By Angela Deckard
Branch Librarian | Amy Van Andel Library (Ada)
A sold-out arena. Fans lining up for hours before the show begins. The excitement is palpable. This isn’t a Taylor Swift concert; it’s a gathering of over 6,000 readers celebrating the power of storytelling, community and female friendship with bestselling authors Kristin Hannah and Megan Chance.
Community has always been the driving force behind Kent District Library's annual On the Same Page program, but no one could have predicted what would happen in its third year.
Tickets sold out within minutes. The waitlist quickly grew into the thousands. It became clear almost immediately that our original venue, the Godwin Heights High School auditorium, wouldn't be large enough to meet demand. Calls were made. Sponsors stepped up. Plans changed.
Soon, it was official: On the Same Page was moving to Van Andel Arena.
And then it sold out.
On the day of the event, readers began lining up as early as 2:30 PM. When doors opened at 5:00 PM, the arena quickly filled. Some wondered whether an event of this size could still capture the intimate magic that has defined On the Same Page from the beginning.
The answer became clear almost immediately.
The magic wasn't lost; it simply grew.
Readers laughed together, shared stories and struck up conversations with fellow book lovers. Kristin Hannah and Megan Chance welcomed us into their world, offering not only a glimpse into their writing lives but also into their decades-long friendship, which became one of the evening's central themes.
KDL Executive Director Lance Werner kicked off the evening, followed by a standing ovation honoring veterans. Caledonia Branch Librarian Shelby Toren welcomed the crowd before Kristin and Megan took the stage. Later, Jacob Huber, Librarian at the Krause Memorial Branch, joined the conversation to ask questions submitted by library patrons.
One On the Same Page tradition also returned: asking the featured authors who should appear next. Megan Chance nominated William Kent Krueger, while Kristin Hannah suggested Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry.
Organizing an event of this magnitude requires extensive planning, and our team is already brainstorming for next year. Stay tuned for next year’s On the Same Page event!
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