State Library of Kansas Newsletter

Kansas Represented at National Book Festival

by Roy Bird

The fifth annual National Book Festival on September 24 on the National Mall in Washington, DC, was a huge success with a crowd estimated at 90,000-100,000. The Pavilion of the States, in which the Kansas Center for the Book, a project of the Kansas State Library, manned a table, was once again a big hit. The day included reading-related events organized by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.

This year’s festival featured seven themed pavilions under tents. Over 75 authors, illustrators and poets read from, discussed, and signed copies of their works. “The National Book Festival celebrates the joy of America’s literary culture,” said Laura Bush at a gala the evening before the Saturday event. Mary Chute of the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), which hosted the Pavilion of the States, said “The Pavilion of the States has grown to be one of the most popular venues at the National Book Festival. The throngs of children, teens, and adults who line-up at their home state’s tables each year is a vibrant testament that America is truly a nation of lifelong learners.”

l.to r., Jeanne Mithen, Roy Bird, Paul Bird

While the event was scheduled from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., Kansas representatives arrived at their table at 7:45 a.m. to find visitors already waiting for the table to be filled. Surrounded by tables of 49 other states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories. Along with Kansas Center for the Book director Roy Bird was his high school sophomore son, Paul; Jeanne Mithen of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, author of young adult novel The Brute; Mike Klaassen and his wife from Valley Center; and two native Kansans who are now members of the Washington Junior League. Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses, by Kansas State University librarian Mike Haddock and published by the University Press of Kansas, was the featured book at the Kansas table. A special t-shirt was designed for the event and volunteers wore these or received them as promotion. The Kansas table was constantly filled with information, fliers, and order forms about Kansas authors and books, bookmarks and fliers about Kansas libraries and booksellers who are Affiliates of the Kansas Center for the Book. Most of the authors, libraries and booksellers were Affiliates or Fellows of the Kansas Center for the Book. A total of 15 boxes were shipped to Washington prior to the festival, and only one came back to Kansas.

The Kansas Center for the Book promotes Kansas authors, books about Kansas, libraries, booksellers and publishers. These were well represented and well received at the 2005 National Book Festival. To read more about the festival visit the IMLS website http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/092805.htm. To see webcasts of the author performances go to the Library of Congress website www.loc.gov. The November issue of the Library of Congress Information Bulletin will also include coverage of the festival.

For more information about the Kansas Center for the Book or to become an Affiliate (library) or Fellow (individual) contact its director, Roy Bird, at royb@kslib.info.

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