Notable Book author, New York Times best-seller and Carnegie Medal finalist Banks at RUSA Literary Tastes program

For Immediate Release
Tue, 06/05/2012

Contact:

Liz Markel

Marketing and Programs Manager

RUSA/ASCLA

(312) 280-4398

lmarkel@ala.org

CHICAGO —Russell Banks, acclaimed author of “The Sweet Hereafter,” “Rule of the Bone” and 2012 Notable Book “Lost Memory of Skin” (Ecco) joins the author lineup alongside Erin Morgenstern, Candice Millard and Mark Adams for the 2012 Literary Tastes program, an author event hosted by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

Banks’s “Lost Memory of Skin” - a surprisingly sympathetic exploration of the lives and treatment of sex offenders and how this reflects on our society - was one of the 25 titles named to the 2012 RUSA Notable Books List for adult readers. He joins fellow authors and program participants Morgenstern, author of “The Night Circus” (Doubleday), the 2012 Reading List Fantasy winner; Millard, author of “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President” (Doubleday), another Notable Book selection; and Mark Adams, author of Notable Book “Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time” (Penguin).

“Literary Tastes: Celebrating the Best Reading of the Year” will take place from 8 - 10 a.m., Sunday, June 24, in Room 204B of the Anaheim Convention Center. RSVPs are not required, but those planning to attend are strongly encouraged to add the program to their conference schedules using the 2012 ALA Annual Conference Scheduler in ALA Connect.

As a finalist for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction for this same work, Banks will also appear at the Carnegie Medals Awards Ceremony, happening from 8 - 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 24 in Pacific Ballrooms A & B at the Hilton Anaheim. The reception will feature the winning authors and other high-profile speakers. Attendees will meet, mingle and celebrate with the literary luminaries on the shortlist, as well as Nancy Pearl, Carnegie Corporation leaders, ALA leaders and your adult-book-loving colleagues. The award and reception are funded by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and cosponsored by ALA’s and Reference and User Services Association (RUSA). Reception tickets are just $25 for RUSA members. More event information is at the RUSA website.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.