Today BookExpo America announced that the annual publishing conference will return to a three-day schedule next year, stretching the festival over three weekdays in 2011.

BEA Show Director Steve Rosato shared the news on the BEA blog, The Bean. Rosato noted that a number of guests “genuinely like the 2 day format,” but the change will help ease crowded schedules.

Here’s an excerpt from the announcement: “While our mantra has been quality versus quantity–there is a reality of what people can accomplish in 2 full days … In the end while many people liked BEA as a 2 day show – more people need BEA to be a 3 day show. We will remain mid week with the show days being Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday. My plan right now is to keep the conference program on Monday because the impact of the conference this year running on Tuesday without competing with the show floor was tremendous.”