Literature Lives at the National Book Festival
Julia Maddera
Issue date: 9/30/09 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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On Saturday, September 26th, despite the congested, dusty walkways and the gloomy weather, thousands resoundingly responded, "No" by attending the free National Book Festival, located on the National Mall between 7th and 14th streets. Sponsored by the Library of Congress, Honorary Chairs President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and a number commercial sponsors, the annual festival has been running for nine years and draws a larger crowd each year-this year's attendance jumped to 130,000 from 120,00 in 2008. Clutching ragged, dog-eared copies of old favorites as well as new purchases from the Borders Bookstore tent, the festival goers listened to over 70 authors and poets give readings. They took pictures with Clifford the Big Red Dog and stood in line for hours, eagerly awaiting the signatures of best-selling authors. The very presence of these festival goers affirmed the cultural importance that books still hold.
From 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., readers, young and old from all over the country, huddled inside packed white tents housing numerous literary genres including fiction, fantasy, mysteries and thrillers, poetry and prose, history, biography, children's and teens' in hopes of hearing their favorite author speak. While personal interaction with the literary giants was limited, names like Jodi Picoult, John Grisham, Lois Lowry, Judy Blume, Paula Deen, Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson drew crowds of hopeful fans. Indeed, during the opening ceremony, when Dr. Billington, the Librarian of Congress presented John Grisham with the first ever National Book Festival Creative Achievement Award, the Fiction & Fantasy Pavilion was overflowing with fans.
The Library of Congress is largely responsible for the festival's success. According to Luis Clavell, a staff member at the Library of Congress, planning for the National Book Festival starts a year in advance. They not only select and book authors and acquire sponsors, but also obtain permits in light of potential national security issues. Moreover, Clavell notes that the event would be impossible without the help of volunteers, whose enthusiasm for literature and literacy is demonstrated by their sheer numbers. This year's turnout included over 900 purple-clad volunteers-361 Library of Congress and non-Library of Congress volunteers, 78 author escorts and more than 400 volunteers from the Junior League of Washington.
Why does the Library of Congress devote such an effort to a day-long festival?
According to Clavell, "The Library of Congress is the single most important center of the American collections of reading- newspapers, movies, magazines, audio music and making those collections accessible to Congress and the American people is our true mission."
But for the Library of Congress, Clavell adds, the purpose of the festival goes beyond a love of books. "Even though print media may be on the decline, literacy is on the incline. We still need to increase literacy in this country, for young people and life-long learners. Literacy is the key to democracy, and modern democracies have to be based on an informed public. If we have a literate reading public, then they can follow issues, develop opinions about issues and develop our democracy even further."
Invited authors love the National Book Festival just as much as their readers. Best-selling children and teens' author, Judy Blume, who has attended several times said, "The National Book Festival is a wonderful way to celebrate books, writers, readers. I'm fascinated by it. I can't believe what a turnout there is here. It's an amazing event. We celebrate everything in this country, but how often do we celebrate books? And that's great."
Julia Maddera is a College freshman.
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