Dare County Library brings bestselling authors into homes — for free

Pre-pandemic, it may have been hard to visualize: Three-term United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, live in the living room, candidly discussing her life and writing.

But over 1,200 people across the country shared that experience on Nov. 16, including 10 people who registered through the Dare County Library, according to Dare County Librarian Meaghan Leenaarts Beasley.

Since the Aug. 1 launch of Dare County Library’s partnership with the online Library Speakers Consortium, local participants are averaging around 100 views per month, Leenaarts Beasley said.

Both library patrons and non-library cardholders can register for free for the author talks, and tune into what feels like an intimate conversation with a bestselling author from the comfort of home. People can also opt to watch the event recordings at their convenience, she noted.

Harjo, a nationally acclaimed poet and musician of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, in 2019 became the 23rd United States Poet Laureate. The first Native American to hold the post, she is only the second person to serve three terms in the role. She was named Poet Laureate again in 2020 and in 2021.

In her hourlong chat on Nov. 16, Harjo spoke to the power of poetry, the need to follow one’s own path and the importance of acknowledging and including Native writers in school curricula.

Poetry speaks on otherwise inexpressible topics, Harjo said. In times of turmoil, people lean into it even more.

“During the pandemic, people turned to poetry in droves, and I don’t know if that’s let up,” she said.

Harjo has published 10 books of poetry, two memoirs, several children’s books and plays, and has edited several anthologies of Native American writing, according to her website. She also has released seven CDs. The most recent is titled, I Pray for My Enemies.

Brandon Adler, operations manager and author talk host with the Library Speakers Consortium, read questions to Harjo that attendees had either sent in before the event or typed in the chat during the program.

“As a woman, how do you protect your creativity?,” Adler asked on behalf of an attendee.

“That’s a good one,” Harjo opined, laughing softly.

She shared that she was a teenage mother, became a grandmother in her 30s and is now a great-grandmother.

“There’s just so much asked of us,” Harjo said. “You really have to be adamant and make that time for yourself.”

She added, “Creativity is a spiritual path. So is any of it: Our lives. Mothering. Bull riding. Whatever you do, all of it is a spiritual path.”

Another question asked how educators can center Indigenous voices in the classroom.

“Know what tribal nations are in your area,” Harjo encouraged as a starting point. “A lot of people have no idea.”

She cited an Illuminative study that found that up to 15% of U.S. residents think all Native Americans are dead.

“Usually Natives are not included at all in American culture,” Harjo said. She advocated for centering Indigenous writing as, “This is American culture.”

Since its kickoff, feedback has been “very positive” to the virtual author talks, according to Leenaarts Beasley. Attendance numbers also confirm the program’s warm reception.

“The numbers for these are higher than for any in-person programs that we have, or Zoom programs,” she said.

As of Nov. 20, the most popular event was John Stamos discussing his new memoir on Nov. 1, she said. One hundred and ten people registered through the local library for that.

Dare County Library typically offers two to four events each month through the online Library Speakers Consortium, which is a network of 200 public libraries across the country that have pooled funds to enhance opportunities for their respective communities, Leenaarts Beasley explained.

Otherwise, bringing in bestselling authors is often “cost-prohibitive; it becomes an annual goal,” she said.

Publishers regularly charge speaker fees from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the author, Leenaarts Beasley said. But the library would also need to fund transportation—a significant cost, being so far from a major airport — meals and a place to stay.

Through the consortium, libraries pay an annual fee based on their county’s population; smaller counties pay lesser fees, she said.

The Dare County Library Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the public library, paid about $2,000 of the $3,500 annual consortium fee, with the county paying the rest, according to Leenaarts Beasley.

“We’ve been excellent for years and years and years meeting the needs of our children in the community, with Storytimes and Hooked on Books events,” she said. “But we were missing one of our biggest demographics.”

The library started an adult speakers series, both in person and then virtually, but found it was limited by finances, hours and technological capabilities.

“So this is really great because it meets the needs that a lot of people request, for more author events,” Leenaarts Beasley said.

“It’s free entertainment,” she added. “What a great opportunity to have this time with an author that we just don’t get down here on a regular basis.”