‘This Is What a Librarian Looks Like’ Photographer/Author to Speak at Library Annual Meeting

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Kyle Cassidy photographer Darien Library annual meeting 10-13-17

Contributed photo by Mike Vanhelder

Kyle Cassidy

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Kyle Cassidy, author and photographer of This is What a Librarian Looks Like, will be the featured speaker at Friends of the Darien Library’s annual meeting on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Darien Library General 10-13-17

This is What a Librarian Looks Like is a photographic and written ode to more than 200 librarians and libraries from all 50 states and Canada, their essential value to our communities, and the importance of open access to information for all.

Prior to Kyle’s presentation, learn about the year’s developments from Kevin Gasvoda, President of the Board. Election of officers and new trustee nominations for the 2017-18 year will be held.

The annual meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the Louise Parker Berry Community Room.

A reception and book signing will follow. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Barrett Bookstore.

About the Book

Kyle Cassidy has made it his mission to remind us of how essential librarians and libraries are to our communities, and how close we are to losing so many of them.

Book cover: This is what a librarian looks like by Kyle CassidyKyle spent hundreds of hours traveling around the country photographing and interviewing librarians for this project. His subjects are men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and personal style-from pink hair and leather jackets to button-downs and blazers. In short, not necessarily what one thinks a librarian looks like.

The nearly 220 librarians photographed also share their personal thoughts on what it means to be a librarian, what challenges libraries face today, and how people can help.

Beyond lending books and looking up information, we learn from their candid testimonials that librarians are guardians of our collective knowledge, protectors of free, uncensored information, and champions of our communities in ways that most of us don’t even realize.

They provide safe spaces for people to gather and learn, Internet access, job placement assistance, ESL [English as a second language] classes, connections to childcare services, and even, on occasion, food and shelter.

Librarians work in hospitals with physicians and in universities with scientists. They loan neckties, kayaks, ebooks, audiobooks, digital movies, and musical instruments.

They stand at the forefront of technology, making available recording studios, virtual reality headsets and 3-D printers in addition to story hours and puppet shows.

About the Author
Kyle Cassidy photographer Darien Library annual meeting 10-13-17

Contributed photo by Mike Vanhelder

Kyle Cassidy

Kyle Cassidy is an author and photographer whose work includes the forthcoming Where I Write: Fantasy & Science Fiction Authors in Their Creative Spaces.

His work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, the Sunday Times (UK), Marie Claire, NPR and elsewhere. He lives in Philadelphia.

About Darien Library

Darien Library is a Library Journal Five Star Library. The Library is among the busiest in the state with over 1,300 people visiting on an average day and has the highest per capita circulation of items in Connecticut.

The Library collection includes 125,000 books and 300 newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

In addition, the Library presents over 1,500 public events annually, hosting a lineup of bestselling authors, technology classes, early literacy programs, and workshops for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

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