National Book Festival

This is the first year that it was neither raining nor hot as heck to walk to the Mall and stroll the Book Festival. This year it was located closer to the Washington Monument. There was no one in particular that we wanted to see or hear, so we just walked around and hoped for the best. I had heard that Julianne Moore had written a children's book... if my husband didn't tell me to take the picture, I would not have noticed her. I was actually looking at the person next to her, didn't recognize her, and didn't see the point of taking it. And every year we always see the Librarian - my boss. I also occasionally see him at work moving about. I got a good picture of Hoda Kotb's driver. It was very crowded this year- probably because it was very pleasant outside, and also because it is a free event. They ran out of the turquoise book bags by the time we got there. On the way home, we ran into our neighbor, who had just been to the festival too. It's like a small town within a big city- the best of both worlds.

Julianne Moore

National Book Festival

The posters have been circulating around the Library over the last several months, and the marketing campaign has been in full swing over the last 10 years. The National Book Festival started with Laura Bush, and has continued every year since. The Building Services group and a host of other folks are setting up all the equipment and tents today, as the event starts tomorrow on the National Mall. We have attended regularly since we moved here. I got some autographs from a few authors- I always liked David McCullough. Now I have even more interest in books, particularly children's books, and digital books at that. I got some good news today that something is about to happen (stay tuned!) The weather has never cooperated for the event, which is now a 2 day affair. It is either really, really hot or raining cats and dogs. As a Library employee, we have an opportunity to volunteer. And many of us take advantage of that. Tonight there is a big celebration dinner in the Jefferson Building for the authors and the sponsors, along with a lot of notable characters. Obviously that affair is by invitation only, so we never get to go. But every once in awhile we run into some of the folks wandering in the hallways, and that's what makes living here an interesting event just about every day.

A whimsical poster on display every year

Just to name a few- something for everyone

Literary Hill BookFest

As advertised in the Hill Rag, the Literary Hill BookFest was scheduled at Eastern Market from 11AM-3PM. We walked over to it, made our way past all the vendors that inhabit Eastern Market on the weekend, and strolled along the tables with the ~ 30 authors present. It was busy enough, and the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Library of Congress participated too. I'm hoping maybe next year to become a part of the Capitol Hill author circuit. Time will tell. Never had much interest in these types of events up north, but then I never had a personal interest until this year...but my interest is in digital applications rather than hard copy... something about those gadgets.

As advertised in the Hill Rag

It was reasonably busy

Maybe next year?