FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2009
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
Institute of Museum
and Library Services Sponsors the
Pavilion of the States at the 9th Annual National Book
Festival
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2009 National
Book Festival Poster. Click image to access a larger
version. |
Washington, DC—Despite
afternoon rains, more than 130,000 book lovers flocked
to the ninth annual National Book Festival held September
26 on the National Mall. President Obama and First Lady
Michelle Obama acted as honorary chairs of the free festival,
which was sponsored by the Library of Congress. For many
families, the most popular tent was the Pavilion of the
States, supported for the eighth year by the Institute
of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
The Pavilion of the States promotes reading
and literacy projects as well as the literary traditions
of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.
territories. Representatives from state libraries and
Centers for the Book provided information and answered
questions about their state’s authors, libraries,
book festivals, book awards, and reading-promotion activities.
In the pavilion, thousands of children raced to each state
table getting state stamps on their maps of America. IMLS
awarded a prize to each person who successfully filled
the entire map.
“We were pleased to be part of this
fun and interactive event that spotlights reading and
literacy. It is always a pleasure to visit with state
librarians and other state representatives at the Pavilion
of the States. We especially love seeing the children
and their families excited about reading,” said
Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of IMLS.
Hundreds of visitors stopped by the IMLS
table to nominate their favorite library or museum for
the National Medal for Museum and Library Services, the
nation’s highest honor for those institutions that
provide exceptional community service. To learn more about
the National Medal, visit www.imls.gov/medals.
For those who were unable to attend the
festival, authors’ presentations are available as
podcasts at www.loc.gov/podcasts.
Click
here to see photos taken at every state library table.
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