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Quick Links
Master Schedule
The complete schedule of upcoming OPAL public online events.
Auditorium
Most OPAL programs are held in the Auditorium.
After clicking on the link above, type in your name and press Enter. First-time
OPAL users need to install a small, safe sofware plug-in.
Archive
Recordings and other documents about previous OPAL programs.
Podcast
For information on listening to previous OPAL events on your portable MP3 player,
visit the OPAL Podcast blog.
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Archive of Previous Book Discussions, Author Interviews, and Other Literary Events
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A Conversation with Mari Mancusi, author of
Gamer Girl,
conducted on February 25, 2009
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A Conversation with Louis Bayard, author of The Black Tower as well as many other books and reviews,
conducted at the Nassau Public Library System in Florida in January 2009
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The Big Read: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, presented by Dr. Loren Logsdon
from Eureka College on November 13, 2008
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BookBreak: Political Fiction and Nonfiction, presented by Jean Goesle and others on August 20, 2008.
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Land of Lincoln Book Discussion of
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, by James L. Swanson, held on
April 8, 2008.
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A Conversation with Lois Ruby, author of the Kansas Notable Book,
Shanghai Shadows, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Monday, March 24, 2008.
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A talk about writing fantasy fiction in Italy given by
Eadoin Welles, conducted on February 2, 2008 in both OPAL and Second Life.
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A talk about podcasting given by
Sam Chupp (Alexander Basiat in Second Life), conducted on February 2, 2008 in both OPAL and Second Life.
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A Conversation with George Brandsberg, author of
Afoot: A Tale of the Great Dakota Turkey Drive, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Thursday, January 31, 2008.
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A discussion of the book Moth, by
James Sallis, conducted on January 30, 2008 in both OPAL and Second Life.
This is part of the Mystery Manor book discussion series "Waiting for the Other
Gumshoe to Drop"
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A discussion of the book One Man Great Enough: Abraham Lincoln's Road to Civil War, by
John C. Waugh, conducted on January 15, 2008. This is part of the Land of Lincoln
in Second Life book discussion series, sponsored by the
Alliance Library System
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Through the Eyes of the Sleuth: Setting the Stage for Mystery
presented by Emily Howie from the Library of Congress
on November 14, 2007.
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Captivating Choices: High-Interest Books for Low-Interest Readers, presented by
Megan Schliesman and Merri Lindgren on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
Sponsored by the Outagamie Waupaca Library System.
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A conversation with Susanna Bair, co-author of Energize Your Heart and
co-founder of the Institute for Applied Meditation, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Friday, October 19, 2007.
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A conversation with Connie Fairbanks, author of the cookbook Scratch That: Seasonal Menus
and Perfect Pairings,, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Friday, October 12, 2007.
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A conversation with Richard Jennings, author of Orwell's Luck,
The Great Whale of Kansas, and other books, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Friday, September 28, 2007.
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Accessible Online Books, presented by representatives from
InfoEyes on September 20, 2007.
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A conversation with Milton Katz, author of the book Breaking Through: John B.
McLendon, Basketball Legend and Civil Rights Pioneer, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Friday, September 14, 2007.
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An online discussion with
author Robert Morgan, a novelist, biographer, and poet,
conducted by the Johnson County Library on Friday, September 7, 2007.
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A conversation with the author Anjali Banerjee, especially regarding her novel,
Imaginary Men, conducted by the
Johnson County Library on Friday, August 24, 2007.
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A discussion of the book A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink, conducted by the
Johnson County Library Business Book Club on Tuesday, August 21, 2007..
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Presentation of the 2008 Monarch Awards Nominees:
Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Book Awards,
presented by Pam Storm from the Carl Sandburg School in Charleston, Illinois on May 1, 2007.
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African American Authors Translated into Chinese
presented by librarians from the Library of Congress
on February 27, 2007.
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Book Discussion of Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick,
conducted on February 21, 2007, facilitated by Tom Peters of TAP Information Services.
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A Conversation with Author Dana Stabenow,
conducted on October 3, 2006. Sponsored by the State Library of Kansas.
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Book Discussion of The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro,
conducted on September 22, 2006 and and facilitated by Sarah Handgraaf from the Johnson County Library.
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Book Discussion of Grandfather's Journey, by Allen Say,
conducted on September 21, 2006 and and facilitated by Tom Peters. This online discussion is
part of the Alliance Library System's participation in the NEH/ALA We the People
"Becoming American" student literacy program..
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"Ready - Set - READ! Children's Literature Resources at the Library of Congress",
presented by Judy Graves and Patricia Steelman on September 20, 2006.
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Tips and Techniques for Leading a Book Discussion Online,
conducted on September 14, 2006 and and facilitated by Tom Peters. This is the kickoff
to the Alliance Library System's participation in the NEH/ALA We the People
"Becoming American" student literacy program..
