Students not traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the football game this weekend can take a chance to explore Louisiana literature.
The 2007 Louisiana Book Festival will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge at the State Capitol and surrounding areas. The festival is open to the public and free of charge.
“It’s a day of celebration of what Louisiana has contributed to the field of authorship and how we’re out there as a presence in the United States and the world,” said Mitch Fontenot, LSU libraries outreach services librarian. “Reading a book in this day and age of all kinds of things electronic is still a very important thing.”
Fontenot said several University organizations – including LSU libraries, the College of Education, Department of English and University Press – will be present at the festival.
“I’m sure most students have heard the plea to put their talents to work for Louisiana,” said state librarian Rebecca Hamilton in an e-mail. “But it’s not often that students actually get to see such incredibly successful people who have done just that. The Louisiana Book Festival showcases the state’s talent and mystique, and ultimately it is Louisiana’s success story. And students can one day be a part of that.”
Hamilton said the festival will feature more than 100 celebrated poets and writers participating in book talks or panel discussions. She said other activities will include book appraisals, paper-making, bookbinding and cooking demonstrations. Hamilton said more than 100 book and reading-related organizations will have displays.
Hamilton said the festival attracted about 12,500 attendees last year. She said close to 15,000 are expected to attend this year.
Hamilton said a new addition to this year’s festival is an outdoor concert in front of the Louisiana State Capitol building. She said the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra will perform “The Sounds of Books,” featuring music selections from films originating from books.
“What makes this festival so special is that it’s meant to capture everyone’s imagination,” Hamilton said. “It doesn’t matter if you love Louisiana folk stories, or crime novels or cookbooks. This is an event that offers something for all types of readers.”
——Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]