For most people, spring and summer mean vacations and time off; for book people those seasons bring the hustle of trade shows and may be the busiest time of the year. Last week’s BookExpo America in New York was crowded and a lot of work for those who exhibited and those who attended, but at the center of it all was the joy of learning about new books. This week the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit—for Catholic, Episcopal, and other liturgical booksellers--meets in St. Charles, Ill. Though much smaller and more relaxed than BEA, it is also a place to see what’s coming in the all-important fall publishing season. In July more book people will gather in Atlanta for the International Christian Retailers Show. All of these conventions are places to commune with others who have an unflagging passion for books and the ideas they carry into our lives.