What do you do when you get 25,000 librarians, authors, educators and publishers in a room together at the same time? You talk books, of course. That’s exactly what happened last month in Chicago at the world’s largest library event, the American Library Association Annual Conference.

The annual event offered library professionals the chance to get together, share ideas, highlight new research and innovations and listen to inspiring speakers (hello, Judy Blume and Rick Riordan!). It was also an important opportunity for those in the industry to talk about issues that majorly impact libraries. This year, book banning was a hot topic as librarians and publishers came together to reaffirm the Freedom to Read statement on its 70th anniversary and attend a rally for the Right to Read featuring Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.

While attending, we got the chance to chat with these superheroes about the indispensable role of libraries in our communities and get a few book recommendations to add to the TBR.

Librarians talk about the crucial importance of libraries 📚

Libraries are more important than ever. Here are 3 reasons why libraries matter:

“They open doors, they support literacy and they make dreams happen.”

- Joanie Douglas Chavis, Greensboro, NC

What are librarians currently reading? 📖

You can’t meet a librarian without asking this question: What are you reading? They had a couple great book recommendations you can borrow from—where else—the library! Find them on the Libby reading app.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Legendary storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a 17-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher—for that world or ours.

Some lasting advice from a librarian?

“Carry a book wherever you go, whether it’s on your Kindle, your Nook or your phone, and just see what the world offers.”