other directions are available on the hotel website.

1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: The ABA Welcome Desk will be open in the hotel lobby. This is the place to pick up your badge, a jumpdrive with electronic versions of the session handouts, and other materials, including a special edition Wi6 journal courtesy of Moleskine and a Candlewick tote. (Booksellers who have signed up to visit Capitol Hill on Legislative Day will receive a special folder with all the details.)

6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Take the shuttle bus from the hotel to Washington D.C.’s landmark bookstore Politics & Prose for the Wi6 Opening Reception, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The first shuttle bus leaves the hotel at 6:30 p.m., or you can take the Metro to the Van Ness-UDC stop (take the Yellow line to L’Enfant Plaza and transfer to the Red line), where a van will be running a loop to the store.

Wednesday, January 19

It’s Legislative Day at Wi6!

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: The ABA Wi6 Welcome Desk is open.

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. PBS NewsHour’s Jim Lehrer interviews Small Business Administration head Karen Mills in the Arlington Ballroom. The keynote will be followed by a panel of entrepreneurs who have used the political system for social and business gain. The interview begins promptly at 9:00 a.m., so plan to eat first!

Noon At the first meal event of Wi6, ABA presents “Tips and Tactics for Meeting With Your Elected Officials.”

1:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Indie booksellers visit Capitol Hill. Booksellers who have asked ABA to arrange appoints for them with their elected officials will receive a special Leg Day kit at the ABA Welcome Desk. Appointments were still being finalized at press time.

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. By 5:00 p.m. make your way to the Montpelier Room in the Library of Congress’ Madison Building, at 101 Independence Ave, SE, for the Legislative Day Reception, where ABA will honor NPR and its ongoing and excellent book coverage. NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller will be the guest of honor at this event, co-sponsored by the Center for the Book.

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Frontline booksellers are invited to the Joe Drabyak Frontline Booksellers Reception, sponsored by Workman Publishing, at the Gateway Marriott’s BIN 1700.

Thursday, January 20

Power up your laptop, grab the jumpdrive, and log on to the free wi-fi in the meeting rooms courtesy of Google Local Shopping (whose reps will be available to meet with booksellers in the Consultation Station from 2:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Friday.)

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. It’s breakfast with Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor^®, a nationally recognized retail strategist who will share practical ways to improve your business in 2011.

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. It’s a jammed-packed day that includes special programming for children’s booksellers. Moderators have been asked to start on time. Thank the Ingram folks when you see them for generously sponsoring ABA education.

Noon – 2:00 p.m. Enjoy lunch and learn about new books at Rep Picks Speed Dating. Seats are assigned, so leave time to find your place.

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. It’s a Galley Room sneak peek in Salon J. The Galley Room will be open during afternoon breaks, too.

2:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. More educational sessions, including “Linked by Passion,” which combines the insights and experiences of an indie bookseller with that of branding and identity firm Brains on Fire (BOF). Education sessions are topped by a series of roundtable discussions with bookseller colleagues.

5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A record-breaking 57 authors and illustrators will sign books and greet booksellers at this year’s Author Reception. The Galley Room will be open during the reception and for a half-hour afterwards.

Friday, January 21

8:00 a.m. The Galley Room is open before breakfast until sessions begin and will open again during breaks.

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Breakfast With Small Presses provides an opportunity to hear what books some of your favorite small press reps are passionate about this season. One lucky bookseller at the breakfast will win a scholarship to Wi7!

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Relevant and new educational sessions, including the presentation of the “Indie City Index,” a new study by the strategic planning firm Civic Economics, which presents the first national measure of independent retail vitality nationwide.

Noon It’s part two of Lunch with Rep Picks Speed Dating.

2:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. More great education, including “Efficiency 201,” featuring David Allen, a leading authority on personal and organization productivity, and a practical discussion “How to Sell E-Books,” which will be offered twice.

2:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Representatives from more than 15 industry service providers, including ABA’s affinity partners, POS vendors, and Google Local Shopping, will meet one-on-one with booksellers during the Consultation Station. Booksellers are encouraged to set up appointments, but walk-ins are welcome.

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. A special Closing Reception, in the hotel’s Skyview Lounge and featuring some of your favorite small press authors (including Ralph Nader), completes Wi6.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. One last chance to visit the Galley Room.

Other Special Reminders

To help support its crucial First Amendment work, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, will be selling T-shirts featuring Washington Crossing the Delaware (With Books), a slightly altered version of the classic painting. The $15 shirts will be sold at the ABFFE Gallery, which will also feature a selection of heavily discounted posters from past BEA and ABA conventions. ABFFE Gallery hours will be posted at Wi6. A poster of the T-shirt art can be purchased online from Red Bubble.

ABA affinity ally PartnerShip will be on site to assist booksellers who want to ship books and other goodies back home. The Shipping Desk, which will be conveniently located next to the Galley Room, will be open on Thursday from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and during the Author Reception, and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.