At the American Library Association's 150th Annual Conference and Exhibition, held June 25–29, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, author Xuemo made history as the first Chinese writer ever to appear on the cover of the ALA's official exhibitor handbook. According to ALA records, this honor had not been extended to any Chinese author since the association's founding in 1876. The conference drew more than 15,000 librarians, publishers, scholars, and industry leaders, and Xuemo's prominent placement in the handbook drew significant attention from library professionals.
The handbook featured two of Xuemo's recent English-language releases: Eternal Love, a contemporary novel translated by celebrated sinologist Howard Goldblatt and his wife Sylvia Li-Chun Lin, and Reclaim the Throne of Your Heart, a spiritual-philosophical essay collection translated by British scholar Professor Yukteshwar Kumar. Both are published by Ruxue International Media. Many attendees were seen carrying copies of the handbook directly to exhibition booths to request further details. Several librarians remarked, "This is the first time ALA has given such a prominent position to Xuemo's work in its official promotional material."
Representatives from a number of libraries expressed immediate interest in acquiring Eternal Love, with one noting that it brings "a unique voice from western China to the Western spectrum of spiritual-philosophical reading." The attention generated at the milestone conference signals growing international recognition for Xuemo's literature, with the handbook feature translating directly into inquiries from libraries seeking to expand their Xuemo literature collections.
In a related development, the English editions of two of Xuemo's spiritual works — The World Is a Reflection of the Mind and Reclaim the Throne of Your Heart — have been collected in the Library of Congress under its spirituality and philosophy collection. Xuemo's writings now reside in the libraries of nearly 40 universities and public institutions in the United States, including Harvard, Boston University, the University of Chicago, MIT, and Stanford, as well as in a total of 170 institutions across 13 countries.
The impact of this recognition is significant for readers and the library community. Xuemo's works offer a unique perspective from western China, blending spiritual and philosophical themes that resonate with a global audience. Libraries seeking to diversify their collections with voices from underrepresented regions may find Xuemo's writings particularly valuable. The interest generated at ALA suggests a growing demand for cross-cultural spiritual and philosophical literature, potentially influencing acquisition trends in academic and public libraries worldwide.
Eternal Love is available on Amazon.
