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Accessibility

We want the festival to be fun for everyone! If you need assistance, there will be two Accessibility Stations, located in the Grand Foyer of the South Building on the Street Level, and the other located on the street level in the Lobby of the North Building. At the Accessibility & Information stations, you can find access to ASL interpreters, assistive listening devices (ALDs), large-print programs, braille programs and other accessibility services. Please email bookfest@loc.gov with any accessibility questions or requests for accommodations.

Available Services

  • ASL interpreting services will be provided in all author stages during scheduled events and interpreters will also be available at the Accessibility Stations.
  • Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) will be available for use on all stages. On the Main Stage and the Expo Floor, the Assistive Listening Systems are FM Assistive Listening systems, while the other stages utilize the Convention Center's Infrared Assistive Listening System. There will be both over-ear headsets as well as neckloops compatible with t-coil hearing aids available for all stages. For the main stage, the ALDs should be picked up on the main stage and returned before leaving the main stage. For the expo floor stages, the ALDs can be picked up from the tech tables at the Green and Purple Stages. For all other stages, the ALDs are available to be checked out from the Accessibility Station in the Grand Foyer.
  • Information on architectural accessibility for the Convention Center, including the location of curb cut-outs, ramps, elevators and restrooms can be found at http://dcconvention.com/Venues/ConventionCenter/ADAAccessibility.aspx External.
  • Wheelchairs will be available on a first-come first-served basis for visitors to check out and use during the festival. They will be available directly from the Convention Center at the Mt. Vernon Place Information Desk in the Grand Lobby, Street Level. A photo ID will be required to obtain a wheelchair.
  • Captioning will be provided through CART on all stages and will be accessible both on screen as well as on your personal device, such as a smartphone, or iPads which can be checked out on a first-come first served basis from the Accessibility Station in the Grand Foyer. In order to access the captioning from your personal device, please utilize the links below for the stage you are attending:
Stage Captioning URL
Main Stage http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-MAIN External
History & Biography http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-H&B External
Understanding Our World http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-WORLD External
Fiction http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-FIC External
Genre Fiction http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-GENFIC External
Poetry & Prose http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-PROSE External
International http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-INT External
Science http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-SCI External
Teens/Poetry Slam http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-TEENPOETRY External
Children's Green http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-CG External
Children's Purple http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-CP External
Library of Congress Pavilion http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-PAV External
Parade of the States Stage http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOC-PARADE External
Library of Congress Stage http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DAS-LOCROOM External
  • Wells Fargo will provide ASL interpretation all day for their family-friendly activities (Hall B, Lower Level).
  • The main stage will also be livestreamed via the Library of Congress YouTube page with open captioning for viewing on your personal device.