How to NBF

The National Book Festival is almost here! For basic details of how to attend, check out our FAQ page (but Festival sessions run from 9:30am-8pm on Saturday, August 24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center—and the Festival is free to attend). And all of the great writers who will be talking about their latest books can be found in our easily searchable Festival schedule.

So those are the basics. But here are a few extra tips on how to get the most out of the Festival:

• Each year when we program the Festival, my colleagues and I try to present the latest currents in American thought by featuring excellent writers and their new books. There’s a truly broad range of conversations taking place on Saturday—you may come to the Festival to see certain writers, but we hope you will also check out some writers or topics you’re not familiar with.
• Although our Festival (and any book festival, really) is an opportunity to give thoughtful writers a platform for intriguing conversations, we also do this work to give you all a chance to engage directly with those writers, so ask questions at the end of our events and/or meet the writers at their signings.
• There might be lines to get into the events (wear comfy shoes!). Reading is usually a solitary activity, but readers do have things in common with one another. If you’re standing in line, ask the person next to you what they’re currently reading.
• This is the second year for our Story District (sponsored by the CoStar Group) and the first year for our STEM District (sponsored by GM). These are both family friendly areas on the Expo Floor (Hall DE), and they’re great spots for entertaining children as well as learning a thing or two beside them!
• There’s an entire area set up at the Festival for you to attend interesting presentations by Library of Congress experts—talks on how to use the Library effectively, the cool stuff you can find in our Geography and Map Collection and how we preserve precious documents, among many other topics. Check out the Library of Congress Pavilion events in Hall DE.

Finally, we’re eager to know what you think, and so I have a request: please take our survey! There will be survey takers throughout the Festival, and you can spot them in volunteer t-shirts. Or email us after the Festival with your thoughts—are there particular events you loved the most? Writers you wish had been included? You can email us at [email protected].