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Program National Book Festival

2016

This was the first year with Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress, and her first official event.

The Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction was awarded to author Marilynne Robinson.

Horror master Stephen King was honored for his work promoting literacy and reading with the Library of Congress Literacy Champion Citation.

Other activities included face painting, panning for gold, book sales, Frisbee games, and a virtual-reality tour of the Jefferson Building.

Featured authors, illustrators, poets, and storytellers included:

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  • Shonda Rhimes
  • Ken Burns
  • Newt Gingrich
  • Rep. John Lewis returned again to discuss the latest volume of his graphic-novel series about civil rights.
  • Roberto Canessa

Firsts:

  • First year with Dr. Hayden as Librarian of Congress
  • Festival is live-streamed via Facebook.

View the 2016 Festival Program (PDF, 10.12MB)