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Discussion of the thriller novel Rusty Nail,
conducted on September 13, 2006 and featuring the author, JA Konrath.
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Book Discussion of the novel The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger,
held on August 25, 2006. Sponsored by the Johnson County Library
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Book Discussion of the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac,
held on August 23, 2006.
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First Fridays Conversation with Writer Hampton Stevens,
held on August 4, 2006. Hosted by the Johnson County Library.
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Books at Twilight: Recommended Books and Read-Alikes,
held on July 26, 2006. Presented by the reader advisory librarians at the St. Charles (Illinois)
Public Library.
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Poetry Reading by Clara Bowie,
held on June 28, 2006. Clara reads and sings short poems from some of her favorite
poets, plus a few orginal compositions.
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Book Discussion of the novel The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky,
held on June 15, 2006.
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Book Discussion of the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini,
held on June 15, 2006.
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Book Discussion of the graphic memoir Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi,
held on May 30, 2006. Sponsored by the
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Includes a discussion of the challenges of
making a graphic novel accessible to the blind and print-impaired.
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Book Discussion of The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow,
held on May 24, 2006.
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Blues Poetry, a duet of spoken words and music, performed by Eric Mandat and Ken (Fog) Gilbert on May 17, 2006.
A Greenbriar Road Poetry Performance sponsored by the
John A. Logan Library and the Southern Illinois Talking Book Center.
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Presentation of Nominated Books for the 2007 Abraham Lincoln High School Book Award,
presented by Carolyn Roys from Lake Park High School in Roselle, Illinois on May 10, 2006.
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Presentation of the 2007 Monarch Awards:
Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Book Awards,
presented by Pam Storm from the Carl Sandburg School in Charleston, Illinois on May 3, 2006.
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Author discussion with Melody Thomas, the Chicago-based author of historical romances,
held on April 13, 2006.
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Poetry On High: A History of U.S. Poets Laureate
presented by Peter Armenti and Judy Graves from the Library of Congress
on April 12, 2006.
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Book Discussion of The Brothers Karamazov,
held on Wednesday, February 22, 2006.
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Author discussion with Julia Spencer-Fleming,
held on Wednesday, February 8, 2006.
Award-winning mystery author Julia Spencer-Fleming
grew up in places as diverse as Mobile, Rome, Stuttgart and Syracuse. Her debut novel, In the Bleak Midwinter,
won the St. Martin's/Malice Domestic, the Dilys, the Agatha, the Anthony, the Macavity and the Barry Awards.
A Fountain Filled With Blood received a Barry Award nomination, and Julia's latest Clare Fergusson novel,
Out of the Deep I Cry, was a 2005 Edgar Award finalist. Julia lives in the Maine countryside with three kids,
two dogs and one husband.
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Gift Book Ideas for Children and Teens: On December 15, 2005 David Inge from
radio station WILL-AM 580 interviewed librarians at the
Champaign (Illinois) Public Library as part of the regular Focus 580 radio program.
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Author discussion with Debi Gliori, author of No Matter What,
her charming picture book that cleverly explores the theme of unconditional love.
This discussion was held on Friday, November 18, 2005.
No Matter What is the official selection for Kansas Reads to Preschoolers, the
Kansas State Library’s One State-One Book project for 2005 highlighting the importance
of reading to preschoolers. Ms. Gliori is the author and illustrator of many books for
children, including the very popular Mr. Bear series. She won the Children's Book Award
picture book section, and was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1997.
She lives in Scotland, near Edinburgh.
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Book Discussion of the 1927 novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather,
held on October 26, 2005.
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Preview discussion, led by John Cole, Director of The Center for the Book, of the upcoming
National Book Festival, to be held on Saturday, September 24, 2005 on The Mall in Washington, DC.
Presentations from previous years can be seen
on the Festival's Web site (www.loc.gov/bookfest).
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Discussion of the 1998 novel, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency,
by Alexander McCall Smith, recorded on August 11, 2005.
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Discovering Heroes, presented on
June 15, 2005 by Steve Benson from the Chicago Talking Book Center
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"To light us to freedom, and glory again!": The Role of Civil War Poetry, presented on
April 27, 2005 by Peter Armenti and Judith Graves from the Library of Congress.
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Beyond Limits: A Poetry Reading and Panel Discussion with Lucia Perillo, Stephen Kuusisto and Paul Guest,
presented on April 14, 2005.
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Group book discussion, let by graduate students from the U. of Nebraska-Lincoln, of the novel
My Antonia by Willa Cather,
recorded on September 21, 2004.
Audio Recording of the discussion of My Antonia (large WMA file; playback time of 97 minutes)
Contact us for more info
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