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Schedule

The 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, August 24, 2024. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival.

Explore a wide array of fun and exciting activities and programs for Festival attendees of all ages in Hall DE (Level 2, North Building) of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Library of Congress Pavilion & Activities, Hall DE

Library of Congress Pavilion

Visit the Library of Congress Pavilion to hear from Library experts about the fascinating inner workings, collections and innovative programs of the Library. Our experts will share insights from recent research and archival discoveries that showcase our nation’s rich musical and artistic heritage, shed light on major legal decisions like Brown v. Board of Education and explore our extensive cookbook collections. Additional talks will guide you on accessing the Library’s vast resources, from historic newspapers to the world’s largest map collection, and provide tips on genealogical research. You’ll also discover how to volunteer to help transcribe Library collections for greater public access. Two special programs will feature an interview with Laci Jordan, the 2024 National Book Festival poster artist, and a behind-the-scenes look at the brand-new Treasures Gallery exhibition.

See the full Library of Congress Pavilion schedule

Make, Learn and Create with the Library

Library of Congress specialists will offer visitors a wide range of interactive, kid and family-friendly activities that emphasize building skills and showcase the Library’s rich resources. Here’s what you can look forward to:

  • Unleash your creativity by creating your own zine or comic book.
  • Design your own family trees and crests while learning about genealogical research.
  • Create art while learning about Braille with our coloring activity.
  • Learn how to analyze and interpret primary sources.
  • Discover how we preserve valuable items for future generations.
  • Enjoy trivia, matching games and other activities that teach about history and books.
  • Try your hand at transcribing historical documents from the Library’s collections.
  • Experience the challenge of curating your own collection of books and materials.
  • Get a close-up look at facsimiles from our extensive collections.
  • Explore historical children’s literature.
  • See if you can decipher historical handwriting.
  • Learn about internship and fellowship opportunities at the Library.

Roadmap to Reading, Hall DE

Follow the Roadmap to Reading

Take a literary trip around the country by visiting the Roadmap to Reading, sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Roadmap to Reading will feature tables with representatives from 54 Centers for the Book: one for each state as well as tables for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Marianas. Every year, each Center for the Book selects a children’s book and one for a general adult audience, creating a list of books called Great Reads from Great Places. Pick up a Great Reads from Great Places brochure and visit each table in the Roadmap to Reading to explore each state’s great reads and receive a unique stamp; those who collect all of the stamps can receive a special giveaway at the IMLS booth!

Story District, Hall DE

The Story District, presented by CoStar Group

Storytelling comes alive at the Story District! Washington, D.C.-area literacy nonprofits join together to celebrate authors, illustrators and stories. This fun and dynamic area in Hall DE features various activities for kids and families, including story times by many authors featured at this year’s Festival.

See the full Story District schedule

Featured nonprofit organizations include:

  • First Book
  • An Open Book Foundation
  • Reading Partners
  • Virginia Children’s Book Festival
  • We Need Diverse Books

STEM District, Hall DE

The STEM District, presented by General Motors

Join us for the debut of the National Book Festival STEM District! Designed to spark a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this dynamic area blends STEM with literary activities and storytelling. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy talks by children’s and young adult authors, hands-on activities, experiments and engaging presentations.

The STEM District stage will feature a full day of programming, including exciting demonstrations by the U.S. National Science Foundation. See the full STEM District schedule

Throughout the day, attendees can also engage in interactive activities hosted by STEM experts and organizations. Learn about the role of pollinators and the impact of light pollution. Enhance your engineering and coding skills with hands-on challenges. Explore the tiny worlds of cells. Develop your abilities to become a creator and author. And much more!

Featured STEM District organizations: BabyScientist; Black Girls Code; Boolean Girl; Children’s Science Center Lab; DarkSky International NOVA and DarkSky Washington, D.C.; National Children’s Museum; STEM for Her; Sustainability Matters; University of Maryland Language Science Center; Youth Climate Institute.

Sponsors & Exhibitors, Hall DE

Ello

Stop by the Ello booth for a fun drawing challenge, free books and a chance to meet everyone's favorite reading buddy, Ello!

Highlights Magazine

Stop by the Highlights booth and play our Book Festival Scavenger Hunt! Pick up a game card, find all the objects, and return your card for a prize. Highlights will also give out free magazines and coloring sheet puzzles.

Mathnasium

Dive into a world of exciting games, engaging STEM activities, and awesome giveaways for both kids and teachers. And guess what? Ace, the Mathnasium mascot, can't wait to meet you! There will be a variety of activities including a craft-your-own paper airplane and test how far it can soar. Fun, friends, and fantastic prizes await. Don’t miss out!

National Center on Improving Literacy

Vocab Vault: Unlocking the Power of Words

Join us for a dynamic meet-up designed to elevate your vocabulary teaching strategies! In "Vocab Vault," we'll explore innovative and effective methods to enrich children’s word knowledge, ensuring they become confident and proficient communicators and readers. Discover engaging activities, practical tools, and collaborative techniques that can be seamlessly integrated into your classroom or at home. This meet-up will provide actionable tips to make vocabulary learning fun and impactful. Let's unlock the power of words together!

Scholastic

The Scholastic booth will have a fun family photo booth, giveaways, and visits from your favorite characters.

Other Sponsors & Exhibitors Include:

  • American Psychological Association
  • Folger Shakespeare Library
  • Planet Word
  • U.S. Capitol Historical Society
  • U.S. National Science Foundation