To the Editor:

The Friends of the Princeton Public Library would like to thank everyone who joined us on October 9 for the kickoff event for Beyond Words 2021. It was a gift to be able to gather in person on Hinds Plaza in celebration of the hard work and dedication of our library staff in keeping our Princeton community connected, informed, and entertained. The conversation with Professor David Bellos, internationally acclaimed translator and biographer, was engaging and educational for all. We are grateful to our lead sponsor, The Gould Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, and to all our individual donors and corporate sponsors for making Beyond Words 2021 a success.

Beyond Words 2021 will continue with two virtual events this fall. Separate tickets for each of these virtual events are now available on the Library’s website (princetonlibrary.org) for $60 each.

On November 12, we will host a virtual conversation with journalist and novelist Omar El Akkad, whose debut novel, American War, was an international best-seller. His recently released novel, What Strange Paradise, has been short-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize which recognizes excellence in Canadian fiction. Mr. El Akkad will be in conversation with Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University and an NPR international correspondent.

Our second virtual event will be December 3 with author (and former Princeton resident) Jean Hanff Korelitz. Her latest work, The Plot, was Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon’s pick as the best Summer Read for 2021 and her novel, You Should Have Known, was adapted for the HBO hit, The Undoing. Ms. Korelitz will be in conversation with longtime friends, and Friends of the Library, Peter Ham and Eve Niedergang.

The Library’s place as a center of gravity in our community has continued to grow and evolve, supported by the unwavering generosity of our donors and sponsors. We thank all our “Friends” and look forward to another great program on November 12. If you haven’t yet bought your tickets, please join us for an upcoming virtual Beyond Words program in support of the Library.

Andrea Bradley
President, Friends of the Princeton Public Library
Governors Lane