Joseph Cassara (left) and Rakesh Satyal

Out and Proud

June 25, 2017

During their talk at the 2017 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, the four authors on the panel—Joseph Cassara, Sophie Yanow, Rakesh Satyal, and Eileen Myles—talked about protest, AIDS during the 1980s, and culture. In discussing family novels and his exploration of the topic in his new novel, The House of Impossible Beauties, Cassara said … Continue reading Out and Proud


One of the breakout groups at the advocacy meeting. From left: Casey Wallace, Christopher Moffat, Elissa Checov (a 2016 I Love My Librarian winner), Eugene Hamer, and Susan J. Schmidt (United for Libraries president). In the background is Donna McDonald (United for Libraries secretary).

Advocate Proactively

January 23, 2017

Donna McDonald, director of the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System and secretary of United for Libraries, noted that many public library users are “unaware of the library’s funding challenges, and the biggest supporters may not be frequent users.” Elected officials can often be a “hard sell” because they are also looking at funding for … Continue reading Advocate Proactively


Panelists (from left) Barbara Hoffert, Ari Berman, Elizabeth Lesser, Lydia Reeder, and Chris Smith

Reads Like Fiction: Nonfiction You Can’t Put Down

June 26, 2016

At United For Libraries’ Reads Like Fiction, Nonfiction You Can’t Put Down session, this random collection of words summarized tales from four talented writers telling compelling stories about real life events, moderated by Barbara Hoffert, editor of Library Journal’s Prepub Alert. Ari Berman opened the event discussing with passionate intensity his book Give Us the … Continue reading Reads Like Fiction: Nonfiction You Can’t Put Down


Richard Kong, Barbara Gubbin, Kate Park

Libraries That Listen

June 26, 2016

Moderated by Dick Waters, principal consultant with Godfrey’s Associates, the program offered both Friends group and library director perspectives on how leveraging what your customers and advocates tell you can create change. Kate Park, executive director of Friends of the Dallas Public Library, talked about how when she started in 2012, the 23 Friends groups … Continue reading Libraries That Listen


Joshua Davis

From Book to the Big Screen

July 1, 2015

The release detailed the efforts of four Mexican teens from an impoverished area of Phoenix, Arizona, who were competing in a national underwater robotics championship against students from MIT and other esteemed universities. He ignored the release initially, but it stuck in his mind for weeks. It was just too odd to believe. Giving in … Continue reading From Book to the Big Screen