AN OPEN LETTER TO LIBRARIANS—
“BEAM ME IN, SCOTTY!”
Apologies to Captain Kirk and Star Trek. I know it’s really, “Beam me UP, Scotty.”
For more than 20 years, I have been traveling the country to visit libraries, bookstores, museums, schools and librarian conferences to share my love for history, geography and all the subjects I have covered in the Don’t Know Much About series of books for children and adults. It’s always great fun for me to talk about America’s past, telling real stories of real people, exploring the “hidden history” I’ve uncovered, connecting history to the headlines –and sharing my love for writing and books. Our teachers and librarians are dedicated professionals. And the readers I have met over those years have proven that Americans don’t hate history. They just hate the dull version they got in school. And this writer has learned a lot from them along the way.
Now, with the power of computers, I want to visit your library virtually. Will you invite me?
Before I tell you my plan, I want you know that libraries have a great personal value to me. When I was a boy growing up in Mount Vernon, New York, a trip to the library every few days was part of my life. I remember the day I got my “adult” library card which allowed me to climb the ornate marble stairs up to the second floor main stacks. For me, the library was a central part of my education — and my love of writing. Since then, I have always believed that libraries are an essential part of our democracy. It would be nice if every government office functioned as well as the library does!
Now, on to my plan.
As we are marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which began on April 12, 1861, I will make a limited number of FREE library Skype visits to discuss Civil War history, the life of Abraham Lincoln, and other aspects of this momentous tragedy in our past and how it continues to haunt us. These visits are planned to last 30-40 minutes. They will include a brief introduction by me of my work and career and a discussion of some of the major aspects of the Civil War, and time for audience questions –always my favorite part of the visit. While the Civil War is certainly the key subject, the discussion need not be limited to that piece of American History. As a newly revised and updated edition of my New York Times Bestseller Don’t Know Much About History is being published this month in an Anniversary Edition hardcover by HarperCollins, the floor will be wide open for all questions about American History, the headlines, or books and writing in general.
If you would like to organize a library event on your end and “Beam me IN, Scotty,” via Skype, a video link to your library computers, please use the Contact page on my website. We will get back to you in an effort to set up a convenient time and date.
I look forward to beaming into your library!
Best wishes,
Kenneth C. Davis
