Emmy-nominated and bestselling author and activist George M. Johnson to Present at 2024 LibLearnX

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has announced that Emmy-nominated and bestselling author and activist George M. Johnson will be an Author Speaker at the 2024 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LLX) in Baltimore, January 19–22, 2024.

George M. Johnson (they/them) is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning, and bestselling Black nonbinary author and activist. They have written on race, gender, sex, and culture for Essence, the Advocate, BuzzFeed News, Teen Vogue, and more than forty other national publications. Johnson has appeared on BuzzFeed’s AM2DM as well as on MSNBC. They are also a proud HBCU alum twice over and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Their debut memoir, "All Boys Aren’t Blue," was a New York Times bestseller and garnered many accolades. It was the second-most banned book of 2022 in the United States, according to the American Library Association. For their work fighting book bans and challenges, the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) honored Johnson with its Free Speech Defender Award, and TIME Magazine named them one of the “100 Next Most Influential People in the World.” While writing their memoir, Johnson used he/him pronouns.

LibLearnX registration is open and registrants can save with advance rates through January 15.

LibLearnX is a four-day learning conference that invites ALA members and non-members to participate in collaborative and engaging education, networking, and celebrations. Designed as an active-learning experience, LibLearnX offers a diverse selection of more than 100 education programs, created by library professionals for library professionals. The sessions will be available in eight primary content areas: Books and Authors, Collection Services, Community Outreach and Engagement, Health and Wellness, Leadership and Management, Library Programs and Services, Readers' Advisory, and Technology Innovation.

From hands-on workshops to bite-sized presentations, participants will be able to collaborate and engage in education programs offered in four available learning formats. View the LibLearnX Program to find the daily schedule, education programs, with more to be added.

The LibLearnX main stage will host featured speakers and ALA Leadership who will discuss topics that are important to library professionals and the future of libraries.

The LLX Marketplace will host 100 exhibitors offering the newest titles, leading technologies, and core services for libraries. Creative and collaborative activation zones will include Ideas Xchange sessions where attendees will share creative projects and enjoy peer-to-peer conversations. ShopTalk sessions will offer practical knowledge, tips, hot topics, and trends in bite-sized presentations. On the LLX Studio stage, author speakers will inspire and motivate attendees.

LibLearnX attendees can expand their networks in collaborative education programs and varied social activities, including the I Love My Librarian Awards, the ALA Youth Media Awards, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunrise Celebration, and more. The Book and Media Awards and Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction will be streamed virtually.

LibLearnX will once again host participants at the ALA Governance Institute (AGI). The Institute offers the leadership and professional development skills needed for impactful leadership and effective decision making. It will take place Friday, January 19, 2024, from 1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m., and is open to the first 200 LibLearnX registrants that sign up. There is no separate registration for the AGI session, sign up is completed at LibLearnX registration.

The LLX Digital Experience is a virtual-presentation model that offers access to a curated selection of sessions, including the Opening and Closing sessions, author speakers on the LLX Studio stage, education sessions, the ALA Youth Media Awards, and the Book and Media Awards/Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. Registrants will have access to on-demand content through March 22, 2024.

Get updates from the 2024 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience website and follow the hashtag #LibLearnX24 and social media: ALA Twitter, @ALALibrary, ALA Facebook, and Instagram. 

Media interested in registering for the session may contact ALA's Communications, Marketing and Media Relations Office at cmomedia@ala.org.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.