Concurrent Program Session

Top 5 of 5: A Current Affair

Thursday, March 22, 2018, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 114

Floundering at the desk when asked for a book you might not be familiar with? Get “go-to” lists of the latest and best books/authors for popular fiction, genre fiction, and nonfiction for leisure readers. RA experts will showcase hot topics trending in the news (science, international fiction, diversity in youth books, political issues, and pop culture) and what frontline library staff should know abou them: the top five books, up-and-coming authors/titles, and trends.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1: Have 5 go-to titles in each current event area to promote to readers 2: Gain confidence in talking with patrons about fiction/nonfiction topics in the news that are on readers' radar 3: Understand the appeal of current events areas for readers and respond professionally with appropriate suggested reading

The session organizer(s) identified this session as appropriate for:
Level 2: People with some knowledge, who want to increase their understanding.

This session will have: Medium interaction (example: single speaker/panel with questions or discussion throughout)

Handouts: Download 1 Download 2 Download 3

Track: Broadcast

Tags: Serving Adults, Adult Services, Collection Development, Hot Topics, Public Services, Readers' Advisory

Presenters

Kaite Mediatore Stover, Director of Readers' Services
Kansas City Public Library , 64105 , MO

Kaite Stover is the Director of Reader's Services for the Kansas City Public Library. She holds Masters degrees in Library Science and English Literature from Emporia State University. Stover is the co-editor of The Readers' Advisory Handbook (ALA Editions, 2010) and has been an "Under the Radar" columnist for Public Libraries since 2013. Stover has published articles in RUSQ, Booklist, Library Journal, and YALSA journal.

Barry Trott, Special Projects Director
Williamsburg Regional Library , 23188 , VA

Barry Trott is special projects director at the Williamsburg (VA) Regional Library. He is the co-author of Partnering with Purpose: A Guide to Strategic Partnership Development for Libraries and Other Organizations. He has served as president of ALA's Reference and User Services Association and is editor of Reference and User Services Quarterly. In 2007, he received both PLA's Allie Beth Martin Award and RUSA's Margaret E. Monroe Award.

Kristi Chadwick, Consultant
Massachusetts Library System , Marlborough , MA

Kristi provides consulting and training services to over 1600 member libraries across the Commonwealth. Focuses include: small libraries, strategic planning, collection development, and readers' advisory. Kristi is a columnist with Library Journal, reviewing science fiction, fantasy, and horror. In 2013 she was Library Journal?s Reviewer of the Year and in 2014 a Library Journal Mover & Shaker.

Naphtali Faris, Lone Jack Branch Manager
Mid-Continent Public Library , Long Jack , MO

Naphtali is the Lone Jack Branch Manager for Mid-Continent Public Library. Previously she was MCPL?s Early Literacy Coordinator. Naphtali speaks regularly about youth and teen readers? advisory and early literacy strategies in the region. She has presented at WorldCon on science fiction for youth readers. She has served on the Printz, Newbery, and Caldecott Award committees.

Diana Platt, Community Engagement Librarian
Kansas City Public Library , Kansas City , MO

Diana is the Community Engagement Librarian for the Plaza Library of Kansas City Public Library. She is a reviewer for Booklist and has presented on readers? advisory topics at state and regional conferences.

Louisa Whitfield-Smith, Turner Branch Library Manager
Kansas City, Kansas Public Library , Kansas City , KS

Louisa is the library manager for the Turner Community Library of Kansas City, Kansas Public Library. Previously she has served as the outreach librarian for KCKPL and civic engagement librarian for Johnson County (KS) Library. She is the producer of the short film, Stories on the Bus, for KCKPL and serves on the ALA Notable Books for Adults committee.

For questions about…

Cancellation Policy

The PLA 2018 Conference is offered on a cost-recovery basis. PLA reserves the right to cancel all or any part of this event if there is insufficient registration or for other reasons. Neither ALA nor PLA is responsible for cancellation charges assessed by the airlines or travel agencies, or other losses incurred due to the cancellation of the workshops. All information listed on this website is subject to change.

Attendee Cancellation Policy

Written cancellations, requests for refunds, and/or changes will be accepted until February 23, 2018, and are subject to a $30 handling fee. Refunds will be processed after April 23, 2018. According to PLA policy, all meal events require preregistration. The above cancellation/change information also applies to all preconferences, meal events, and tours. No meal tickets will be sold onsite.

Exhibitor Cancellation Policy

All booth space cancellation requests must be received in writing by Show Management (Corcoran Expositions). If space is reduced, the net reduction of space will be treated as a cancellation of that space. If Show Management receives a written request for cancellation of space on or before October 31, 2017, the exhibitor will be eligible for a refund less the nonrefundable deposit of $950 per 100 square feet of exhibit space. For cancellations received after October 31, 2017, exhibitors are liable for 100% of the cost of space.

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Exhibits

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Sponsorships

To discuss PLA 2018 sponsorship opportunities, contact Corcoran Expositions, Mary Michalik at 312-265-9650, mary@corcexpo.com; or Matt McLaughlin at 312-265-9655, matt@corcexpo.com.

Thank You PLA 2018 Conference Sponsors!

PLA 2016 Archive

Looking for handouts and other information from the PLA 2016 Conference, which took place April 5–9, 2016 in Denver, CO? The PLA 2016 Conference website has been archived at http://2016.placonference.org.

View the list of past PLA Conferences from 1983 to present.