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Carlsbad Reads Together 2025 draws 846 participants; author Julia Alvarez praised
Summary
Staff reported 469 checkouts of the selected title and 846 participants across author talk and supplemental programs. The April 24 author talk with Julia Alvarez drew 155 in person and 163 online views during the seven-day availability.
Carlsbad library staff reported May 28 that Carlsbad Reads Together 2025, centered on Julia Alvarez's novel The Cemetery of Untold Stories, engaged 846 community members across the author talk and supplemental programs and produced 469 total checkouts of the featured title in April.
Principal librarian Laura Stanger reported that the April 24 author event in the Shulman Auditorium drew 155 in-person attendees. The city's streamed recording received 163 views over the seven days it was available on the city's YouTube channel. Nineteen supplemental programs attracted 528 participants, bringing total engagement to 846.
Staff shared survey feedback: of 30 returned surveys, 93% of respondents rated the author talk 5 out of 5. Stanger also read a message Julia Alvarez posted on social media praising the Carlsbad event and noting the hospitality she received.
The library hosted an intimate reception for the author with the Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation, and staff highlighted creative tributes to the novel including a gingerbread model of "Alma's casita." Planning for Carlsbad Reads Together 2026 is already under way; staff said they may propose asking the public to vote on genres rather than specific titles, with library staff then curating a representative selection.
No formal action was required from the board on the final report.
