August 24th – it happened. National Book Festival. Of course many think is an event for bibliophiles only. True to a point but, realizations set in as I looked around at the over 2000 people, (really it had to be like 5000 or more) at the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival – I realized how many people have a vested interest in literacy in many different formats, books as a chief one but in many other ways.

It has become an adventure that picks up more people along the way, and this year it was awesome as usually (it is never not awesome!) – and Woodbridge icons Michelle Brown, James Weiler, and Sophia Emery took on the day.

Exciting- when there we ran into DASL Treasurer and Smyrna librarian Jennifer MacDonald, as well as Heather Jones, and we found each other in opposite autograph lines. It was exciting to have solidarity in our own states!

It still amazes me how there has become a push against books or various genres / themes of books, without realizing with certified librarians, there is an automatic, appropriate check in place for ages that are appropriate for audiences. Without knowledgable librarians, things break down. I still wonder how many realize this – but that is another blog topic.

In knowing James Patterson was in attendance, my first identifying point for Mr. Patterson has always been his ability and energy to find ways to draw people to reading, of all ages. From silly, to creative, his main objective has been bring anyone to pages to get them into the literacy world and enjoy it – which carries more weight with me than I could imagine. I love that is a legacy he has created, as well as having sold over 700 million books, one of THE most read author around.

Legendary.

In hearing he had a new book out, about libraries and librarians, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians – (check out page 29 Browseabout Books!) –

and I was hooked again. Worth standing in line for 45 minutes, absolutely. There were so many people in line that we were asked to have the page open already, and then conversation would not be possible to let everyone have their book signed. I thanked James Patterson for being there and what he does, and told him I was a librarian, he asked where, I said Delaware, and I moved on. (Little did I know when I turned to page 29 Bethany Beach Bookstore was staring back at me!).

Having written with Dolly Parton who visited Delaware as well as Bill Clinton and Michael Crichton, the depth and breadth of James Patterson is a small percentage of who he is. His note that it is VITAL that teachers and librarians are supported to give youth books that will turn them on early, and not turn them off early on – how true! Sometimes that is not what parents are interested in, but there is a difference between appropriate and motivating.

Also, it was awesome and ironic to hear thanks to the University of Florida, which seems to have the “vaccine” for literacy, that Florida is Number 3 in the U.S. for youth reading at grade level, and #1 for Latino and Black readers reading on grade level. With so many negative connotations applied to Florida, the successes need to ring louder than the negative that tries to push its way in. How refreshing to see authors like James Patterson moving that spotlight to the forefront.

Patterson remarked how people are not understanding how hard that job is (teaching) – and all I can say is AMEN!

When librarians and authors work together- it is nice to see the school community getting used to opportunities and success happening as a result. That should be the norm in education.

Please read to the left side, especially “Day after Day…” this is often not known from the outside and helps connect us all together during the course of the day.

As a member of the Delaware Humanities, I love that Patterson won the National Humanities Award in 2019 but it also is VERY important to know – the Humanities are not just arts, they are helping to keep the pulse of our history, legacies, and where we move forward from those two elements. There is so much more to say about this event, but I encourage you to explore the National Book Festival schedule, and cross reference to videos available from these sessions. Yes there is much more to say about what else happened here, so that post is coming soon. Check out the highlights from the 2024 National Book Festival here!