National Book Festival 2002

The 2002 National Book Festival was held on Saturday, October 12, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall. Although America was changed forever after the first National Book Festival on September 8, 2001, our love of reading and the importance of sharing this love with our children and grandchildren did not change. The 2002 Festival was an opportunity not only to reaffirm America's love of reading and learning, but also to share that passion with the next generation.

Building on the success of the 2001 inaugural Festival at the Library of Congress, the 2002 Festival featured more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers from across the country and hosted more than 45,000 visitors. Book lovers of all ages were treated to a wide range of events including author readings and book signings, appearances by children's storybook characters, and musical performances.

The Let's Read America Pavilion housed nearly 60 national reading and educational organizations who distributed free information about their projects and programs. The information highlighted nationwide reading and literacy promotion projects for readers and potential readers of all ages and from all walks of life.

The Pavilion of the States, a new addition to the 2002 National Book Festival, allowed attendees to learn about regional books and reading cultures. The states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories were each represented by delegates who showcased the efforts of their state to strengthen libraries and literacy projects.

Recognizing the key role that reading and libraries play in the lives of both young people and adults, Mrs. Bush and the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, know that the National Book Festival will continue to encourage Americans to take advantage of the remarkable resources for lifetime learning available in our nation's libraries.