WLA Annual Conference 2004

Nov. 2 - 5, 2004/ Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Keynote Speaker

An Evening of Book Lust with Nancy Pearl

Wednesday, November 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Ballroom A & B


Nancy Pearl is former director of the Washington Center for the Book and Youth Services at the Seattle Public Library and the model for the famous and somewhat controversial Library Action Figure. Now a full-time writer, reviewer, and speaker, she enjoys sharing her passion for reading and helping others find books they'll enjoy reading.

Nancy reviews books regularly on KUOW, the Seattle affiliate of National Public Radio, as well as Wisconsin and Tulsa public radio stations. She is the author of Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason (Sasquatch Books, 2003); Now Read This: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1978 - 1998 (Libraries Unlimited, 1999) and Now Read This II: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1990-2001 (Libraries Unlimited, 2002).

She received her library degree in 1967 from the University of Michigan. Among her many honors and awards are the 2004 Brava Award from Women's University Club in Seattle, recognizing "women of exceptional ability in the Greater Seattle Area," the 2003 Humanities Washington Award, "which recognizes an individual or organization whose time and talents enlarge the meaning of the humanities in our lives and whose work reflects the spirit and programs of Humanities Washington;" the Public Library Association's 2001 Allie Beth Martin Award, which "recognizes a public librarian demonstrating a range and depth of knowledge about books and other library materials and the distinguished ability to share that knowledge;" the 2004 Louis Shores Greenwood Publishing Group Award for excellence in the reviewing of books and other materials for libraries; and the 2004 Media and Communications Award from the Ontario, Canada, Library Association. She also was named the Totem Business and Professional Women's "1998 Woman of Achievement " award and received the 1997 Open Book Award from the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference. In 1998, Library Journal named her Fiction Reviewer of the Year.

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