WILLIAMSPORT, PA — The James V. Brown Library is proud to announce the return of its highly anticipated in-person author experience at the 2026 Library Gala, featuring best-selling author Bruce Holsinger. The event will take place on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Williamsport Country Club.
After hosting a virtual author for the past few years, the Library is excited to once again bring the community together for a live, in-person literary event, offering guests the rare opportunity to experience an author talk up close and connect in a more meaningful way.
The Library Gala, the Library’s signature annual fundraiser, will highlight this return with an engaging evening centered around storytelling, community, and personal connection. Attendees will not only hear from Holsinger during his presentation, but will also have the opportunity to meet him. He will be available before the program and for a short time following the event to sign books and mingle with guests.
“We are thrilled to bring back the in-person author experience for our Gala this year,” said Stephanie Calder, Chair of the James V. Brown Library’s Gala Committee. “There is something truly special about being in the room with an author; hearing their story first-hand and having the chance to connect with them face-to-face. We’re excited to share that experience with our community again.”
Bruce Holsinger is the author of Culpability, the 116th selection of Oprah’s Book Club, praised by Oprah Winfrey as “a must-read for all generations.” His other novels include The Gifted School, The Displacements, The Invention of Fire, and A Burnable Book. In addition to his fiction, he is a widely published essayist and scholar whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and on NPR. He serves as a professor of English at the University of Virginia and is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.
The evening will begin at 5:00 PM with a silent and ticket auction, hors d’oeuvre stations, and refreshments, followed by Holsinger’s presentation at 7:00 PM. Complimentary valet parking is included with each ticket.
Proceeds from the Gala support the Library’s mission of inspiring today and shaping tomorrow, funding essential programs, collections, and services that reach thousands of residents across Lycoming County each year.
Tickets are now available for purchase at https://givebutter.com/librarygala2026. Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the James V. Brown Library and an anonymous donor, ticket prices have been reduced to $100, down from $125 in previous years. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information, please contact marketing@jvbrown.edu or call 570-327-2957.
The James V. Brown Library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours.
The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is inspiring today, and shaping tomorrow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.
