91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is pleased to announce Saeed Jones as the closing keynote speaker for the , “Democratizing Knowledge, Access, and Opportunities,” to be held April 2-5, 2025, in Minneapolis and online.

Jones is an essential author as well as a powerful voice in the world of literary activism, and his writing often engages the questions and nuances of identity. He has shaped his platform into a tool for social awareness, breakthroughs and connections with his no-holds-barred personality and unforgettable voice. Vibe Check, the weekly news and culture podcast he hosts with Sam Sanders and Zach Stafford, has been lauded as one of the Best Podcasts of the Year by the New York Times, Vogue, and CBC Radio.

Saeed was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Lewisville, Texas. His debut poetry collection, “Prelude to Bruise,” was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and was awarded the 2015 PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry. His most recent collection, “Alive at the End of the World,” was published in 2022 and awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Poetry. The collection was also a finalist for both the 2023 Lambda Literary Award in Gay Poetry and the Publishing Triangle 2023 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry.

The deadline for ACRL 2025 lightning talk, poster session, roundtable discussion, and virtual conference presentation is October 18, 2024. and applications are due October 11, 2024. Additional details about the ACRL 2025 Conference are available on the . Conference registration opens in October 2024.

For more information about ACRL 2025, contact ACRL Conference Manager Tory Ondrla at tondrla@ala.org.

##

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the higher education association for academic libraries and library workers. Representing nearly 8,500 individuals and libraries, ACRL (a division of the 91´«Ã½) develops programs, products, and services to help those working in academic and research libraries learn, innovate, and lead within the academic community. Founded in 1940, ACRL is committed to advancing learning, transforming scholarship, and creating diverse and inclusive communities. Find ACRL on the , , , , , , and .