August 22nd, 2019
An exciting lineup of more than 140 authors, poets and illustrators – including nearly 50 who write for children and teens – as well as readings, trivia, costumed characters and interactive exhibits will provide a wide variety of family-friendly activities at the 2019 Library of Congress National Book Festival. The 19th festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.) at the Washington Convention Center. The event is free and open to everyone.
This year’s festival will include two stages for children’s authors, one for teens and a variety of activities on the Concourse and Lower Level presented by the Library of Congress and festival sponsors. Authors for children and teens appearing at the festival include Mac Barnett, Holly Black, R. J. Palacio, Linda Sue Park, Jon Scieszka, Raina Telgemeier, Renée Watson, to name a few. Families can pick up a children’s guide to the festival at the information booth on the Lower Level and both children’s stages to plan a day of activities. The guide, which will also be available online at http://loc.gov/bookfest, was created by the Mensa Foundation and the Library to provide tips on what to see and do.
Here are some of the activities presented by the Library and festival sponsors:
Library of Congress Pavilion and Areas
Attendees to the Library’s Pavilion will hear exciting presentations that will include the following:
National Book Festival artist, Marian Bantjes, will be interviewed.
Michael Ford, author of “North Mississippi Homeplace,†will talk about his work and share some excerpts from the film he shot in the 1970s in the northern Mississippi hill country. His friend, musician Mark Muleman Massey, will close out the presentation with a live acoustic Delta blues session.
George Thuronyi, the Pavilion emcee, will challenge and educate attendees with fun Library and Copyright trivia, and other activities.
The Library of Congress Area will host a variety of exhibits, from many Library divisions and reading rooms to Library exhibitions and more. There also will be child-friendly activities, such as zine-making and coloring activities sponsored by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, as well as a By the People Transcription Café and much more.
Library Stage (room 150) will host all new programming. Presentations include a tour of the Jefferson Building; Veterans History Project and Copyright Office programs; and a series of “Read and Meet Sessions,†moderated by Library subject matter experts, which will allow visitors to discuss what they are reading. The closing presentation will feature a poet, photographer, blogger and author/historian, who will discuss how they use Library of Congress resources in their work and inspire creativity.
Parade of the States
Attendees can meet representatives from their home states and learn about each state’s literary heritage from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the Parade of the States. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), makes it possible for an affiliate of the Library’s Center for the Book in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories to participate in the festival. Additional support is provided by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies.
A map-brochure for young people, available at the IMLS, NEH and Junior League of Washington (JLW) tables in the Parade of the States, offers a fun and educational activity. Young people are encouraged to visit all 53 tables to collect a unique stamp. Those who do will receive a prize from IMLS. Learn more about each state’s writing traditions and read about those states with guidance from the brochure’s list of “53 Great Reads.â€
On the Parade of the States stage, IMLS invites people of all ages to learn how anyone who wants to can be a librarian, as a diverse set of current and future librarians talk about their chosen path. Visitors can join in to experience a unique story time session by librarians serving differently abled populations, demonstrating how libraries are reaching out to include all people from their communities. back...
This year’s festival will include two stages for children’s authors, one for teens and a variety of activities on the Concourse and Lower Level presented by the Library of Congress and festival sponsors. Authors for children and teens appearing at the festival include Mac Barnett, Holly Black, R. J. Palacio, Linda Sue Park, Jon Scieszka, Raina Telgemeier, Renée Watson, to name a few. Families can pick up a children’s guide to the festival at the information booth on the Lower Level and both children’s stages to plan a day of activities. The guide, which will also be available online at http://loc.gov/bookfest, was created by the Mensa Foundation and the Library to provide tips on what to see and do.
Here are some of the activities presented by the Library and festival sponsors:
Library of Congress Pavilion and Areas
Attendees to the Library’s Pavilion will hear exciting presentations that will include the following:
National Book Festival artist, Marian Bantjes, will be interviewed.
Michael Ford, author of “North Mississippi Homeplace,†will talk about his work and share some excerpts from the film he shot in the 1970s in the northern Mississippi hill country. His friend, musician Mark Muleman Massey, will close out the presentation with a live acoustic Delta blues session.
George Thuronyi, the Pavilion emcee, will challenge and educate attendees with fun Library and Copyright trivia, and other activities.
The Library of Congress Area will host a variety of exhibits, from many Library divisions and reading rooms to Library exhibitions and more. There also will be child-friendly activities, such as zine-making and coloring activities sponsored by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, as well as a By the People Transcription Café and much more.
Library Stage (room 150) will host all new programming. Presentations include a tour of the Jefferson Building; Veterans History Project and Copyright Office programs; and a series of “Read and Meet Sessions,†moderated by Library subject matter experts, which will allow visitors to discuss what they are reading. The closing presentation will feature a poet, photographer, blogger and author/historian, who will discuss how they use Library of Congress resources in their work and inspire creativity.
Parade of the States
Attendees can meet representatives from their home states and learn about each state’s literary heritage from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the Parade of the States. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), makes it possible for an affiliate of the Library’s Center for the Book in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories to participate in the festival. Additional support is provided by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies.
A map-brochure for young people, available at the IMLS, NEH and Junior League of Washington (JLW) tables in the Parade of the States, offers a fun and educational activity. Young people are encouraged to visit all 53 tables to collect a unique stamp. Those who do will receive a prize from IMLS. Learn more about each state’s writing traditions and read about those states with guidance from the brochure’s list of “53 Great Reads.â€
On the Parade of the States stage, IMLS invites people of all ages to learn how anyone who wants to can be a librarian, as a diverse set of current and future librarians talk about their chosen path. Visitors can join in to experience a unique story time session by librarians serving differently abled populations, demonstrating how libraries are reaching out to include all people from their communities. back...
