Our Speaker Collection features live and encore lectures and presentations from some of the most celebrated voices in the humanities, arts, and sciences. Presented live from Montgomery Auditorium in The Free Library of Philadelphia in Center City Philadelphia, Author Events typically run 60 minutes in length; the first part being the talk given by the author, followed by a question and answer session with the audience including our remote viewers. Past speakers in the Library's Author Event Series included Malcolm Gladwell, Ruth Reichl, Elie Wiesel, and President Barack Obama.

There is nothing that nationally syndicated radio host Michael Smerconish would rather do than host authors in front of live audiences for his Book Club with Michael Smerconish. Michael is an avid reader, but he assembles his book club only when he has read something about which he is passionate. Lucky for live audiences in the Delaware Valley, he has been passionate about some stellar authors!