Waupaca Celebrates "Guys Read" with David Lubar

On January 31, 2012, young people’s author David Lubar skyped with an audience of 56 at the Waupaca Area Public Library. The “Dinner with David Lubar” spaghetti dinner was the culmination of our second annual GuysRead Month. As promotion for the event, the Library gave away 38 copies of his books. When participants arrived, they received a signed book plate (sticker) to insert into their free book. Lubar spoke for about 30 minutes—first talking about how he became a writer, and then reading a story that is going to be published in his next Weenies book. It was really fun to hear something that’s not available yet! Next, Lubar took questions for 45 minutes from the kids in the audience (and one parent!). It was exciting to hear the different questions, and to watch the interplay between author and reader. It was also great to see the bond form when Lubar revealed that he’s a video gamer. Many kids wanted to offer suggestions of games for him to try! Lubar also drew the door prize numbers from his home in Pennsylvania. I received an email from David after the event, thanking us for setting it up, and asking a follow-up question about one of our participants! Overall, it was a great event. 

This event was made possible by asking our Friends of the Library to be a co-sponsor. The Friends supplied 60 copies of four titles: My Rotten Life, Dunk, Hidden Talents, and The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies. The Student Library Advisory Group (SLAG) was another co-sponsor for the dinner. SLAG members volunteered at the event in a variety of jobs: ushers, table set-up, food preparation, wait staff, and clean-up. In addition to volunteering, SLAG contributed $150.00 towards Lubar’s speaking fee, and a Perplexus ball as a door prize. With the stellar help of a community volunteer who prepared the spaghetti at her home, we served a delicious dinner at the event. Staff handled purchasing of supplies, door prizes, coordination for the event, and promotions. Lubar was also interviewed by a reporter from the local newspaper and the article was published about two weeks prior to the event.