In less than two weeks, the American Booksellers Association’s Sixth Annual Winter Institute will be well underway in Washington, D.C. Here are some important logistical reminders for the more than 500 booksellers who will be in attendance.

Tuesday, January 18

Welcome! 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” or you might end up at some other group’s winter gathering! Driving and other directions are available on the hotel website.

Unpack your bags and explore the hotel. Depending on your inclination, check out the fitness room and indoor pool or the Atrium lobby bar. Then rest up for the nights and days ahead.

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Join your colleagues at 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! Sessions at the hotel and scheduled visits to Capitol Hill are capped by a reception in the Montpelier Room in the Library of Congress’ Madison Building, which offers beautiful views of the Washington skyline.

8:00 a.m. The ABA Wi6 Registration Desk opens. Be sure to pick your badge, a jumpdrive with electronic versions of the session handouts (we’re paperless again this year), and other surprise goodies, including a special edition Wi6 journal courtesy of Moleskine, all to be carried in a Candlewick tote. (If you have an appointment on the Hill in the afternoon, you will receive a special folder with all the details.)

If you’re not happy with that shirt you’re wearing, or if you spill coffee on it, or more importantly, if you’d like to support the  American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, come to the ABFFE Gallery and stock-up on T-shirts featuring the original Wi6 art below. The ABFFE Gallery will remain open throughout Wi6 and will also be selling vintage BEA convention posters. Hours will be posted.

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. In the Arlington Ballroom, PBS NewsHour’s Jim Lehrer interviews Small Business Administration head Karen Mills. They 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 Lunch! ABA feeds you and presents “Tips and Tactics for Meeting With Your Elected Officials.” If you’re scheduled to go to the Hill, this is a must. If you’re not scheduled, well, come soak it up for the future.

1:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Indie booksellers visit Capitol Hill, raising issues important to small businesses across the country. For those not attending meetings on the Hill, Washington, D.C., offers more museums per capita than any other U.S. city. The hotel concierge desk is the place to start for suggestions about where to enjoy the afternoon. And don’t forget indie bookstores! Check IndieBound.org for stores within 20 miles or so of zip code 22202.

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Whether you’re on Capitol Hill or in a museum that afternoon, by 5:00 p.m. make your way to the Montpelier Room in the Library of Congress’ Madison Building, at 101 Independence Ave, SE, and join in as we honor NPR and its ongoing and excellent book coverage. NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller will be our guest at this event, co-sponsored by the Center for the Book.

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. If you’re a frontline bookseller, come honor one of indie bookselling’s greats at the Joe Drabyak Frontline Booksellers Reception, sponsored by Workman Publishing, at the Gateway Marriott’s BIN 1700. But pace yourself! Thursday starts early and goes strong.

Thursday, January 20

Power up your laptop, grab the jumpdrive, log on to the free wi-fi in the meeting rooms courtesy of Google Local Shopping, and go!

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. It’s breakfast with the doctor – The Retail Doctor, that is. Bob Phibbs, the breakfast speaker, is a nationally recognized retail strategist who will talk about practical ways to improve your business in 2011.

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Choose your sessions wisely! It’s a jammed-packed day and moderators have been asked to start on time. (Late-comers may have to sit up front and actually may be called on.) Thank the Ingram folks when you see them for generously sponsoring ABA education.

Noon - 2:00 p.m. What’s better than meeting new people, hearing about new books, and eating a yummy lunch? Nothing, so enjoy lunch with Rep Picks Speed Dating. (Publishers make much of all this possible, and make very good lunch dates!) 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, more, more educational sessions! Is your head a jumble yet? No worries, the highly anticipated Author Reception awaits.

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. (Let’s see, if everyone gets one book from each author, plus a T-shirt or three, and a few vintage BEA convention posters… thank goodness ABA affinity ally PartnerShip will be on site for shipping supplies and mailing.)

5:45 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Not enough books yet? Visit the Galley Room to choose the perfect bedside pile.

Friday, January 21

The ABFFE Gallery is open; PartnerShip is ready to help make the trip home pounds lighter; and a variety of partners are setting up to meet booksellers starting at 2:15 p.m. in the Consultation Station. It must be Friday.

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. Indie booksellers love small presses, so come eat breakfast with some of your favorite Small Press Reps and hear what books they’re passionate about this season.

10:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Relevant and new educational sessions fill the day’s schedule. Among the offering are “How to Sell E-Books,” “Exploring New Partnerships Between Indie Booksellers & Authors,” and “Free for the Asking: Marketing With PR and Social Media in Mind.”

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

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. Have one last get-together with your colleagues before returning home armed with more great books (the Galley Room will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), tons of useful information, great memories, and, hopefully, that one tip or best practice that makes the whole trip worthwhile.