The Library of Congress hosted the 16th annual National Book Festival last Saturday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. Thousands of book-lovers came to get books signed, check out exhibits, play with their kids and get close to some of the world’s most popular authors. This year was a year of several firsts. Not only did new Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden attend as her first official event, bestowing honors on authors Stephen King and Marilynne Robinson, among other activities, but this year’s festival marked the first time a presentation was staged in the convention center’s 2,500-seat auditorium, the biggest venue in event history. And, for the first time, a festival event was streamed live on Facebook, to some 200,000 viewers.
In the coming weeks, the Library will be posting videos from the festival presentations. In the meantime, here is a sampling of photos from the event to enjoy.
- Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden presents Stephen King with a citation honoring his work to promote literacy. Photo by Shawn Miller.
- A young poet competes in the third annual Poetry Slam. Photo by Shawn Miller.
- Festival Co-chairman David Rubenstein greets Shonda Rhimes on the main stage. Photo by Shawn Miller.
- “A Book That Shaped Me” grand-prize and Delaware state winner Rachel Smookler (left) speaks with Scholastic News Kids Press. Photo by Shawn Miller.
- Author Salman Rushdie closed out the main stage Saturday night. Photo by Shawn Miller.
- A family poses for a photo with comic-book costumes and props. Photo by David Rice.
- Gene Luen Yang helps children with a fun exercise in the Young Readers Center and Educational Outreach booth. Photo by David Rice.
- Marie Arana (right) interviews fiction prize recipient Marilynne Robinson. Photo by Shawn Miller.