91´«Ã½

CHICAGO -- B.J. Novak adds book author to an impressive résumé that has long included actor, writer, stand-up comedian, TV and film star, executive producer and Screen Actors Guild and Writers’ Guild of America award winner. Attendees at 2014 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference will be entertained and energized by what he has to say about the power of words and the writing part of his career when he appears as featured speaker at the Closing General Session from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1.

Library users of all ages are likely to be seeking out his books—in 2014, he’s already published his first book for adults “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories” (February 2014, Knopf), soon to be followed by his first children’s book, “The Book with No Pictures” (September 2014, Dial Books for Young Readers).

"I wanted to write a book that would introduce the youngest of kids to the idea that words can be their allies—that the right words can be as fun, exciting, and ridiculous as any pictures,” he says about “The Book with No Pictures,” which turns the notion of the picture book on its head by delivering a text-only story book for young children. “Also, I can't draw.”

“One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories” has been widely praised, becoming an immediate New York Times bestseller. Booklist called it “high-concept, hilarious, and disarmingly commiserative . . . clever and fresh, at best spectacularly perceptive, and always commanding.”

Named one of Variety's "Ten Comedians to Watch" in 2003, Novak has been especially well watched as Ryan on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy series “The Office” and in films such as "Inglourious Basterds" and "Saving Mr. Banks."

Novak’s appearance is sponsored by Penguin Young Readers.

At the Closing General Session, current 91´«Ã½ President Barbara Stripling will also pass the gavel to incoming 91´«Ã½ President Courtney Young and will introduce the new Division Presidents.

—Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves

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