Foodies unite! Food is hot, hot, hot; witness the proliferation of TV food programs and movies. Let us help you jump on the food bandwagon, or expand your menu. Learn about food-related programs that won't leave a mess in your library, such as cookbook discussions, foodie fiction/nonfiction discussions, and the popular culinary and literary adventure, "A Cook & A Book" program. We will also discuss partnering with local TV, culinary schools, gardening groups, and others to create unique food-related programs that will attract new users and lift your library’s culinary literacy in your communities.
Follow up materials
The Panelists
Stacy Alesi was a Borders bookseller and manager before moving to the Palm Beach County Library System in 2001, earning her MLIS in 2011. She is the guiding force behind the popular “Writers Live!” program, bringing bestselling authors to the library, and became the Programming Librarian at the West Boca Branch in 2013, bringing in such innovative programs as “Cooking the Books,” a cookbook discussion group, “Lean In Circle,” a local businesswomen’s leadership support group, and live streaming the TED2016: Dream conference. Stacy is one of the original book bloggers, creating Stacy Alesi’s BookBitch.com in 1998, and created the Florida Authors Wiki. She is a professional reviewer (Booklist, Library Journal,) contributed to Nonfiction Readers' Advisory (2004), presents Readers’ Advisory and Library Programming workshops and webinars nationwide, and is a self-proclaimed foodie.
Ron Block is passionate about libraries and cooking. When he’s not serving as a Head of Adult Services for the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) system in Cleveland, he’s making public appearances or hosting “A Cook and a Book,” an online and on-air book club featuring recipes influenced by each month’s reading selection. Prior to his role at CCPL, he was the Circulation Services Coordinator for the Jacksonville (FL) Public Library. Always seeking the non-traditional approach to library programming and community partnerships, Ron has a long list of highly successful events in his 25-year career that partner library services with materials in unique ways beyond the walls of the library. Check out Ron’s latest culinary and literary adventure on his Facebook page.
Nancy Dowd is co-author of ALA’ s best-selling book, Bite-Sized Marketing: Realistic Solutions for Overworked Librarians. She is currently on the Senior Management Team at NoveList and is responsible for the development of their newest product, LibraryAware designed to help librarians communicate effectively to promote their reader services, databases, collections, and programs.