A number of local libraries once again will be part of the picture at 7 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 6 when a virtual program is presented with Lori Gottlieb, author of the bestselling book and soon-to-be TV show, “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.”
Gottlieb, also co-host of the “Dear Therapists” podcast, will talk about mental health, in anticipation of the winter holiday season.
The program is an offering of Illinois Libraries Present, a 200-member organization of libraries that came together during the pandemic to offer virtual programs with well-known authors.
“It’s folks that none of our libraries could ever afford to book on our own,” said Lucy Tarabour, adult programming and marketing coordinator for the Clarendon Hills Public Library. “This practice started with the pandemic, when we all first entered the world of programming on Zoom.”
The virtual event with Gottlieb is free and open to the public, but registration is required at participating local libraries. Among the Illinois Libraries Present members are local libraries in Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, La Grange, La Grange Park, Elmhurst and Darien (Indian Prairie Public Library).
“Lori Gottlieb is an entertaining speaker and trusted expert, who can help us navigate the holiday season,” Tarabour said. “We’re really looking forward to her presentation.”
Gottlieb’s “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,” sold over a million copies and is currently being adapted into a television series, Tarabour said. In addition to her clinical practice, Gottlieb is co-host of the popular “Dear Therapists” podcast and writes The Atlantic’s “Dear Therapist” advice column.
In the past three years, Illinois Libraries Present has offered programs featuring Colson Whitehad, Jonathan Van Ness, Kristi Yamaguchi, Mary Roach, Danny Trejo, Marlee Matlin.
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Illinois Libraries Present is funded partially by membership fees of participating libraries and offers 8 -10 programs a year, which all members can offer to their patrons for free.
The organization also is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State.
Tarabour said that leading up to the formation of Illinois Libraries Present, some libraries would join together on an ad hoc, informal basis to offer programming together, Tarabour said.
“After a while, a group of librarians took it upon themselves to create the infrastructure to organize this practice on an ongoing basis,” she said.
Illinois Libraries Present has been a good fit for the La Grange Public Library, said Arcadia McCauley, marketing/public relations manager.
“We have enjoyed it. It fits well with our programming goals,” she said. “We like to bring in authors, but it’s hard to bring in big authors by yourself.”
McCauley said Illinois Libraries Present programs have attracted 15 to 60 patrons of the La Grange Public Library.
“They’ve all had a pretty good response,” she said.
Karen Keefe, executive director of the Hinsdale Public Library, also has been pleased with Illinois Libraries Present.
“The Steering Committee has done an impressive job securing high-profile, award-winning authors like Colson Whitehead and Jesmyn Ward,” she said, adding that the number of Hinsdale library patrons tuning in varies, depending on the author.
Stated goals of Illinois Libraries Present are:
To provide premier, high-profile events that highlight national names and social justice/DEI issues, that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for single libraries to hold on their own.
To reduce costs and maximize reach by taking advantage of both virtual event platforms and the collective buying power of Illinois public libraries.
To allow access to all libraries as equitably as possible, by aligning each library’s cost to participate with the size of their operating budget.
To define clear and distinct roles among Illinois Libraries Present committees and the participating libraries, including patron contact points, marketing, invoicing, etc.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.