Author Archive: Alison Marcotte


From left: Cartoonist Raina Telgemeier, Travis Jonker, and Colby Sharp discuss graphic novels on episode two of The Yarn.

Spinning The Yarn

September 8, 2015

American Libraries spoke with Sharp and Jonker to learn more about their creative process, the making of Sunny Side Up, and how educators and librarians can get involved with making podcasts. American Libraries: What was the inspiration to start The Yarn? Travis Jonker: Colby had the idea to try it. We kicked it around for … Continue reading Spinning The Yarn




World Boxing Council world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder with Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Public Library patron Jaden Williams during Wilder’s book signing. (Photo: Vince Bellofatto)

A Knockout Event

August 4, 2015

Wilder, also known as “the Bronze Bomber,” signed copies of the children’s book Deontay the Future World Champ, written by Tony Bowers and illustrated by Dan Monroe. The book, which is based on Wilder’s life, covers the importance of having a focused and healthy lifestyle to reach one’s goals. Three hundred patrons attended the event, … Continue reading A Knockout Event


Richard Frieder (standing), community engagement director at Hartford Public Library, facilitates a community dialogue among neighborhood residents and Hartford police officers on the topic of community violence and public safety. The dialogue took place in June 2015 at Hartford Public Library's Barbour Street branch. (Photo: Judy Wyman Kelly)

Hartford Public Library Builds, Strengthens Community–Police Relationships

August 3, 2015

HPL is one of 10 public libraries in the US that have been participating in ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) initiative since April 2014. The initiative, in collaboration with the nonprofit Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, is an 18-month community engagement training program where libraries learn how to address challenges facing their community. (Read more … Continue reading Hartford Public Library Builds, Strengthens Community–Police Relationships



The April announcement of the Soon to Be Famous Author Project winner took place at the Illinois Library Association in Chicago. Front, from left: Denise Raleigh, Michael Alan Peck, and Cris Cigler. Back, from left: Donna Fletcher, Julie Stam, Lucy Tarabour, Nikki Zimmermann, and Jennifer Amling.

Soon to Be … Awarded

June 12, 2015

“A group of us who knew each other gathered spontaneously outside of the room after the talk and just got jazzed about it and said, ‘We really should do something,’” says Sue Wilsey, communication manager at the Helen Plum Memorial Library in Lombard, Illinois. What resulted was the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project, … Continue reading Soon to Be … Awarded


Seabiscuit with jockey George Woolf and trainer Tom Smith after winning the Pimlico Special, November 1, 1938. (Photo: Keeneland Library)

And They’re Off!

June 5, 2015

“This is the job of my dreams,” says Becky Ryder, director of Keeneland Library. Founded in 1939, the public research and reference library is one of the largest sources of equine industry information. It holds hundreds of thousands of thoroughbred-related books, articles, and photographic negatives, such as the Daily Racing Form’s archives and materials on … Continue reading And They’re Off!