How to Cultivate Library, Author, and Speaker Connections

1. Cultivating Library-Author-Speakers 1
Cultivating Library-Author-Speaker Connections
Dr. Jean A. Lukesh (Ed.D., Curriculum & Instruction)
NLA/NEMA Conference October 2011
So, you need to book speakers for your library (organization, classroom, group, or
whatever). Would it surprise you to know that there are hundreds of people who would
love to be your speakers? So, how do you go about making contact and cultivating good
professional relationships with the right speakers?
FIRST, you need to consider what you want to accomplish: particularly, in regard to the
event(s) and also the kind of speaker desired, as well as possible topics, possible audience
(age, level, interest, etc.), expectations, the time/date, the site, possible costs, the
political/social climate, competing social events, awards won, reviews given,
supplemental materials available, press releases, and other such factors.
SECOND, start well ahead of the possible date and brainstorm author/speaker
possibilities (with an eye on the factors above). Keep a running list of names and contact
info on speakers, as well as people, places, and other sources of recommendations. SEE
Some Online Sources for Finding Speakers (below)
Where can you find speakers to bring in? Other libraries, schools, groups, organizations,
online sources (See examples below), newspaper/magazine stories or ads, publisher
catalogs, ongoing events, and more. Whenever possible, network with others who might
have ideas for speakers.
THIRD, when you think you have some good possibilities for speakers, do some extra
homework
-Check the speaker’s credentials—books or other products to see if they are appropriate
for your site/audience, book blurbs, author pages, publisher sites, booksites, websites,
blogs, Facebook, Twitter, listservs.
-Check to see that the speaker is affordable and acceptable—fees, forms, affiliations, etc.
-Check speaker’s references—where has he/she spoken before? Contact past speaker
coordinators, other librarians or related organizations, to see how well the speaker
fulfilled the contract and met expectations—before, during, and after the presentations.
-Provide information to speaker regarding community profile, concerns, expectations,
and more.—dress code if needed, language limits, parking, doors, etc.
-Have all the pertinent information and materials available for the speaker—sites, times,
dates, rooms, needs, speaker needs audience size, audience level, technology, multiple
setups/sites, map of building or sites, transportation to other sites, handouts, audience
preparation or expectations, followup, etc.
-Work directly with the speaker to be sure everything is being passed along to him/her
and nothing has been overlooked or left out and all questions answered.
-Confirm with or remind speaker (by email, phone, mail, etc.) over time, and especially a
few days ahead of the speaking engagement, to be sure the date is still going to work;
forms are filled out; fees are still acceptable; payment expectations will be met; books
and technology are going to be available; booksales and signings are acceptable; books

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will be available and from whom; remind about topic, agenda, expectations, audience,
etc.; note any changes to anything pertinent
FOURTH: Afterwards, follow up with feedback and thank you, possibly with audience
feedback. Add the speaker to your facility’s newsletter, Christmas card list, etc.
FIFTH: Keep a file of good speakers you might want to bring back or recommend to
others. Update the list often.
Some Online Sources for Finding Speakers
Websites of Writing and Other Organizations—these usually give mission statements,
activities, dates of meetings, how to join, list of members, may include contact info,
affiliated organizations and groups, awards, newsletters, and more. Explore these
websites and more to locate and help cultivate relationships with speakers.
Nebraska Humanities Council (NHC) Speakers Bureau www.nebraskahumanities.org/
Generally involves some grant writing
Nebraska Writers Guild (NWG) – eclectic group, all genres and all levels of
experience; established in 1925 by and affiliated with many famous Nebraska writers;
still one of the oldest statewide organizations of writers in the country.
-Homepage: www.nebraskawriters.org
-“Speakers Bureau” Tab: tells what kind of speaking we do
—“Speaker Members” SubTab: lists members who speak to groups, is alphabetized by
members’ last names, includes towns/residence and contact information
-“Members” Tab: lists members, alphabetized by last name
—“Members by Residence” SubTab: lists members by towns and then by last name
(note: other states also have writers groups, as do many communities)
-“Resources” Tab: lists Nebraska writers groups by area, also gives meeting/contact info
Romance Writers of America (RWA) – all genres and levels of romance writers
Nebraska Romance Writers of America (NRWA) – Nebraska chapter
-Homepage: www.rwa.org -“Speakers Bureau” Tab: search by author, genre, state
(related organizations: Heartland Romance Writers, Prairieland Romance Writers
Sisters in Crime (SinC) – all genres of mystery and detective writing, primarily but not
exclusively women writers (editors, publishers, agents, and more)
-Homepage: www.sistersincrime.org
-“Resources” Tab allows access to searchable Author and Author Website Links
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) – all genres and levels
of children’s writing and illustrating
-Homepage: www.scbwi.org
-“Find a Speaker” Tab and Sub Tab: Searchable by author’s/illustrator’s last name, state
or country, or book title; sometimes offers you a profile of that author/illustrator

