For immediate release | April 20, 2017

Dion Graham, award-winning narrator and actor to speak at Annual Conference

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CHICAGO--, multi-award-winning audiobook narrator, and actor, is confirmed to speak at RUSA’s signature Annual Conference event, Literary Tastes: Celebrating the Best Reading of the Year. Graham, the narrator of Matthew Desmond’s multi-award-winning (Books on Tape, Penguin Random House), has been the voice of many audiobooks for both adults and children.

Evicted was named one of the as well as the recipient of the . This is the first time that the panel will feature an audiobook narrator and will offer a unique perspective for the audience to enjoy.

“The art of storytelling, and connecting through story, is as old as we are. I’m privileged to share all kinds of stories with you. I hope that, in the telling, we all see ourselves and others with new eyes—and ears,” Graham said in an Books on Tape.

Literary Tastes is held on Sunday, June 25, 8-10am at the in Chicago. It is free to all conference attendees with light refreshments. Book signings immediately following the event. Additional authors featured at this event will be announced soon.

For fans, Matthew Desmond will also be in attendance at the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Ceremony and Reception on June 24, 8-10pm at the Hilton in Chicago. A conference highlight now in its sixth year, this popular Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence event includes the program hosted by the current selection committee chair, Donna Seaman, and a lively dessert and drinks reception where attendees mingle with the winning authors, featured speaker Sara Paretsky, colleagues, editors, and ¾«¶«´«Ã½leaders. Tickets for the 2017 celebration are available at when you register for the conference or may be added later. You can also purchase a table for 10 to enjoy the exciting evening with chosen friends and colleagues—get details about . The 2017 event is sponsored by

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more about the association at .

Contact:

Leighann Wood

Sr. Program Officer

Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

lwood@ala.org