Obamas to Continue National Book Festival Started by Laura Bush

Posted on May 27, 2009

USA Today reports that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will preside over the ninth National Book Festival. The event celebrating ready will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, on the National Mall.

"The National Book Festival has become a true American institution," said James Billington, the librarian of Congress. "It is a joyous and very popular celebration of books and reading in the Washington, D.C., area."
The Library of Congress organizes and sponsors the event, which is free and open to the public.
An estimated 120,000 people have attended each of the past two festivals, a library spokeswoman said.

Former First Lady Laura Bush started the book festival in 2001. USA Today says 70 award-winning authors, poets and illustrators in various genres will be featured at the event. The National Book Festival website can be found at loc.gov/bookfest/.