Independent Publisher
& Librarian Forum

Hosted By: Independent Publishers Caucus & Digital Public Library of America

When: Tuesday, April 2, 10:00 am-5:30 pm 

Location: Open Air, 2571 Neil Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43202

Description: This forum will convene independent publishers and library decision makers in Columbus, Ohio. The aim is to facilitate conversation, encourage transparency, and plan for beneficial partnerships between two groups that are rarely in direct communication.

Panels will discuss topics including backlist collection development, promoting discovery of indie titles, library ebook license models, reader’s advisory strategies for independent publishers, and transparency in data reporting. The emphasis will be on action items to create better representation of independent publisher content in libraries, equitable and sustainable collection strategies, and ways to facilitate libraries’ mission for access and the public good.

IndieLib 2024

Programming Lineup

10:00 am: Arrival

10:15 am: Welcome 

  • Daniel O'Brien, Independent Publishers Caucus, Executive Director

  • John Bracken, Digital Public Library of America, Executive Director

  • Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, 2023-2024 PLA President & CEO at Baltimore County Public Library

10:30 -11:15am: Keynote: Rebecca Giblin “How Book People Can Save Books” and Q&A

11:15 am -12:00pm: Library Collections: Backlist Discovery on a Library Budget

  • Moderated by Claire Kelley,  IndieLib Planning Chair, Marketing Director at Seven Stories Press 

  • Steve Sposato, Manager of Collection Development & Readers Advisory for Chicago Public Library

  • Robin Bradford, Collection Development Librarian, Pierce County Library System (Tacoma, Washington)

  • Ann Lehue, Ingram, Director, Collection & Metadata Development

  • Stephanie Anderson, Bookops, Assistant Director of Selection  (New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library)

12:00-12:45 pm: Lunch (Lunch buffet provided!)

12:45-1:30 pm: Ebook License Landscape: Encouraging Experimentation & Advocating for Access

  • Moderated by Micah May, Director of Ebook Services at Digital Public Library of America

  • Elham Ali, Trade Marketing Lead at ECW Press (Toronto, Canada)

  • Lisa Sallee, Assistant Director at Ocean State Libraries (Rhode Island)

  • Michael Reynolds, Editor in Chief, Europa Editions

1:30-2:15 pm: Readers Advisory, Reviews, and Awards: Driving Enthusiasm for Frontlist

  • Moderated by Rebecca Vnuk, Library Reads Executive Director

  • Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian at Oak Park Public Library (Oak Park, Illinois)

  • Melissa DeWild, Reviews Editor, Library Journal

  • Allison M. Escoto, Head Librarian & Education Director at The Center for Fiction

  • Susan Maguire, Senior Editor, Collection Management & Library Outreach at Booklist

2:30-3:30 pm: Big Picture: Librarian & Independent Publisher Perspectives and Why This Matters

  • Moderated by Michael Blackwell, Director, St. Mary’s County Library, Leader of ReadersFirst

  • Kelvin Watson, Executive Director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

  • Migell Acosta, Director of the San Diego County Library

  • Alan Inouye, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, Interim Associate Executive Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, American Library Association

  • Alyssa Hassan, Associate Director of Marketing, Beacon Press

  • Dan Simon, Publisher, Seven Stories Press and Independent Publishers Caucus Co-Founder

3:30-4:00 pm - Action items and takeaways

4:00-4:30 pm Closing remarks from Emily Drabinski, 2023-2024 ALA President

4:30-5:30 pm: Mingling, drinks, and conversation in the Understory cocktail lounge (Drink ticket provided then cash bar)

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