Everyone who has ever worked at a library knows that the public has no idea what kinds of things happen there on almost a daily basis. This is your chance to share the things that have happened at your library, and maybe even win a prize!! Have a great library story? The MLA Annual Conference Committee wants to hear from YOU! We are pleased to announce that one of this year's MLA Annual Conference Keynote speakers is THE Gene Ambaum of Unshelved, Library Comic! And he is offering at least one lucky library attendee the chance to have their library's story immortalized into a comic strip created by him. All 2024 Annual Conference attendees are invited to submit their favorite library stories. The best of these will be made into a comic strip by writer Gene Ambaum (Unshelved, Library Comic), who will be presenting at the 2024 MLA Annual Conference, and Library Comic's artist Willow Payne. (If there are a bunch of excellent stories, they may even pick more than one winner.) As part of his breakout session on Thursday, October 17th, Gene will share the runners up, with some insight into why some stories were better suited for comic strips than others, and unveil the winner(s) and the comic strip(s). The winner and the Michigan Library Association will get signed prints, and top runners-up will get prizes too. (Note that winners need not be present at the presentation to win, but they should be registered for the conference.) Write up your favorite library stories and submit them via this Google form (https://forms.gle/gimoBwjfx1P1ogP79) . Your stories can be funny, sad, crazy, weird, touching, bookish, or anything at all, really. He wants to hear about things you personally experienced; he particularly loves to hear the truth behind the library stories everyone has heard, especially when no one else knows what really happened. Don't submit a script, and don't feel the need to make your stories funny - sending him a brief story in your own words is enough. He'll contact you if he has questions. Everyone can submit up to five stories. Note: By submitting stories, you agree that the comic created from the winning stories will be (c) Ambauminable LLC. The comic(s) will run on librarycomic.com and its affiliated social media sometime during or after the MLA conference, and may appear in future Library Comic collections, with a note that they're "Based on a true story" but without other attribution. (If you win, you're free to tell the world you submitted the story, but if you don't want that widely known, rest assured that Gene won't tell anyone else who you are.) Lisa Waskin, District Director Superior District Library 541 Library Drive Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 Ph. (906) 632-9331 lwaskin@superiordistrictlibrary.org<mailto:lwaskin@superiordistrictlibrary.org>