Did you attend the 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival? Did you watch any programming with PBS? Did you tune in remotely? Did you not attend but have suggestions on what we can add to interest you? Were you unable to attend but plan on coming next year? Tell us all about it!
www.nationalbookfestivalsurvey.com
Last year, over 1,000 of you responded to the NBF 2023 survey. You liked the diversity of our content and authors, the new expo floor location, and opportunities to meet favorite authors as well as to discover new talent. Many of you appreciated that we provided a good mix of nonfiction and fiction but wanted to see more content around cookbooks and genre fiction—particularly romance! You also showed us that many of you have been reading more thrillers, horror and literary fiction.
In children’s, we saw that many of the young attendees and their families liked to meet their favorite authors but were less interested in signings, with more interest in activities and new ways of engaging with books and authors.
This year, in response to surveys, we added romance and cookbook programs as well as more literary fiction, horror and sci-fi programming, and more expo floor content for children, including story time with authors and STEM presentations. We also had more activities everywhere, created a Library Lounge for those who wanted to rest and read quietly and improved discoverability and scheduling of all events.
The Library of Congress wants to keep making this a Festival for you, so each voice counts. Thank you for your time in responding to the www.nationalbookfestivalsurvey.com!
Comments (26)
I miss when the festival was multiple days – I feel like crowds weren’t the worst ever then. It was really hard to get into so many sessions I wanted. But really wonderful slate as usual. And just the nicest most helpful volunteers. A+ to every volunteer I encountered. Also miss having better and more food options!
A very good time ! There were many things to do and see. The floor was laid out very well.
The quality of Arthur’ s present was impressive.
Always love the Bookfest, even if it seems to increasingly focus on genres & less on literary fiction. But this year was insanely crowded! You could barely move a few feet. Love that so many people attend. But closing off the ground floor made the exhibition hall unnavigable.
I was unable to attend in person this year, so I appreciated being able to watch several interviews on Zoom. I fondly recall the very first Book Festival when I worked as a volunteer at the LOC. The line for David McCullough’s presentation was unbelievably long.
Very much appreciated having some of the sessions live streamed so that I could participate in the festival without having to travel to D.C. Plan to watch some of the recorded but not live streamed sessions when they are available. The National Book Festival is something I put on my calendar as soon as I see a date, even though I attend virtually. I always look forward to it. Very well done! Thank you!
The Book Festival was nice but not as interesting as last year and precious years. First, there were no programs available at 1:00 pm, when I arrived, and then the black Book Festival bags ran out. I bought four books but no bag was given. Security was not good, since I walked out of the book purchase area to the State tables and back in to pay for my books. I bought this to the cashier’s attention. There were very few Black authors featured. I did enjoy Tamron Hall and Lisa discuss their cookbook. I had trouble finding some books by Black authors in the book area since they were just in random order on the tables, with no titles, categories etc.I feel that diversity, equity, inclusion, and assessibility was not as visible as it had been in previous years. Also, the exhibit area was very limited as to displays and other public partners. It was geared more to families and children. Even the White House Association had no free books or magazines available. Advertisement about the Book Festival was also down this year. I feel we need to celebrate books, and reading books not banning books. Our children and adults need more encouragement to read. Books, newspapers, etc. need to be front and center. I know that the economy is different but Reading needs to be encouraged everywhere, everywhere. Thank you for holding the Book Festival. Pat Neal
Great conference.
A massive improvement over last year! Great authors and huge crowds. There was so much to see and hear, spent the entire day at the Festival. Kudos to all!
I attended many of the afternoon presentations in the Story District as a volunteer this year. I thought the presentations were wonderful. The authors replying with consideration to each child’s insightful question. Then there were the drawings on the easels by the illustrators who then gave them to the children. Also wonderful were the gift of a book to each child, a sure way to encourage reading.
I spread the word about the Story District after the festival to my friends to encourage them to take their children and grandchildren next year.
I missed the David Baldacci presentation and was volunteering during Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s presentation so I’m looking forward to seeing the recordings when they become available. My favorite genre is mysteries and thrillers so I’m hoping that many more great authors of that genre will be at the 2025 National Book Festival!
Thank you for yet another fantastic, well-organized, Festival! (I’ve been attending since 2001)
We really enjoyed some of the live stream author programs. They were very well-done. I’d love to see more of the Festival available through livestreaming.
The only reason I attended was to see James McBride on stage and to get my book signed. I went straight to the book signing hall after his stage interview and ended up on the SIXTH LINE. Smarter people bypassed the stage interview and got on line, beginning at 9:00 am. I waited at least an hour AND WAS TURNED AWAY. McBride couldn’t sign anymore books.
The amount of offerings and diversity of subjects was much improved. That being said our party had to leave because the layout and placement of events caused stifling and claustrophobic situations. We have attended numerous events at the DC Convention Center including AwesomeCon 2024 and so are aware that there are more ways to spread out. Having the children events and the scavenger hunt in the same location as the book sales and author signings was ridiculous. Having speakers with audiences in the walkways made listening to them impossible. We returned in order to listen to one more discussion and attend 2 book signings after 4pm. The book signings were closed hours before with no information given to the crowd. You must navigate the gauntlet of humanity to find out and then navigate it again to leave. I hope you spread out next year for peoples sanity.
It’s my second visit to the Festival and this time I brought a friend.
We enjoyed every minute of it. The variety of authors, genres and moderators was AWESOME!
Our only disappointment is the lines for the book signings but we understand and glad that it generates book sales.
We look forward to next year’s and it’s 25th anniversary. Thank you so much for putting on such a wonderful event for all book lovers.
I enjoyed it and I hope that it will there next year.
I would like to know how to get my book at the festival next year.
