Author Events

Author Jeff Yeager discusses his new book, The Cheapskate Next Door, June 5 at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's Main Street branch. Known as the NBC Today Show's "Ultimate Cheapskate," Yeager explained what he discovered by surveying and visiting others across the country who live as he does. The program was presented by the library system's Herbert H. Neisser Speaker Series.

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Q. I’m an events coordinator for an independent book store.  We try to do author events frequently, often in collaboration with our town’s library.  The librarian suggested I look into the resources from ALA.  What do you have?

A. More each day! A great place to start is Programming Librarian.  This blog is produced by our Public Programs Office, which promotes cultural programming as an essential part of library service and has helped thousands of libraries of all types produce programming locally. 

For tips on events coordination, take a look at the tip sheet prepared by a committee of our division, the Association for Library Service to Children  or the tip sheet for the Kids! @ your library® initiative.   Even though these are tips for successful visits by children’s authors, many will apply to any author visit.  In addition, there are numerous web sites that list authors in order for schools and libraries to contact them. See the list of bookmarks to these web sites, as well as to articles and other publications with helpful tips and advice, that was compiled by the ALA Library, at: http://delicious.com/alalibrary/authorvisits.

Finally, do watch for more from the team working with 2010-2011 ALA President Roberta Stevens on her library advocacy initiative, “Our Authors/Our Advocates.”  While your immediate interest might be programming, take advantage of every possible way to advocate for libraries—such as the video of John Grisham speaking on the value of libraries and librarians!