The Hidden Life of Libraries : Dorothy Lazard with Alexis Madrigal

A launch event for BEHIND THE DESK AT THE MAIN: A Librarian's Memoir by Dorothy Lazard (Heyday Books), in conversation with Alexis Madrigal
About this Event

Join celebrated Oakland librarian, public historian, and author Dorothy Lazard for a special evening celebrating the release of . Lazard will be joined by journalist and author Alexis Madrigal for a wide-ranging conversation about the enduring role of public libraries, the people who sustain them, and why these civic institutions matter more than ever.
Hosted at The New Parkway Theater in Oakland, with books provided by Nomadic Books in partnership with the Bay Area Book Festival, this event offers a rare opportunity to hear from one of Oakland's most beloved librarians as she reflects on two decades behind the scenes at Oakland's Main Library.
Drawing from stories in her new memoir, Lazard illuminates the often-unseen work of librarians—from helping patrons uncover family histories and navigate archives to fostering lifelong learning, cultural connection, and democratic access to information. She also explores the growing challenges facing libraries today, including censorship efforts, funding pressures, and the evolving role of public institutions in an increasingly polarized society.
Together, Lazard and Madrigal will discuss libraries as places of memory, possibility, and civic life, and consider what it means to protect these essential public spaces for future generations.
Following the conversation, Dorothy Lazard will sign copies of Behind the Desk at the Main, available for purchase from Nomadic Books.
Whether you're a devoted library lover, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the hidden life of one of our most treasured public institutions, this promises to be an engaging and timely evening.

is a writer, public historian, and former librarian. She is celebrated for her library career at the Oakland Main Library (especially at the Oakland History Center) and for her 2023 memoir, , that tells the story of her youth in the Bay Area of the 1960s and ’70s, connecting her early intellectual pursuits to the career that made her a community pillar.

is a journalist in Oakland, California. He co-hosts KQED's current affairs show, Forum, and is a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Alexis spent many hours in the Oakland History Center while researching his book , which explores how a logistical revolution that began in Oakland has reshaped American cities. He is also the proprietor of Local Economy, a community space in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood.