Remember libraries? Those places where you borrow (remember?) books? Believe it or not, libraries didn’t shrivel up and blow away after the Internet came along; actually, libraries are striving to change with the times, constantly asking what their role is in a world where the reference desk is just a browser tab away. The American Library Association is holding its annual convention in Las Vegas June 26-July 1 to ponder that very question.
And like the good bibliophiles they presumably are, the association is encouraging attendees to get in the Vegas mindset as only a library association can: With a recommended Vegas reading list that covers everything from literary fiction ( The Color of Night, Madison Smartt Bell; Battleborn, Claire Vaye Watkins) to nonfiction ( The Money and the Power, Sally Denton and Roger Morris) to sci-fi and fantasy ( Last Call, Tim Powers) to mystery/suspense ( The Secret History of Las Vegas, Chris Abani — check out our review).
But don't let the librarians have all the fun. The list is worth recommending to anyone who enjoys steeping in a sense of place through literature. If you’re a fan of Las Vegas as a subject, check it out for a strong working list of must- and should-reads.