Greetings, Libraryland! Last week we hosted Michigan Notable Book author Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. who won the Notable award for his book "Citizen Printer." Amos started out giving a history of printing and then explained his thoughts on art and his process of creating printed posters and postcards. He cheerfully violates the rules of printing and is delighted to be an instructor in the “School of Bad Printing.” His talk was peppered with his wisdom, his observations of life, of what makes life worth living. It was a very authentic and organic presentation. He is the epitome of someone who has chosen to follow their passion, who has realized the true joys of life, who is inspired more by making people happy with his works, than making loads of money. Amos held everyone’s attention throughout his hour and 20 minutes of speaking and answering questions. He was engaging, honest, generous (he gave a library-related postcard print to everyone who attended), attentive to the audience (people asked lots of questions), and so funny! Many of the posters and postcards he makes have messages about books and libraries, and he spoke about the value of libraries and how libraries are like the village commons of yesteryear…a place for everyone. A place where everyone can just show up and read or use the Internet. Very few institutions have that generosity intrinsic in their purpose, he said. Amos is the best ambassador of libraries I’ve ever encountered. I wish every public library in the state could host him as a speaker…he’d be excellent to speak before our representatives on the value of libraries. I highly recommend him as a speaker. I don't know what he charges (his appearance was free to us through the MNB program), but he's worth every penny. His email: kennedyprints@protonmail.com He'll be speaking at three more libraries as part of the Notable Book Author Tour: Center Line (May 20, 6 p.m.), Oak Park (June 25, 6:30 p.m.), Flat Rock (June 26, 6 p.m.). If you have a chance to visit any of those libraries to hear Amos speak, go, go, go! Details are on the MNB website: https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/public/mnb/current-michigan-notab... Thanks, Colleen Colleen Leddy, Director Stair District Library 228 W. Main St. Morenci, MI 49256 517.458.6510 stairlib.org M&W: 10-7 T&Th: 1-5 F&S: 10-2