The Library of Congress held its National Book Festival at Washington's Walter E. Washington Convention Center on August 22. The official program offered author talks alongside workshops, family activities, and a Library Lounge for reading and quieter self-guided activities.
The festival's America 250 theme widened the program beyond a line of people waiting for signed books. Visitors could move between literature, history, science, and collections held by the Library.
A few routes through the day
| Program | What it offered |
|---|---|
| Family Day fashion activities | Making a bracelet and exploring collection images |
| Artemis II conversation | Commander Reid Wiseman discussing the mission |
| Roadmap to Reading | Literary material from around the country |
| Library Lounge | Space to rest, read, and use self-guided activities |
The Library's advance announcement also explained a change in entry: the festival remained free, but free tickets were required for the first time. Individual programs did not require their own tickets under that announcement.
For readers following remotely, the Library said Main Stage programs would be livestreamed and recordings would follow. Its September video update confirms that recordings were made available afterward.
The photograph accompanying that update shows Kate McKinnon speaking with Amna Nawaz on August 22. The recording makes that conversation available to viewers who missed the event.
