Get a second helping of Literary Tastes Breakfast at RUSA Web site

Contact: Liz Markel


ASCLA Marketing Specialist


(312) 280-4398


lmarkel@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


August 26, 2008

CHICAGO — Refresh your memories of jokes about Jewish mothers —or give yourself another chance to taste other choice morsels from the Literary Tastes Breakfast by viewing videos of the event
online at the RUSA website or downloading them for your iPod.

Sponsored by HarperCollins, Random House and Penguin Publishing, the Literary Tastes Breakfast brings together librarians and notable authors at ALA’s Annual Conference. Breakfast participants feed their brains and their minds while listening to readings and commentary from outstanding contemporary authors.

Authors invited to present at the breakfast are chosen from recently designated books on The Notable Books List and The Reading List, as well as the Sophie Brody Medal winner. This year’s speakers were Lisa Margonelli (“Oil on the Brain: Adventures from the Pump to the Pipeline”), Jon Clinch (“Finn”), Joyce Antler (“You Never Call, You Never Write!: A History of the Jewish Mother”), Ron Carlson (“Five Skies”), Patrick Rothfuss (“The Name of the Wind”), and Susan Elizabeth Phillips (“Natural Born Charmer”).

The Notable Books List evolved from an activity sponsored by the Lending Round Table of the American Library Association (ALA) in 1944. The council currently operates as a committee of the Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) of RUSA. Each year, it selects 25 works of fiction, nonfiction or poetry that upholds its standards of excellence, readability and, frequently, cultural significance.

Also housed in CODES, The Reading List was established in 2007 and highlights outstanding genre fiction works that merit special attention from general adult readers and the librarians who work with them. The Council consists of 12 librarians who are experts in readers’ advisory and collection development. Books are selected in eight different genres that reflect contemporary reading interests and currently include suspense, thrillers, action/adventure, fantasy, historical fiction, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, and women’s fiction.

The Sophie Brody Medal is awarded to a work of fiction, nonfiction or poetry that has made a distinguished contribution to the body of literature focused on exploring the Jewish experience. The award is named for Sophie Brody, a philanthropist and community volunteer who held major leadership positions in the Jewish community, including membership on the Executive Board and Board of the Women's Division of the United Jewish Federation.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association (
http://www.ala.org/), 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.