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Program National Book Festival

History

The Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors, poets and illustrators with thousands of readers for book talks, panel discussions, book signings and other engaging activities. Over the course of its 24-year history, the festival has become one of the most prominent literary events in the nation.

The National Book Festival was founded in 2001 by then-First Lady Laura Bush and the 13th Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. As a former educator and librarian, Mrs. Bush and Dr. Billington wanted the festival to celebrate America’s creative spirit, love for reading and commitment to lifetime learning. The first festival was held Sept. 8, 2001, with Mrs. Bush serving as its honorary chair, a position she held through 2008.

Over the years, the festival has evolved immensely, becoming the nation’s premier literary event. It began on the Library of Congress grounds and in its buildings on Capitol Hill, soon expanding to the Capitol lawn and then to the National Mall. The Washington Convention Center began hosting the event from 2014 onward. In 2020 and 2021, the festival went virtual. In 2022, it returned to the Washington Convention Center in person, with virtual attendance available for readers at home. Attendance increased from 25,000 in 2001 to more than 200,000 in 2019. Author involvement in the festival has also increased dramatically. While roughly 60 authors participated in the first festival, the 2025 National Book Festival will feature more than 90 authors. The festival’s activities have also expanded to include more dynamic and engaging events for attendees of all ages and interests. The 2023 festival introduced the Story District, a stage celebrating DC-area literacy nonprofits, authors, illustrators and stories. In 2024, the Story District was joined by the STEM district, a stage dedicated to uplifting STEM in literature and storytelling. It features several interactive events with STEM organizations, experts and authors. Another recent addition, the Workshop Space, holds interactive events for attendees of all ages.

The festival is funded by private donors and corporate sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy. Since 2010, National Book Festival Co-Chair David M. Rubenstein has been the festival’s lead benefactor.

Authors Louis Bayard, Maureen Corrigan and David Ignatius join Library staff and volunteers to tell the story of the festival, its origins and how it has grown and changed throughout the years. This video was produced as a special project by Daniel Baxter and Kellie Shanaghan, two students who participated in the Library of Congress Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program in 2018, the 18th year of the National Book Festival.

More about the Festival