An Afternoon with Kathi Diamant and her New Book "Heart of the Zoo: How San Diego Zoo Director Chuck Bieler Earned His Stripes"

The Friends of San Diego Central Library presents Kathi Diamant

Join award-winning author, Kathi Diamant for a discussion of her new book, Heart of the Zoo: How San Diego Zoo Director Chuck Bieler Earned His Stripes, the extraordinary story of how Chuck Bieler guided the San Diego Zoo through unprecedented challenges and helped to create an international conservation organization where all wildlife thrives. Special appearance by Chuck Bieler himself and author and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance director of publishing, Georgeanne Irvine.

Please scroll down to register. Refreshments served.

In the 1970s, a new era for zoos dawned as the world became aware of the challenges facing wildlife. To help save shrinking habitats and endangered wildlife populations, zoos had to evolve from their role as living museums to centers of conservation. Working as executive director and then development director, Bieler helped usher in a brighter future for wildlife around the globe, launching international conservation efforts, navigating economic challenges, and creating a new blueprint for habitats.

THIS IS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE SHILEY SPECIAL EVENTS SUITE (on the 9th floor of the Central Library)

Authors and Speakers

Actress, author, TV producer/anchor and San Diego State University adjunct professor Kathi Diamant has been involved with the San Diego Zoo since arriving in San Diego in 1983. As the co-host of KFMB Channel 8’s Sun Up San Diego, she welcomed Zoo animals every week to the set, and in the following decades contributed more than a dozen articles to ZOONOOZ and Koala Club News. Her first biography, Kafka’s Last Love, has appeared in translation in nine languages and won the Geisel Award and the “Best of the Best” in the San Diego Book Awards.

Chuck Bieler, visionary former director of the San Diego Zoo.

San Diego native Georgeanne “George” Irvine has devoted her career to raising awareness about animals and wildlife conservation. She is the director of publishing for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where she has worked for more than four decades, as well as the author of more than two dozen children’s books about wildlife. Her award-winning Hope and Inspiration collection features true stories about individual animals from the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park that have overcome challenges in their lives.

About the Friends of Central Library

The Friends of the San Diego Central Library is a member-supported non-profit organization that advocates, fundraisers, and provides critical support for the Central Library and related literary and educational programs. We provide the community with opportunities to invest in the success of the San Diego Public Library as well as literary and education communities by donating funds or by donating time through volunteering. Please contact the Friends at sdfocl@gmail.com or (619) 238-6655.

Coming to Central Library

Parking is underneath the Central Library, FREE with 2-hour validation. The library is one block from the Park & Market stop on the Trolley Blue and Orange lines.  Bus routes 12, 901, and 929 stop right in front of the library at the 11th Avenue and K Street stop.