Pittsburgh is a reading—and writing—kind of town. Literary events large and small abound, from author visits at local independent bookstores to the annual Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books.

We’re especially excited about an upcoming presentation by author Rita Williams-Garcia that we’re hosting on April 17. It’s part of an annual lecture series sponsored by ALA’s Association for Library Services to Children and presented in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information (SCI). It’s also free and open to the public.

Many of Ms. Williams-Garcia’s books have received (well deserved!) awards and accolades. Like Sisters on the Homefront was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. And two of her books, P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama, won the Coretta Scott King Award. She’s also had a National Book Award Finalist, Jumped, and a Newbery Honor title, One Crazy Summer.

 

Several of these titles offer a glimpse into Black history—and we’re thinking that might also be a subject that shows up in her speech, titled A Funny Thing About Memory. We can’t wait to hear what she has to say and we’re sure it will be worth remembering.

Along with cooperating organizations the Allegheny County Library Association, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh, we hope you’ll join us in welcoming this illustrious author to Pittsburgh.

 

You can sign up for a free library card here.

If you are new to our eResources, check out these tutorial videos on how to get started.

If you’re looking for more book suggestions, we’re happy to recommend them to you! Use this Book Recommendation form to send us some information about what you like to read and we’ll curate a list just for you.

If you have any additional questions, you can contact a librarian through Facebook, Instagram or X. You can also call us at 412-622-3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org.