Providing access to books and reading is one of the essential missions of a public library and the objective of this series is to give reluctant, developing and voracious readers of all ages access to authors and engage with a literary community. Author selections are made with an eye towards diversity of genre and readership. The 2013 series hosted popular national, regional and local writers: bestselling suspense authors Karin Slaughter and Stuart Woods; sci-fi/fantasy sensation Brandon Sanderson; journalist Sonia Nazario; American Girl author and African-American storyteller Evelyn Coleman; Chandra Bell, children’s author and co-creator of the enormously popular Elf on the Shelf stories; Southern chef Christy Jordan and quilting chronicler Marie Bostick. Previous Meet the Author series guests have included Atlanta Braves pitching ace John Smoltz, current U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey and Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Siddhartha Mukherjee. The 2013 series is striking in its diversity: from poetry and serial killer fiction to quilting and fairy tales, the series is a true fusion of styles and ideas that fascinate and entertain curious readers. While many of the selected authors were popular favorites, previously unheralded writers also ignited a joyous sense of discovery for audiences. The real pleasure of this series is introducing readers to different genres and writing styles—something for everyone.

A key element in this series—and in any library program—is the celebration of all kinds of reading: reading for pleasure, education, insight, relaxation, and to enhance one’s world view. A team of library staff meet regularly to assess current reading trends and author tour schedules to select a diverse range of participants, making sure to provide the community with an abundance of literary ideas, genres and subjects to embrace. Author tour schedules are studied and authors already touring the Atlanta region are invited to participate throughout the year. Selecting a touring author is essential; it eliminates travel and accommodation costs (already paid by the publisher) and gives the author an enhanced outlet for promoting his/her work outside the Atlanta area. Another important step is engaging community partners who share the library’s vision and can provide in-kind donations such as host venues, food and beverage contributions and volunteers. Diversity in author selection, venue location and audience outreach are key aspects of this series. While some programs take place in the branches, the library seeks to engage the larger community by presenting authors in local venues, providing enhanced access to residents who may not always be able to get to the public library. Host site selections are often a synthesis of writer and setting, matching subject matter with an appropriate venue. Host sites have included senior communities, high schools and colleges, museums, community centers, and even a baseball stadium and bluegrass music hall.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of the death of books and reading have been greatly exaggerated, as demonstrated by the enthusiastic audiences at the Meet the Author programs. 2013 total attendance was over 2,000 and included teenagers, adults and seniors. Publishers and bookstores are key; few libraries can afford author fees and establishing a relationship with the author’s publisher and bookseller is essential. GCPL and publishers work together to include the library on a variety of author book tours that stop in Atlanta (located just south of the county), and publishers absorb most of the prohibitive costs. The library must demonstrate for the publisher exactly what we have to offer by providing a totally different, entirely accessible audience and a staff highly-skilled and efficient in book signing logistics. When “sharing” an author on tour, the library carefully coordinates transportation schedules and strives to reach the largest audience possible in the limited amount of time available. GCPL has had great success in this area; many authors are repeat visitors and some now put the library on their Atlanta schedule. Authors, agents and publishers are identified at Book Expo America, an annual conference attended by GCPL representatives. Many non-library users are reached through this program—whether or not they live in an area without limited library access to or they have simply forgotten how valuable a library can be. Customers—new, longstanding and returning—fuel the philosophy behind this event and are instrumental to its success.