Past Library of Congress National Book Festivals
Related Resources at the Library
Author Pavilions
Over 70 American authors, illustrators and poets will be making presentations on the National Mall throughout the day in Children, Teens & Children, Fiction & Mystery, History & Biography, Home & Family, and Poetry pavilions. (Authors by Pavilion)
Library of Congress Pavilion
The Library of Congress collections are more accessible than ever. Enjoy them in new and dynamic ways through interactive technologies that are fun and educational at the myLOC.gov and Knowledge Quest stations. Be inventive and suggest a tag for one of the Library’s historical photos on Flickr. Learn about new initiatives and collaborations that bring multiformat and multilingual materials to your fingertips. Talk with Library experts about preserving your favorite books. Discover at the Library of Congress Pavilion why the Library has been called the “memory bank of mankind.”
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EXPERIENCE
Pause to catch a peek at the bonus feature from the movie “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Thomas Jefferson Building and visits with the Library’s experts. See the History Channel's video about the Library of Congress Experience launched in April. An array of interactive activities awaits you at myLOC.gov where you can explore rare and unique items from the Library’s collections. Register online so that you can bookmark areas of interest for access from your home computer. Be one of the first to test Knowledge Quest, an interactive game-based learning adventure that involves solving puzzles and riddles tied to items in the Library. Take time to learn some fun and surprising facts about the Library.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND FLICKR COLLABORATION
Travel back to the 1940s by helping to describe an intriguing color photo! The Library is offering historical images on the photo-sharing Web site Flickr, and you are invited to suggest new descriptions for them. Library staff will be present to talk about the photos, show the tags and comments already generated on Flickr, and add your descriptions.
PRESERVING YOUR HOME LIBRARY
Learn how to care for your treasured books. Experts will answer your questions and provide information about the conservation and preservation of books and paper. There will be displays of books featuring the most common problems caused by age and by handling along with solutions to those problems to help you to preserve your books well into the future.
WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY
Preview the World Digital Library, the Library’s ambitious new project which will make available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, important primary materials from cultures around the world. The prototype, available to the public for the first time at the Library of Congress Pavilion, features books, manuscripts, maps, films, prints and photographs, and sound recordings contributed by partnering institutions worldwide.
Pavilion of the States
Visit Your Home State
Come to the popular Pavilion of the States to learn about the reading and literacy promotion projects as well as the literary traditions of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. Representatives from throughout the nation will provide information and answer questions about their state’s writers, libraries, book festivals, book awards and reading promotion activities. In addition, several festival authors and illustrators will make scheduled visits to their state’s table to greet fans and sign autographs.
Collect State Stickers and Stamps
A popular pavilion feature, especially among young readers and their families, is “Discover Great Places Through Reading” -- a free map of the United States that can be presented at each table for an appropriate state sticker or stamp. On the back, the map includes “52 Great Reads About Great Places,” a reading list of books for young people compiled with a recommendation from each state.
The Congressional Club Cookbook
The Congressional Club was founded by an act of Congress in 1908 for spouses of members of Congress, the Cabinet and the Supreme Court. The 14th edition of The Congressional Club Cookbook will be available for sale at the Pavilion of the States for $48. The cookbook offers recipes from around the world and includes inaugural ball portraits of presidents and first ladies from Coolidge to Bush, as well as photos of historic sites around Washington. Revenue generated from cookbook sales helps support contributions made by the Congressional Club to a variety of local charities.
The Pavilion of the States is organized by the Library's Center for the Book, which will be distributing brochures and information about its reading promotion activities. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the major pavilion sponsor, with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Book Sales Pavilion
There will be a book sales pavilion on the festival's grounds with selected books by 2008 National Book Festival authors. Visit and browse before going to book signing areas to meet your favorite authors.
Let's Read America Pavilion
Target
Along with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Target sponsors the Letters About Literature program, which invites students in grades 4 through 12 to write a letter to an author, past or present, who has inspired them or altered their view of the world or themselves. Target awards six $10,000 reading promotion grants to school or community libraries in honor of the six national winners, along with a $500 Target GiftCard for each winner. In addition, 12, $1,000 reading promotion grants are awarded to school or community libraries in honor of the 12 honorable mention winners. Each of the honorable mention winners also receives a $100 Target GiftCard. State winners each receive a $50 GiftCard for their appreciation of reading. For details on Letters About Literature, visit Target in the Let’s Read America II pavilion.
