BOOKED for the evening 2025: Sarah Jessica Parker

BOOKED for the evening, The Westport Library’s signature fundraising event, will celebrate its 26^th edition this fall by welcoming Emmy Award-winning actor, producer, publisher, and businesswoman Sarah Jessica Parker.

Parker will be honored in the Library’s Trefz Forum in a discussion moderated by Maxine Bleiweis, former executive director of The Westport Library and a recognized trailblazer in the public library profession.

Tickets for this event are sold out and the waiting list is full. Thank you to everyone for your interest and support of BOOKED for the evening.

BOOKED for the evening annually honors an individual whose work reflects the purpose of the Library: to nurture a love of learning and to enhance our understanding of the world.

Previous award recipients include 2024 guest of honor Billie Jean King, as well as luminaries such as Tom Brokaw, E.L. Doctorow, Calvin Trillin, Wendy Wasserstein, Pete Hamill, Martin Scorsese, Arthur Mitchell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Halberstam, Oscar Hijuelos, Adam Gopnik, Will Shortz, Patti Smith, Barry Levinson, Jon Meacham, Nile Rodgers, Lynsey Addario, Ron Chernow, Alan Alda, Justin Paul, Frederic Chiu, Itzhak Perlman, Shonda Rhimes, and Laura Linney.

Parker, a notable advocate for literature and libraries, has built a distinguished career both as an entertainer and champion of the written word. In 2023, she launched SJP Lit, a literary imprint focused on underrepresented voices, and she previously served as editorial director for SJP for Hogarth. She currently serves as a judge for the Booker Prize and received the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award earlier this year.

Her commitment to literature extends beyond publishing. Parker has served as honorary chair of the American Library Association’s Central Book Club and as a board member of United for Libraries. She also executive produced The Librarians, a film about the fight against book bans which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

As an actor, Parker has won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards. She currently stars as Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series And Just Like That, the acclaimed revival of Sex and the City. Her film credits include L.A. Story, The Family Stone, Honeymoon in Vegas, State and Main, Ed Wood, and Footloose. Through her production company, Pretty Matches Productions, she developed HBO’s Divorce, in which she starred for three seasons and received a Golden Globe nomination.

Parker has also maintained a strong presence in theater since 1976, when she debuted on Broadway in The Innocents. She most recently starred opposite Matthew Broderick in the revival of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, earning a nomination for Best Actress at the 2024 Olivier Awards.

Through her literary work, Parker has championed diverse voices and stories. SJP Lit’s recent titles include They Dream in Gold by Mai Sennaar, Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski, A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang, and Coleman Hill by Kim Coleman Foote. With SJP for Hogarth, Parker published A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, Golden Child by Claire Adam, and Dawn by Selahattin Demirtas.

In addition to her career, advocacy, and literary work, Parker served on the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities during the Obama administration and is currently vice chairman of the board of directors for the New York City Ballet.

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Maxine Bleiweis dedicated her professional career to opening doors for all — regardless of life’s circumstances. At just 24 years old, she became a library director with a vision to create spaces where people could thrive, grow, and explore without the constraints of outdated rules or traditions. Her reputation for innovation and inclusivity led to her selection as executive director of The Westport Library, a post she held from 1998 to 2015. During her tenure, she transformed the institution from a traditional, well-respected library into a dynamic, community-centered hub of learning and engagement. Under her leadership, the Library became known not just for its collection, but also for its bold programming, forward-thinking technology, and welcoming atmosphere.

To support this vision, Maxine pioneered special fundraising initiatives, including the beloved BOOKED for the evening gala, which she launched in 1999. The event was always a source of joy for her during her tenure. In 2015, Maxine turned her focus outward, becoming a sought-after consultant for libraries across the globe. Through her guidance, countless institutions have reimagined their role in their communities, ensuring that libraries remain vibrant, inclusive, and open to all.