Approximately 85,000 book lovers turned out for the fourth annual National Book Festival held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, October 9. Sponsored by the Library of Congress and officially hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, the steadily growing event drew its largest crowd yet. Attendees had the opportunity to see and hear more than 70 authors at various presentations, talks and book signings throughout the day, as well as check out highlighted exhibit materials from the Library of Congress and from the festival's corporate partners. Authors on hand included Cokie Roberts, Juan Williams, Jim Lehrer, Joyce Carol Oates and civil rights leader Dorothy Height.
Though Bush is traditionally the official festival hostess, this year she was in St. Louis, Mo., with the president following Friday night's debate. In her stead, Alma Powell, wife of Secretary of State Colin Powell and a children's book author in her own right (America's Promise), assisted Librarian of Congress James H. Billington with hosting duties.
Leigh and Leslie Keno of PBS's Antiques Roadshow and Find! were among the popular speakers in the Home & Family area, while Marc Brown (Arthur; Wild About Books) and Floyd Cooper (Satchmo's Blues) entertained kids and parents in the children's pavilion. Robert B. Parker regaled fans of Mysteries & Thrillers and newly announced Poet Laureate Ted Kooser spoke to an appreciative audience in the Poetry pavilion. Altogether there were 11 pavilions, including a new one dedicated to Science Fiction & Fantasy.
The Library of Congress spotlighted two of its oral history projects, Voices of Civil Rights and Veterans History Project in the LOC pavilion, allowing people to explore these resources and add their own stories. "People will be able to see the national outreach we've obtained as well as our vast online capabilities," said Billington. "We have not featured it quite so prominently before."
Costumed characters from PBS children's programs roamed the grounds and youngsters were encouraged to visit the Let's Read America pavilion, which housed several reading-inspired kids' activities.
"We're approaching children's literacy with increased urgency and concern based on the NEA study about the decline in reading," said Billington. "It's really an alarming state of affairs, not just for the reading and selling of books, but for getting people into society. We try to highlight the importance of reading and encourage parents to bring their kids to events like this."
Will the show, which has received solid support from Laura Bush, go on if President Bush is not re-elected? "We plan these one year at a time," said Billington. "But the festival is an event that has established a real place for itself. Attendance has gone up steadily, and with the cast of characters we've had every year, people have always found a high-quality experience. We are not running out of outstanding authors. We want to show that though we have a crisis in reading, there is no shortage of richness and diversity in books. We need to continue to discuss and address this fundamental problem."