At the pavilion, visitors also will enjoy photos taken with Bullseye, the Target dog, in the Big Read Chair. Measuring almost five-feet-wide, the Big Red Chair is a symbol of the company’s commitment to supporting early childhood reading.
Target recognizes the integral role reading plays in shaping a child’s education and future. Because reading is the foundation for lifelong learning, Target supports early childhood reading by putting books in the hands of parents through pediatrician visits, helping military families stay connected through United Through Reading’s read-aloud-by-DVD program, sponsoring a national writing contest in partnership with the Library of Congress and supporting book festivals across the country. For more information, visit Target.com/education.
Since opening its doors, Target has given five percent of its income to organizations that support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. Today that translates to $3 million every week.
Target is proud to be a Distinguished Benefactor of the 2008 National Book Festival.
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2007, AT&T contributed more than $164 million through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of
AT&T, combine more than $1.9 billion of historic charitable commitment to communities across the country.
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.
Kalima
Kalima means "word" in Arabic and is an ambitious, non-profit initiative from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which funds the translation, publication and distribution of classic and contemporary writing from other languages into Arabic.
Kalima invites you to visit us in the Let’s Read America I Pavilion to nominate US titles for translation. What novels best capture American dreams, opportunities and challenges? What great American classics should be translated? What books could help build understanding between the United States and the Arab World?
Throughout Europe’s “Dark Ages” and until the end of the first millennium, Arab cultures led the world in translating, producing and preserving knowledge. Since then, few foreign works have found their way into Arabic. Visit us at www.kalima.ae/eng.php to learn more about Kalima’s work to revive translation in the Arab World.
Library of Congress Federal Credit Union
The Library of Congress Federal Credit Union (LCFCU) invites you to join them with their favorite bunny friend “Sammy the Saver” Rabbit for lessons in family saving habits in the Let’s Read America I pavilion. Stop by the LCFCU fun center where author and lyricist Sam Renick will conduct readings and performances with Sammy, also known as the “Get in the Habit” Rabbit. Young visitors will learn about the importance of good habits for saving and reading. The LCFCU family exhibit will have giveaways in addition to performances and reading activities throughout the day.
LCFCU is a member-owned financial services cooperative that provides financial services and champions financial literacy for all age groups — from primary students through retirement. Membership is open to all residents, employees, students and worshippers in the District of Columbia, in addition to its original sponsor group families of employees and contractors at the Library of Congress.
Financial literacy support for all ages is available daily from LCFCU on the credit union Web site, www.lcfcu.org, through a partnership with BALANCE, a financial fitness program, and Googolplex, an online resource for student moneymakers, K-12. Online, members also find consumer finance news, from Home & Family Finance Resource Center in both English and Spanish; Anytime Adviser, money management tutorials in English and Spanish; Guides to Independence, online courses with course completion rewards for teens and young adults; MoneyMix, interactive assistance for the 25-30 set; and Plan It, for the pre-retiree age group of 40-60+.
LCFCU has provided volunteer support to the Library of Congress at previous National Book Festivals. This is their second year actively participating to champion financial literacy for families with an exhibit in the Let’s Read America I pavilion.
Reading Times with Sam and Sammy:
10:45 – 11:00
11:45 – 12:00
2:15 – 2:30
PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go!
Explore the world of learning with PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! in the Let’s Read America I pavilion. Be the first to see cast member performances from the all-new “The Electric Company;” join “Martha Speaks” author Susan Meddaugh for drawing and story time or take part in a sing-along with PBS KIDS’ Steve Songs.
Get a free picture with walk-around characters from new PBS KIDS shows, “Sid the Science Kid” and “Martha Speaks,” as well as such favorites as Clifford the Big Red Dog, WordGirl, Super Why, Curious George and Maya & Miguel. Plus free PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! painted character tattoos!
Kids can immerse themselves in skill-building activities from PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! shows, including “Super Why!,” “Word Girl,” and “Design Squad.” Educators will learn all about PBS Teachers (pbs.org/teachers) and PBS KIDS Raising Readers (pbskids.org/read), which provide top-quality resources for teachers, homeschoolers and caregivers.
It’s all happening in the Let’s Read America I pavilion and continues on pbs.org and your local PBS station!
