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Festival Partners & Family Friendly Activities Are Back!

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The following is a guest post by Sara Karrer, a senior development officer in the Library’s Development Office.

Are you wondering what to do in between enjoying author talks and visiting the festival bookstore? Our partners have transformed their traditional booths and are bringing you read-alongs, fun videos, author features, activities to download and giveaways — all online. Virtual doors open at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 25 on the Virtual Festival Platform.

  • You can visit Discover State Reads to find the perennial Roadmap to Reading and challenge yourself to visit all of the states and territories to receive a special badge and learn about how the Institute for Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities serve communities across the country.
  • The National Endowment for the Arts will share information on programs that give Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations and develop their creative capacities.
  • Join Wells Fargo and festival author Veronica Chambers in celebrating reading, education and the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in America. Get an inside look at “Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote.”
  • Follow that thread to the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, which will shine a light on the untold stories of women’s decades-long battle for the ballot and invite you to discover the stories of the fearless women in American history.
  • The Washington Post will celebrate literature with an exciting series of children’s story times and compelling author discussions on the books shaping our world today.
  • Celebrate Scholastic’s 100th anniversary by connecting with their authors and exploring the power of story with diverse books for all readers.
  • The Library of Congress Federal Credit Union celebrates the library community and the festival with book giveaways and will hand out information to advance your financial life story.
  • Sign up for free newsletters from the American Psychological Association and join Tania Israel as she discusses her APA LifeTools book, “Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work,” Friday from 1:30 to  p.m. ET. Following that, author and illustrator Jennifer Zivoin, will discuss her debut picture book, “Pooka & Bunni,” Friday from 2:30 to 3 p.m. ET.
  • Learn about the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, administered by the University of Alabama School of Law, as it celebrates a decade of commemorating the 50th anniversary of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and honors its former student and author Harper Lee.
  • Friday at noon ET George Washington’s Mount Vernon will announce the 2020 George Washington Prize recognizing the past year’s best works on the nation’s founding era. Visit them to meet the 2020 prize winner and all of the prominent historians who are finalists.
  • You can also stop by our Media Partners The New Republic, a newcomer, and C-SPAN2’s BOOK TV, a long-timer — with the festival from the beginning.
  • Visit our Partner Activities and Discover State Reads starting Friday at 9 a.m. ET when we open our virtual doors.   Visit the Virtual Festival Platform now to register.

The 2020 Library of Congress National Book Festival will celebrate its 20th birthday this year. You can get up-to-the-minute news, schedule updates and other important festival information by subscribing to this blog. The festival is made possible by the generosity of sponsors. You can support the festival, too, by making a gift now.

Comments (6)

  1. It would be a great privilege for me.I sincerely appreciate your efforts

  2. is it taking place live or virtual?

    C Casey

    • The 2020 National Book Festival is entirely virtual this year. The festival will take place over three days and feature 100+ authors and special activities, all accessible through our website at https://www.loc.gov/bookfest/.

  3. My book written in 1987 named “You Became Second When IGNORANCE Became My SWEETEST VICTORY ” has never been published, marketed or promoted.
    It is.a.meta-physical journey of I the Author in the transitional period of my journey..In it I’ve described the understanding of dark matter 17 yrs.before the leading astrologers and scientists and have a clear definition of God, Life and Death. Book is in its sacred form and remainsread by very few … my only other claim to its
    Unusual delivery, is I wrote this book before I had ever read a book ,
    Mysticos

  4. Will the Discover State Reads activity be available after/during the Friday 4 p.m. program?. Can’t find the tab to access. Thanks.

    • Hello! Once you’re registered, you should be able to access the Roadmap to Reading from the “Discover State Reads” tab at the top of the Virtual Festival Platform. It will be open throughout the Festival, 9am-5pm Sept. 25-27.

Comments are closed.