Book Expo America (BEA) and the annual American Library Association’s convention (ALA) will continue to be held as separate events. The two groups had been discussing creating a combined event in the future.

Publishers Weekly broke the news last week: “[A joint] statement called the discussions ‘a positive experience’ and that ‘doors have been opened for other possible collaborative activities between ALA and the American Booksellers Association, the American Association of Publishers and Reed Exhibitions.’”

BEA 2011 is scheduled for May 23-May 26, 2011 in New York City. The ALA’s annual Conference is scheduled for June 23-28, 2011 in New Orleans, LA.