“I continued my exploration of the library’s medieval history section, gobbling up King Arthur stories and books about the Crusades, popes, monks, Venice, Vikings — whatever I could get my hands on. In 1973, David Macaulay’s Cathedral, a new book featuring mind-blowingly detailed pen-and-ink drawings of a Gothic cathedral, appeared on library shelves. That book got me started drawing castles and maps, inventing whole worlds inscribed upon reams of my accountant dad’s discarded columnar paper pads.” [From: When I Was 6, My Parents Gave Me A Christmas Gift. None Of Us Knew It Would Change The Course Of My Life | Huffington Post] — Tony Silvestri

Libraries do more than circulate materials. They set trajectories.

Join us for a rare opportunity to gather with Tony Silvestri—one of the preeminent choral lyricists of our time—for a morning of conversation, reflection, and shared insight designed specifically for library staff. “Charles Anthony Silvestri is an award-winning poet, writer, educator and speaker. He is the author of three books, and his poetry has been set to choral music by over 100 composers worldwide.“

Together, we will explore curiosity, mentorship, history, and the long arc of influence that libraries quietly shape every day. The morning will include guided conversation with Tony, brief participant reflections (Spark Talks), and time to connect with colleagues across library services—followed by lunch together.

The study of history is like a whole civilization going to see a therapist, to be guided through an analysis of how we got to this point. — Tony Silvestri

Participants are encouraged to read Tony’s essay in advance as a shared touchstone for the conversation.

If you are interested in how libraries nurture lifelong passions, support artists and learners, and create space for discovery—this gathering is for you.

Kids know who they are. Trust them. If your kid wants a space rocket explorer for their birthday, or wants to talk your ear off about going to the horse farm, museum or sports arena, or is obsessed with Fender Stratocasters, or is constantly taking your small appliances apart and putting them back together again, they are telling you something essential about themselves. You can enable them to take their first small steps to change the world. — Tony Silvestri