Accessibility
We want the festival to be fun for everyone! If you need assistance, there will be an Accessibility & Information Booth located in the Grand Lobby of the South Building on the Street Level. At the Accessibility & Information station, you can find access to ASL interpreters, information about assistive listening devices (ALDs), braille programs, tactile maps, and other accessibility services. Please email ADA@loc.gov with any accessibility questions or requests for accommodations.
- Download the contracted braille file of the 2025 National Book Festival program
- Download the contracted braille file of the 2025 National Book Festival map
- Download the contracted braille file of the 2025 National Book Festival Roadmap to Reading brochure
Available Services
- ASL interpreting services will be provided in all author stages during scheduled events and interpreters will also be available at the Accessibility & Information Booth.
- Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) will be available for pick up at tables near the entrance to each stage.
- Information on architectural accessibility for the Convention Center, including the location of curb cut-outs, ramps, elevators and restrooms can be found at https://www.eventsdc.com/venue/walter-e-washington-convention-center/accessibility.
- 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 Allen Y. Lew Place Information Desk in the Grand Lobby, Street Level. A photo ID will be required to obtain a wheelchair.
- Line queuing with seating will be available for guests whose disability prevents them from waiting for extended periods in a conventional queue. Additional information available at the Accessibility & Information Booth.
- A sensory-friendly Quiet Room is available for anyone with sensory sensitivities or other disabilities in need of a space away from the noise and stimulation of the Festival as an accommodation. The Quiet Room is located in Room 304, and has noise canceling headphones, fidget devices and other sensory-friendly resources available.
- Captioning will be provided through CART on all stages and will be accessible on your personal device, such as a smartphone. 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 | https://das.1capapp.com/event/MAINSTAGE |
| Ballroom A | https://das.1capapp.com/event/BallroomA |
| Room 202 | https://das.1capapp.com/event/Room202 |
| Room 145 | https://das.1capapp.com/event/Room145 |
| Room 146 | https://das.1capapp.com/event/Room146 |
| East Salon ABC | https://das.1capapp.com/event/EastSalonABC |
| West Salon GHI | https://das.1capapp.com/event/WestSalonGHI |
| Library of Congress Pavilion | https://das.1capapp.com/event/LibraryOfCongress |
- The Main Stage will also be livestreamed via the Library of Congress YouTube page with open captioning for viewing on your personal device.