Under the leadership of Daniel Blank, Managing Director of Public Programs, the Free Library Foundation’s Author Events series is going from strength to strength.
Across 9 author events already hosted since January, an average of 180+ tickets have been sold for each one. In fact, 3 of those Author Events had audiences in excess of 300 people.
We asked Daniel about his vision for the program, what success looks like, and what audiences can expect next.
The Author Series Events have long been a staple of the Free Library Foundation. What was it like to take over such a storied program?
Thrilling and challenging, in equal measure. While some of the challenges have changed, the thrill of managing a program of this stature hasn’t.
When I took over, the Author Events series presented a set of competing priorities.
We had to successfully manage the existing schedule to completion and meet the expectations of authors, patrons, and the broader community. It was a steep learning curve, but we did it, delivering a relatively smooth transition as our new team took the reins.
We also started planning for the future. Initially, that meant filling the rest of 2024 with a rich and diverse assortment of authors and topics. It was wonderful to welcome President Clinton (the first event I booked!) and Malcolm Gladwell, but just as meaningful to us was hosting Dr. Aisha Beliso-De Jesús in conversation with Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. about her book Excited Delirium: Race, Police Violence and the Invention of a Disease.
Of course, we were also working on the Spring 2025 season, which–if the popularity of the events so far is any guide–is one of our best.
How is the program evolving under your leadership?
The goal is to build on the established success of the series, raising its profile and stature and connecting with new audiences, while continuing to appeal to longtime patrons.
The key is a rich and varied array of high-quality programming, which this season certainly has. Between January and June, we’re hosting scientists, historians, musicians, novelists, food writers, travel writers, political commentators, poets, and more. There is, literally, something for everyone.
And, we’re trialling a few new ideas.
What new ideas are we talking about?
Pricing, for one. When I started, Author Events pricing was opaque, both to patrons and to my team. Some events were free, others cost money, and the rationale for the pricing decisions was unclear.
In fact, about half of our events had a standard price (not including the price of a book) of $17.50, which patrons told us was too high.
Now, every event is $5.00. That makes them predictable, accessible and affordable and still covers some program costs. And when publishers require us to sell a copy of the book with each ticket we simply add $5.00 to the price of the hardcover.
We’re also exploring other ways to make our events even more accessible. That could mean chartering buses, setting aside blocks of free tickets, and hosting events in other branches.
I heard you’re also looking to add new elements to some events. Is that right?
That is right! On March 13th, we welcome award-winning poet Joshua Bennett to the Free Library of Philadelphia stage, with his book Spoken Word: A Cultural History. Before that conversation, we have a poetry reading program with Evangeline Brooks, ShirminaGeneva, and current Philadelphia Poet Laureate Kai Davis! It’s going to be a great evening.
What comes next?
Well, we have 4 months left in this season, but we’re already planning for Fall 2025! We’re regularly in touch with authors, publicists, literary agents, and others to try and secure the right mix of events so that the Philadelphia community can get the most from our series.
The Free Library is one of the most important educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. While the City of Philadelphia provides public funds for the operations of the Free Library, it is through the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and the generosity of private funding from individuals, foundations, and corporations that the Free Library is able to offer many of the Library’s incredible programs and activities that advance literacy, guide learning, inspire curiosity throughout the region, and help deliver on the promise of an equitable future for all of Philadelphia’s children, families, and communities.