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Great Authors at the Library


portrait Candace Fleming, book covers, event info

WE ARE THRILLED to announce author visits for 2024:

• May 1, An Evening with Candace Fleming, 7 pm
• Oct 10, An Evening with Ken Liu, 7 pm

Since 2016, the Great Authors at the Library series has brought 21  award-winning, New York Times bestselling authors to Champaign, where they have been welcomed by more than 4,250 community members.

Each author presents a public talk about their writing, signs books, and meets local readers. We often set up book giveaways in advance, sharing ”Read and pass along” copies of the author’s books with community members. For authors of children’s books and teen titles, we set up school visits so that area schoolchildren can meet these literary giants. We also provide books to our partnering Champaign Unit 4 School District libraries. And for the community’s youngest readers, we give out books at storytimes to help families build home libraries.

Acclaimed speakers in the Great Authors at the Library series have included New York Times bestselling authors Doris Kearns Goodwin, Terry McMillan, Lisa See, Eric Litwin, Scott Turow, Colson Whitehead, Lisa Scottoline, Jamie Ford, Nnedi Okorafor, Luis Alberto Urrea, Nikki Grimes, Elizabeth Berg, and David Sheff.

Great Authors at the Library visits are made possible with support from the Library Foundation and Library Friends.

Great Authors books in our collection »


full audience at Brendan Slocumb Great Author talk at library

Bestselling author Brendan Slocumb spoke to a full house during his visit to Champaign in October 2023. He also presented a talk earlier in the day including a violin performance!


2023 Great Authors at the Library

An Evening with Brendan Slocumb, portrait, book covers, event information

An Evening with Lisa See, portrait, book covers, event information

Family Concert with Eric Litwin, portrait, book cover, event information


2022 Great Authors at the Library

An Evening with Doris Kearns Goodwin event information

Scott Turow portrait, 2 book covers, event info


2019 Great Authors at the Library

May 29, An Afternoon with Paula McLain

Aaron Reynolds portrait, book covers


2018 Great Authors at the Library

Nnedi Okorafor portrait, bookcovers

Luis Alberto Urrea promotion for Great Authors visit

Colson Whitehead portrait, book covers

Nikki Grimes portrait, book covers  


2017 Great Authors at the Library

 

Jamie Ford portrait, book covers

Gregory Maguire portrait, book covers

Javaka Steptoe portrait, book covers

Anthony Marra portrait, book covers

Phil Plait portrait, book covers

Terry McMillan portrait, book covers

Peter McCarty portrait, book covers

David Sheff portrait, book covers  


2016 Great Authors at the Library

Elizabeth Berg portrait, book covers


Questions? Ask us.

Adult Services
217/403-2000
info@champaign.org

Questions? Ask Us.