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-“About School Visits” Sub Tab: gives extra information on booking a speaker
-“Regions” Tab: uses slider bars to search different state and national chapters; gives
contact information and lists/profiles members of chapters
Nebraska Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (NE-SCBWI) – state
chapter, see SCBWI homepage
Western Writers of America (WWA) – all genres and levels of Western history
Webpage: www.westernwriters.org/speakers_bureau.htm - alphabetic search, then gives
all pertinent profile/contact/etc. info for members who are speakers
Webpage: http://www.westernwriters.org/contact_authors.htm - alphabetic search of
members and contact info
Other websites of interest
http://www.illustratorauthor.com/ a link to authors/illustrators/school visits
http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/visits/School_and_Library_Visits_by_Authors_and_I
llustrators.htm ideas for schools and author visits
http://www.magdanz.com/books/river/authors.htm more possibilities
Other Options and Ideas:
Talk to other libraries, schools, and organizations and piggyback with them
Plan a SKYPE visit
Use Scholastic Book Fairs Book Tapes
Blog with authors or genre readers
Find Author Sites—check to see if your favorite author might be coming to your area
Find Publisher Sites, such as Random House http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/authors/
Scholastic and others http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/ab/biolist.htm
Branch out and look into other speaking areas besides authors. For example, bring in
-a handy man to talk about DIY fix-ups and highlight those books/videos
-a greenhouse person and highlight your gardening section
-a speaker on World War II events and highlight related materials
-a policeman, detective, or forensic specialist and showcase nonfiction & fiction
mysteries or crimes
-a cowboy or rancher and hold a roundup of western novels, videos, Wild West
history, horses, and other related topics
- high school students who are readers and have them give book talks to middle
grades kids about books they liked when they were younger
-speakers or participants from nearby events
-a horse or dog person or humane society person and spotlight on such items as horse
care or dog training or guidedog training or appropriate topics
-someone who has won an honor of substance and give that person a place to
spotlight his/her message and experience
-other ideas??? Or questions???
Have fun with other possibilities to grow your library-speaker connections!

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About the Author/Presenter
Dr. Jean A. Lukesh has her doctorate in Education (Curriculum and Instruction),
two Masters degrees, and various other degrees and endorsements. She is a former
Nebraska Teacher and Media Specialist, a book editor and publisher, and a multi-award-
winning author, presenter, and speaker. She is a past president and longtime member of
the Nebraska Writers Guild, a member of the Nebraska Educational Media Association
(as well as a Mari Sandoz Award winner), and a member of the Society of Children’s
Book Writers and Illustrators, Sisters in Crime (mystery writers), the Text and Academic
Authors Association, and Western Writers of America.
Her very popular book The Nebraska Adventure, a 4th grade textbook for
Nebraska studies, published by Gibbs Smith Company of Layton, Utah in 2004/2005, is
currently in use in a majority of schools across Nebraska, is in its 9th printing, and has
won a national textbook award, a Nebraska Book Award, and a regional humanities
literary award. She contributed several articles to a local Nebraska history book that also
won a Nebraska Book Award and a regional humanities literary award.
Her latest biography in her new quick reading Noteworthy Americans series (of
Nebraska heroes), Lucky Ears: The True Story of Ben Kuroki, World War II Hero, about
a Nebraska-born Japanese American airman, recently won a 2011 IPPY (Independent
Book Publishers Award) Bronze Medal for Children’s/Teens/Young Adult’s
Multicultural Nonfiction. She expects to have two more Noteworthy Americans (of
Nebraska) biographies out in October and November 2011 and two more out sometime
around Christmas.
Dr. Lukesh has given book presentations and Nebraska history presentations in
classrooms and libraries, at conferences and elsewhere, all across the state for more than
thirty years.
For more information, contact Dr. Lukesh at JeanLukesh@aol.com or at
http://www.fieldmousebooks.com (or http://www.fieldmoouseproductions.com)