The Friends of the Central Library welcomes New York Times bestselling author Tayari Jones for an exclusive online lecture, as part of the 25th season of the Rosamond Gifford Author Series. Jones's books include "An American Marriage," "Silver Sparrow" and "Leaving Atlanta." Tickets provide access to the online lecture for viewing anytime from Tuesday, Aug. 11, through Tuesday, Aug. 18. Ticket costs are $35 standard and $10 students. For more information, call (315) 435-1832.

City of Syracuse will host an Interstate 81 Jobs “Big Table” meeting from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. The virtual meeting will explore policy, legislative and regulatory actions to ensure city residents can benefit from the jobs and economic opportunity that the Interstate 81 project will create.

The “Big Table” meeting will involve representatives of federal, state and local government; business, and organized labor and community stakeholders. The program will address best practices in local hiring; business and workforce preparation, and local spending and contracting on public works projects.

Panelists scheduled to join Mayor Ben Walsh include: New York State Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman William Magnarelli; Mark Frechette, project director, New York State Department of Transportation; Deka Dancil, president of the Urban Jobs Task Force; Greg Lancette, president of the Central and Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council (CNNYBCTC); Mitchell Latimer, council representative of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, and a representative from the office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Syracuse Common Council President Helen Hudson and Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens will also participate.

Attendees can register to listen to the Big Table at this link.