Literature Lovers Unite: Announcing the National Book Festival Presents Series for Winter and Spring

Good news: After a brief holiday hiatus, our National Book Festival Presents series is back and chock full of enticing literary events for winter and spring!

The series kicks off this Thursday, February 6, with “Fearless: A Tribute to Irish American Women,” featuring a conversation between award-winning novelist Alice McDermott, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and CBS anchor Margaret Brennan, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland.

Make sure to register for your free tickets via Eventbrite. Signed copies of McDermott’s latest novel, “The Ninth Hour,” are available for pre-purchase with ticket registration, and ticketholders are also invited to view a display of items from the Library’s extensive collections, including pieces directly referenced in this event.

On Thursday, February 13, join us to celebrate African American History Month with “Rosa Parks: The History and the Heart,” a panel conversation featuring Parks biographers Douglas Brinkley (“Rosa Parks: A Life”) and Jeanne Theoharis (“The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks”), moderated by NPR host Michel Martin.

Tickets are required via Eventbrite, and signed copies of both authors’ books are available for pre-purchase with ticket registration. Ticketholders will also have exclusive, after-hours access to the Library’s exhibit “Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words,” and are invited to transcribe Parks’ writings as part of a new By the People crowdsourcing campaign to make Parks’ digital collection searchable and accessible to all.

All National Book Festival Presents events are free and open to the public, but most require tickets. Read our recent press release for the full winter and spring National Book Festival Presents event calendar. You can also subscribe here for email updates on ticketing and book sales, and learn more about the series on the National Book Festival Presents website.