Speakers' Bureau

We can put an expert behind your podium...for free. Presentations vary in length, but most can be customized to fit the needs of your organization. Many of the experts listed below are willing to speak on additional topics related to their field.

To schedule a program, please contact Robin Toler at 336-373-2475 or by e-mail.

Experts from the Greensboro Public Library
Who Needs the Library?
Library Director Sandy Neerman discusses the many ways the Greensboro Public Library system makes the community a stronger, better place to live.

One City, One Book and PoetryGSO
Learn how a single book can help Greensboro become a better community. Plus, see how Greensboro is warming up to poetry. Project Director Steve Sumerford shares poems, stories, and information about these two literary programs and how they enrich our city.

Think Before You Click
Learn about managing Internet safety concerns with tips on making the most of your family’s Internet experience.

Finding Your Past
Genealogy Librarian Arthur Erickson discusses Library resources that can help you find your ancestors. Arthur can also speak about African American or Quaker genealogy research.

GPL: The First 100 Years
The Greensboro Public Library opened in 1902 with fewer than 1,500 books. North Carolina Librarian Helen Snow talks about the Library’s interesting history.

The History of Downtown Greensboro
North Carolina Librarian Helen Snow shares fascinating and humorous highlights from bygone days.

Business Advantage 
Business Librarian Martha Larson discusses the Library’s ongoing initiative promoting the development of new and existing businesses. Learn about programs and resources that help turn dreams into reality.

Finding and Using Government Information
Government Librarian Frank Barefoot knows nearly everything about government information resources. Learn about grants and loans, how to find statistics supporting a business plan, and more.

Fund-raising Resources for Your Nonprofit
Discover resources to help your nonprofit organization locate grants and donors. Hear from an expert about fund-raising and nonprofit management.

Discover What Creeps and Crawls
Learn about the certification offerings and nature programs offered by the Library with Environmental Resources Librarian Melanie Buckingham.

Making Your Neighborhood Stronger
Neighborhood Services Coordinator Donna Newton gives tips on how to coordinate a neighborhood organization and how to generate support for your group.

Services for People with Special Needs
Librarian Belinda Lam describes the services available to customers who are physically handicapped or unable to use the Library in a conventional manner.

The Importance of Reading to Children
The earlier children are exposed to books, the better they will fare in school. Learn tips on motivating young children to read.

Writing with Pictures
Learn about the process of writing and illustrating children’s books with Jim Young, author of more than a dozen children’s books.

Christmas in North Carolina
This storytelling program presented by North Carolina Librarian Helen Snow examines celebrations of the past, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, a true crime tale from a Christmas Eve past, and a heartwarming story that took place at Woolworth’s during one Christmas season.

Storytelling with North Carolina Themes
Children and adults can enjoy North Carolina folktales with North Carolina Librarian Helen Snow.

The Humor of Mark Twain and Will Rogers
North Carolina Librarian Helen Snow shares witty observations from famed humorists Mark Twain and Will Rogers.

Pirates of North Carolina
North Carolina Librarian Helen Snow presents this interesting program about Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and other pirates from the North Carolina coast.

Jazzing Up Your Book Discussion Group
Find out what’s new in popular fiction and how to facilitate book discussions with Popular Materials Librarian Beth Sheffield.

Friends of the Library
Discover how the Friends of the Library organization works in partnership with the Library to provide expanded programs and services.

Making History for Over 80 Years
An introduction to the Museum’s treasures and its vital role in telling Greensboro’s story with Museum Director Fred Goss.

William Hockett: Quaker Soldier
Curator Linda Evans presents the unusual story of William Hockett, a soldier who tried to keep his Quaker principles while serving in a Guilford County regiment in 1863.

Discovering Historic Neighborhoods
See a presentation about some of Greensboro’s older neighborhoods with Curator Linda Evans.

How We Preserve Greensboro History
Archivist Stephen Catlett explains how the archives operate, as well as the types of materials collected and preserved.

More than Temperance
In the late 1800s, both white and African American women joined the Greensboro Woman’s Christian Temperance Union to affect social change. Learn who joined and why from Curator Linda Evans.

Voices of Greensboro
Discover the many voices of Greensboro with Curator Linda Evans. Learn how a diverse group of men and women shaped our community from its founding in 1808 to the 21st century.

The History of Women in Greensboro
Curator Linda Evans focuses on women’s lives during the Civil War, World War II, women’s suffrage, the Civil Rights movement, and at local women’s colleges.