PLA Spring Symposium to feature writers Alex Kotlowitz and Lawrence Block
Contact: Kathleen Hughes
PLA
312-280-4028
For Immediate Release
February 2, 2005
PLA Spring Symposium to feature writers Alex Kotlowitz and Lawrence Block
CHICAGO - Acclaimed nonfiction writer Alex Kotlowitz will keynote the opening session and best-selling crime novelist Lawrence Block will serve as the author luncheon speaker at the Public Library Association's (PLA) Spring Symposium, March 7-9, 2005, at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago.
Kotlowitz first came to attention with his award-winning nonfiction book, "There Are No Children Here," which explored life in a Chicago housing project through the perspective of two young brothers.
His second book, "The Other Side of the River," examined the murder of
a
Michigan teenager as it related to issues of race and prejudice. His investigative articles appear regularly in such national magazines as The New Yorker and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. His most recent work, which was released in June 2004, is "Never A City So Real: A Walk In Chicago."
Lawrence Block has written over forty crime novels, many following the exploits of his popular characters Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr.
He has published articles and short fiction in Playboy, GQ and
The New York Times, and 84 of his short stories have been collected in "Enough Rope." His newest bestsellers are "The Burglar on the Prowl" and "Small Town," a novel of post-9/11 New York now available in paperback.
He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each.
This year's symposium features a new and improved workshop schedule with a variety of full-day and half-day programs. The 2005 symposium also will include a "track" for library assistants, with programming developed by "Reaching Forward, a forum for Library Assistants." Other topics include: "Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library," "Finding Oz: Discovering a Bright Future for Libraries," "Preserving the Future: Sustainable Libraries," "Readers' Advisory: Fiction," "Choices, Choices, Choices," "Millennial Users: Different. You Bet!," "How to Develop and Deliver a Powerful Message for Your Library," "Building a Library Marketing Communication Plan," "Creating Policies for Results," "Beyond HTML: Dynamic Websites Deconstructed" and "Readers Advisory: Nonfiction."
The registration deadline for this event was January 28, 2005; however, there may still be slots available.
Please call 800-545-2433, press option 5, to check availability.
Persons registering after January 28, 2005 will need to pick up badges and tickets on-site.
After March 2, all persons will need to register on-site.
All symposium events will be held at Chicago's Palmer House Hilton Hotel. By staying at the Palmer House Hilton you are assured of being counted and increasing the proven value of PLA's business. Visit
www.pla.org for more information about the Spring Symposium or to access online registration or housing.
PLA is a division of the American Library Association.