PBS Performance Times:
10:30 – 10:45
Sing-along with SteveSongs
11:00 – 11:15
Drawing and storytelling with “Martha Speaks” author Susan Meddaugh
11:30 – 11:45
The Electric Company show –
rapping and singing
12:45 – 1:00
Sing-along with SteveSongs
1:15 – 1:30
Drawing and storytelling with “Martha Speaks” author Susan Meddaugh
1:45 – 2:00
The Electric Company show –
rapping and singing
3:00 – 3:15
Sing-along with SteveSongs
3:30 – 3:45
Drawing and storytelling with “Martha Speaks” author Susan Meddaugh
4:00 – 4:15
The Electric Company show –
rapping and singing
PENGUIN GROUP (USA)
Don't miss the Pearson area featuring Penguin Group (USA) and the Pearson Foundation, where kids can have their photo taken with the Penguin, as well as Corduroy The Bear! Throughout the day, children can experience story time and sit with the Penguin while enjoying some entertaining tales, including readings and activities from Jumpstart's Read for the Record and the 2008 campaign book, the Viking Classic, Corduroy by Don Freeman. Be sure to visit the activity tables where kids can create their own personalized bookmarks and participate in other fun crafts. There will also be group readings, free books, and other prizes given away all day long.
SCHOLASTIC INC.
Take a moment to celebrate the love of books, creativity and family togetherness with your child at the Scholastic Build-a-Book Corner in the Let’s Read America I pavilion. Using simple craft materials and a glue stick, you can help your child turn a blank book into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that you can keep forever. This is a great family activity that’s fun, easy and rewarding, and develops a love of reading that can last a lifetime!
US AIRWAYS
US Airways and its employees are committed to supporting community organizations and initiatives to enhance the quality of life in the airline’s hub markets and focus cities. US Airways believes by being a good corporate citizen it can contribute to the economic and social well being of its employees, shareholders and passengers. US Airways recognizes that true community stewardship must be reflected both internally through a supportive and dedicated employee base and externally with strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations that strive to meet critical needs. Its approach is hands on and collaborative and it seeks to form relationships that combine financial and in-kind resources with human resources in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture and education and environment.
In March of 2008, US Airways launched a new national nonprofit partnership --the first of its kind by an airline--with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the United States. Through this early childhood literacy campaign, US Airways placed 300,000 free children’s books in the seatback pocket on domestic flights, launched an online Read with Kids Challenge, and supported RIF programs through financial donations and employee volunteerism in the airline’s hub and focus cities. For more information on US Airways Community Relations, visit www.usairways.com/corporategiving.
OTHER FAMILY ACTIVITIES
FREE PBS KIDS AND PBS KIDS GO!
PAINTED CHARACTER TATTOOS AND PICTURES
Pose with your favorite PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! walk-around characters outside the Let’s Read America I pavilion and get a painted character tattoo!
Abby Cadabby from “Sesame Street”
Arthur
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Curious George
Martha from “Martha Speaks”
Maya & Miguel
Ord from “Dragon Tales”
Sid from “Sid the Science Kid”
Super Why and Princess Presto from
“Super Why!”
WordGirl
SCHOLASTIC INC.’s MAGIC SCHOOL BUS®
Come celebrate one of the most beloved and popular children’s book and TV series of all time. Join Ms. Frizzle, the best-known and most admired science teacher of several generations of students, and “The Dirtmeister”, geologist extraordinaire, as you come on board the real live Magic School Bus outside the Let’s Read America I pavilion. Like the animated TV show and the more than 130 titles in the Scholastic series, the traveling exhibit offers an exciting learning experience with wonderful characters, fascinating stories and simple explanations of scientific phenomena. The Magic School Bus has been enjoyed by tens of millions of kids in 60 countries for the past 20 years. You won’t want to miss your trip on The Magic School Bus and the opportunity to participate in fun experiments, enjoy read alouds and receive a free book.
Read Aloud/Experiment Times:
11:00 - 11:30
The Dirtmeister Experiments
12:00 – 12:30
Ms. Frizzle Read Aloud
12:30 – 1:00
The Dirtmeister Experiments
1:00 – 1:30
Ms. Frizzle Read Aloud
2:00 – 2:30
The Dirtmeister Experiments
4:00 – 4:30
Ms. Frizzle Read Aloud