You need to control crowding – we shouldn’t be shut out of multiple sessions. Close off entry after 9:30 a.m. or do an online lottery to get into sessions, but please do something! It is exhausting standing in long lines only to be shut out of multiple sessions, including one’s second choices.
Hello,
WOW; another triumph! It was such a pleasure to meet and work with the Volunteer Management Team. (Shout out to Julia: wonderful to assist you checking in volunteers, and as a people counter.)
Below are my thoughts “from the trenches”.
Observations/Suggestions:
General:
– Strongly encourage volunteers to bring a printed copy of the map and schedule. Maybe have a few available? The schedule has the QR code; any volunteer who is questioned for directions, etc., could suggest attendees scan it to access Festival information. This may make folks less upset once hard copy programs are gone. Was showing the QR code mentioned during training? Apologies if that’s the case. 🙄
– On the map and in training: ID the Middle Building. SO much confusion! North and South might be helpful, too.
– As in previous years, providing some sort of tool to open boxes at the Information Booths would be great. A couple plastic knives would do the trick.
Volunteer Check In/Lunch:
– You know this, and do what you can to make it happen: Have computers set up the previous evening, or early on Sat. so volunteers can be checked in at 7am.
– During lunch: Signs announcing that a vegan option is available, and where to drop off items to be used later (cookies, fruit, chips) would hopefully be noticed by more volunteers rather than having the Lunch Monitor keep repeating the info. Vegan option was much appreciated by those who wanted it, so making it known would be helpful to them. Would it be possible to set up the “recycle” bowls by the lunch box tables?
THANK YOU for all your hard work keeping us informed, trained, and managed! Know that you are all much appreciated. See you next year!
Mel Cooper
It was such great being there. Crowds were overwhelming. Staying in West Salon for three terrific panels. The podium blocked th view of the speakers in high was unfortunate. Maybe it could be moved? Glad everything is recorded.
I love attending the book festival each year! However, I felt that I missed a lot this year. I couldn’t attend an author’s lecture/talk and make it in time for the book signing. The book signing lines were ridiculously long, such as Rebecca Yarros and Abby Jimenez (I waited over 3 hours by the time she signed my book). I loved the selection of authors this year— a lot of diversity. A few suggestions: (1) go back to the 2-day event festival from years ago, it would be less rushed and wouldn’t feel as if it was being crammed in one day; (2) don’t start the book signing line until after the authors talk is over. Or, if they are scheduled for a 10am talk the book signing should be hours later especially if it’s a popular author— the problem is that there is no way to attend and enjoy the authors talk without having to rush to the book signing line. (3) have signed copies of books available for purchase — when the lines are too long it ends up that the author is not going to personalize it and then what was the point of waiting in line. This way, people can purchase the signed books if they don’t care about having it personalized, and it will reduce the waiting time/ lines. (4) try not to have authors book signing event timeframe close to another. If you got a book signed by Rebecca Yarros chances were that you didn’t make it to the Abby Jimenez line…I saw and heard a lot of disappointed young ladies… unless you had a friend holding a spot for you in another line. Hope you will consider some of these suggestions. Overall, I love attending the book festival it was just too overwhelming this year. And for next year, I may have to bring more than 1 friend for the purpose of just holding a spot in the book signing line!
Please clear ballrooms after each event. Many folks were saving their seats for the next or the next after that speaker. Could not enter two scheduled events due to this fact. Maybe use larger rooms or clear the room.
Very frustrating.
Needs more signage, several escalators were working but unavailable. Had to use a volunteer to let folks know this fact.
Please clear out each ballroom after each event to allow those waiting in line to be able to get a seat. Missed out on two speakers due to this not being done.
I really enjoyed the authors I was able to hear, all in the morning.
Observations/ suggestions:
I don’t ever remember seeing so many people at this festival in the past. I arrived at 8:45 am and stood inline for 45 minutes to get in. My friend took the yellow line to the center and walked right in. Considering there were two extremely long lines in the front, some people should have been directed to the backside. I was surprised that the three people in line behind me were from Charlotte NC and New Jersey. They come every year.
Many authors overlapped. The hardest decision I had to make was to leave Doris Kearns Goodwin’s session halfway to get to the start of another author. It would be nice if there was a time template that prevents overlap. Even when there wasn’t any overlap the lines to get in to see the “next” author were so long that you needed to leave the session you were in early to have a chance at getting in the next one. I didn’t do this; so when I tried to go to the Eric Larsen session the line was so long I could tell I would never get in. Consider spreading the festival over two days. It would also eliminate the day ending so late. I skipped the James Baldwin program because it was so late.
Finally, there must be a reason why the festival was extremely popular this year. It’s worth trying to figure that out in order to develop a more efficient program.
Despite all of my comments I still plan to be there next year. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
I would have loved to attend but due to your not having any mitigations against airborne viruses (indoors with no masks?) I and other immunocompromised booklovers miss out on seeing some of our favorite authors and discovering new ones.
Thank you for an incredible event every year. This was my 16th year coming to the Festival. It was wonderful, as usual. My book club friends and I travel from Charlotte, NC, to attend. I have never seen such a crowd as there was this year! The volunteers were so helpful and friendly.
I do have some suggestions. Please put the Book Sales back downstairs. There was no room to maneuver, so I wasn’t able to make a purchase. Also, the T-shirts ran out by 10:00! I was so disappointed. It would be wonderful if they would be available on the website. I would also love to purchase shirts from previous years, as mine have worn out! One last thing is please have more food vendors, especially grab and go types of things. The lines were crazy, so I ended up skipping it all together. Put them back downstairs as well!
All in all, a great time. It’s so good to be among fellow book lovers!
What are the dates for the 2025 National Book Festival?
Hello, Robin – we will announce the 2025 date on December 4th. Stay tuned!