Largo Turns a Page is in its inaugural year as a community wide read. This year's book is Learning to Die in Miami, a memoir about a young Cuban boy who came to the United States during the Cuban Air Lift. There have been book discussions, classes, programs, and writing contests to engage our community and get people interested in the themes that run throughout the book . On February 28, we were excited to welcome Carlos Eire, the author of Learning to Die In Miami, to the library..
The day that Eire came was full of activities. First, there was reception. The reception was in the library's art gallery: Gallery 120. At the reception there were light snacks from Pipo's Original Cuban Cafe, including empanadas, mini cubans, and deviled crabs. There were also turnovers and drinks. Music was provided by Ben Pila, a classical guitarist. There were round cafe tables and flowers to add to the ambiance of the event. Eire was charming and spoke to everyone that wanted to meet him. There were several people who had also come to the States during the Pedro Pan Air Lift. One of the attendees was a woman who lived down the street from him in Cuba! After the reception, it was time to head to the Jenkins Wing for the book signing and lecture. The room was humming with excitement when he walked in. He commented that it was one of the biggest crowds that he had ever spoken to. He went on to talk about writing, life, and current events regarding Cuba. He also took questions. After the lecture, he signed copies of his book and chatted with attendees. Everything went very well.
What were some of the takeaways for us during this event? Lists are very important. We had a huge list of details big and small. Paying attention to that list made the day flow smoothly. The next takeaway was that lapel mikes don't necessarily have to go on the lapel. Eire wore his mike on his lapel. It effected the sound quality of his lecture. the mike rubbed against his jacket, so sometimes he would sound a bit muffled. Next time, we'll try the tie instead. Also, for some reason we weren't expecting him to take questions. It was difficult to hear some of the questioners. Having a mike set up in the aisle for questions is definitely on the list for next year. Last, we learned not to be afraid for what we want. We were able to have Eire speak at the library, because we asked him directly. We couldn't have afforded him if we went through his publisher's speakers bureau. It was nerve racking to approach him, but it paid off! 