“The Polka Dot Chair: New and Selected Poems” by Michele Heeney is displayed at the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all.
More than 13,500 attendees gathered in San Diego, CA, for the largest library event in the world. The ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition took place at the San Diego Convention Center from June 28 to July 2. Total attendance was 13,532, with 8,439 of them being attendees and 5,093 being exhibitors, authors, illustrators, press, and staff.
Against a backdrop of increasing censorship and book challenges, library workers learned from each other and supported each other through the 175 educational programs throughout the conference.
The conference opened with Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning host Trevor Noah and ALA Past President Lessa Kanani’opua Peyalo-Lozada in conversation discussing Noah’s upcoming book, “Into the Uncut Grass.”
ALA and Unite Against Book Bans hosted a second Rally for the Right to Read, which spotlighted the courage and resilience of library workers who are protecting the freedom to read.
ALA is now preparing for LibLearnX 2025, which will be held Jan. 24-27 in Phoenix. Next year’s ALA Annual will take place in Philadelphia.
For more information, visit www.ala.org.
Author Reputation Press’ published book, written by Michele Heeney, was displayed at the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference from June 28 to July 2. The publisher and author of the book are honored and proud to be part of this annual conference.
This masterpiece is dedicated to all those who dance with spirit. “The Polka Dot Chair” is Michele Heeney’s perspective and emotion are what lend such a special voice to her wide-ranging path. The book’s sections — Spirit, Love, Time, Nature, Art, Politics — are concerns never far from any of our minds.
Michele was born and raised in western Pennsylvania. She found her outlook changed when the ’60’s lured her to San Francisco.
Californian for many years after that, she also lived in Marin and Monterey countries as well as on Maui before moving to New Mexico. She now makes her home in the town of Cochiti Lake on the Cochiti Pueblo reservation south of Sante Fe.
Besides writing poetry, her loves include bicycling, shopping at thrift stores, and photography, which she began underwater in her years as a scuba diver. This is her fourth (4th) book of poetry.
Visit Michele Heeney’s website at https://micheleheeney.com/.
She was interviewed by CBS Radio’s host, Benji Cole. The interview in the program People of Distinction is about the discussion of the message of the book as well as the author’s purpose for writing this masterpiece. People of Distinction is one of the most wide-ranging radio shows in the United States. Benji Cole, the host of the program, is a world-class interviewer, video formulator, Los Angeles actor, and filmmaker. He’s shared the acting stage with superstar Tom Hanks.
Get to know more about the author and the work as you listen to the full interview below:
