Librarian of Congress James Billington joins first ladies Ludmila Putin and Laura Bush at an early morning White House ceremony that opened the National Book Festival. - Vivian Ronay
Building on the success of last year's inaugural National Book Festival, the Library organized and sponsored a second annual National Book Festival on Oct. 12 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall. Hosted once again by first lady Laura Bush, the event drew a crowd estimated between 40,000 and 45,000 people–an increase from last year's estimate of 30,000 visitors, despite the fear caused by sniper attacks occurring at the same time.
This year's event, which again was free and open to the public, featured more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers, from mystery writers such as Mary Higgins Clark and David Baldacci to storytellers Carmen Deedy and Waddie Mitchell, and poets Billy Collins and Luci Tapahonso. Historian and author David McCullough delivered the concluding address in the History and Biography Pavilion. In addition to author readings and book discussions, the festival offered presentations by storytellers; book sales and author signings; appearances by children's storybook characters; a conservation clinic with demonstrations and free advice on preserving books, family letters and personal photographs; and performances representing a wide range of America's musical traditions. Players from the National Basketball Association's and the Women's National Basketball Association's "Read to Achieve" program– Jerry Stackhouse, Stacey Dales-Schuman, Bob Lanier and Tamika Williams–also participated.
