In an effort to bridge the gap between author and reader, the Alachua County Library District will host a series of author appearances beginning in January.
Last week, the district announced this year’s lineup, which includes a Pulitzer Prize winner and a UF assistant professor.
At individual sessions between January and May, the authors will speak to attendees and sign copies of their books at the district’s Headquarters Library, located at 401 E. University Ave. The event was organized in partnership with publishers, Friends of the Library and Books-A-Million, said Nickie Kortus, the marketing and public relations manager for the library district.
Kortus said the authors should appeal to a diverse variety of readers throughout the county.
“It really does make a connection with people,” she said.
The authors include Robert Olen Butler, who won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for a collection of short stories narrated by Vietnamese immigrants, and Ibram X. Kendi, a UF assistant professor who won the 2016 National Book Award in November for his telling of racism in America. The other authors include Victor McGlothin, Ann Hood, Ted Geltner, Ace Atkins and Bronwen Dickey.
Patrick Goodrich, a 20-year-old UF economics junior, said he thinks the event will give his peers a chance to learn outside of the classroom.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for UF students to get connected in our own city,” he said.
