The Ames Public Library has invited authors, experts and professors to speak as part of a panel discussion on race issues in the United States. The event, dubbed Talk RACE, was organized by the library with sponsors from the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation, the Ames branch of the NAACP and the Iowa State Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 

The event was inspired by issues discussed in “Between the World and Me,” a book by Ta-Nehisi Coates, national correspondent at The Atlantic. Coates will speak Monday at Iowa State. 

“The staff here was inspired by thinking of [Coates] coming on camps,” said Mary Logsdon, adult services manager at the Ames Public Library. “We were inspired to encourage the community to read Coates’ book in advance and start thinking about some of the issues [the book] raises.”

The event will start at 10:30 a.m. with a panel of experts leading a discussion on Coates’ book. A keynote challenge will be presented by Reginald Stewart, vice president of diversity and inclusion at Iowa State. Lunch will be provided to attendees. Kekla Magoon, author of young adult books including “How it Went Down,” “The Rock and the River” and “X: A Novel,” will also be in attendance to discuss race issues at 1:30 p.m. 

The final event will take place at 3 p.m. Magoon, along with Emily Lang, co-founder of RunDSM, an organization that supports students who wish to become community-based activists, talking with teens about race and Kekla’s book “How It Went Down.” Pizza will be provided at this event as well. 

“As a library, we think it’s important for people to find a way to engage with one another about meaningful topics,” Logsdon said. “We should also provide a safe environment for people to have these discussions.”