Idaho Commission for Libraries

The 2009 National Book Festival was held on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Marj Hooper and Pam Bradshaw from the Idaho Commission for Libraries represented Idaho in the Pavilion of the States, promoting reading, sharing information about Idaho literacy and library programs, and answering questions about Idaho writers and libraries. They created additional teaching moments when they challenged school children who visited the booth to locate Idaho on the map.

Pam and Marj traveled with Mudgy Moose and Millie Mouse, creations of author Susan Nipp and illustrator Charles Reasoner and part of a library fund-raising and public art project in Coeur d’Alene. Mudgy & Millie like to play hide and seek, but they remained at the Idaho booth in the Pavilion of the States for the entire festival, meeting and greeting the many children who stopped by to learn about this and other Idaho books.

Other featured pavilions at the festival were dedicated to book genres ranging from history to mysteries, as well as books for families and young people. And favorite authors were on hand for book signing.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama served as Honorary Chairs of the ninth annual festival, which was sponsored by the Library of Congress. The Institute of Museum and Library Services sponsored the National Book Festival’s Pavilion of the States for the eight year, and Marj and Pam’s travels were sponsored through a grant from COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies). See more about the National Book Festival at www.loc.gov/bookfest.