Calvin Trillin Opens PLA Conference
in Kansas City
"Writers have a special obligation and responsibility for libraries," said author and humorist Calvin Trillin, keynoting the March 10 opening session of the seventh national conference of ALA's Public Library Association, in Kansas City, Missouri. The KC native, now a trustee of the New York Public Library, observed drolly that "writers are slavishly grateful to librarians for safeguarding their immortality."
Praising Kansas City's Midwestern flavor and its world-famous barbecue, Trillin set the tone for the conference with his droll welcome and witty reminiscences of a favorite uncle who, as a librarian, convinced him that "librarians know you can't predict who's going to be a reader; you find readers everywhere."
Trillin's warm greetings, along with those of PLA President Ginnie Cooper, helped over 4,000 registrants adjust to the surprise deep freeze that greeted them as they began four days of programming that featured former congresswoman Patricia Schroeder and newsman Jim Lehrer. Television star William Shatner, who was to have appeared at the opening, was unable to attend. (A full conference report appears in the May issue of American Libraries.)
Posted March 16, 1998.
|
