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Making It Happen

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Whether we are on-site at the Washington Convention Center or in a virtual environment, it truly “takes a village” of authors, moderators, Library of Congress staff, curators and coordinators, contractors, partners, volunteers and other Festival “ambassadors” to bring the Festival to fruition annually.

Among the most important of these ambassadors are our devoted and generous Festival sponsors, who provide the essential support necessary to bring our National Book Festival to the public. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank these important sponsors for the 2021 Festival:

National Book Festival Co-Chair

David Rubenstein is the co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group. He is a major benefactor of the Library of Congress and the chairman of the Library’s lead donor group, the James Madison Council. In 2013 he originated the Library of Congress Literacy Awards, which honors organizations doing exemplary, innovative and replicable work and recognize the need for the international community to unite in achieving universal literacy.

National Book Festival Vice Chair

The James Madison Council is comprised of public-minded philanthropists seeking to advance the Library’s efforts to inspire and engage Americans and to make our national treasures more accessible and dynamic. More than 400 Library initiatives have been supported since its founding in 1990. A Festival sponsor since the very first in 2001, the Madison Council this year sponsors or co-sponsors presentations in the Fiction, History & Biography, Lifestyle and Current Events genres.

Charter Sponsors

The Washington Post is a leading global news source that informs readers through exceptional journalism and personalized experience. It combines the latest breaking news in politics, national, foreign and business with in-depth analysis and engaging opinions in lifestyle, entertainment and more. The Post has been a Festival sponsor since its inception in 2001 as part of its ongoing commitment to literacy, and this year hosted live author conversations on its website with actor Michael J. Fox and Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.

The mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people with information and ideas. A charter sponsor since 2002, IMLS has partnered with the Library’s Center for the Book in past festivals to sponsor the “Parade of States, whereby representatives from state libraries and Centers for the Book across the country staff state tables, interact with enthusiastic festival attendees, and provide a wealth of information on their state’s literary heritage and its local libraries and festivals and careers and opportunities in library and information science. This year, ILMS sponsors or co-sponsors presentations in the Children’s, History & Biography, Science and Teens genres.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. A Festival supporter since 2005, the NEA traditionally supports the Festival’s Poetry & Prose stage, and this year is no exception, serving as sponsor or co-sponsor of the Fiction and Poetry & Prose genres.

The mission of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is to serve and strengthen our nation by supporting high-quality projects and programs in the humanities and by making the humanities available to all Americans. A Festival supporter since 2013, NEH this year sponsors or co-sponsors presentations in the History & Biography and Poetry & Prose genres.

Presenting & Media Partners

Presenting and media partners widen the National Book Festival experience by sharing content broadly on their media channels and/or provide professional talent as interviewers and moderators of author talks and presentations.

  • NPR (presenting partner)
  • C-SPAN2’s Book TV (media partner)
  • The New Republic (media partner)

Additional Generous Support

We’re exceptionally grateful to these additional groups and friends of the Festival for their kind and generous support for the 2021 event:

  • Booklovers Circle Members
  • Capital Group
  • Joseph and Lynn Deutsch
  • Library of Congress Federal Credit Union
  • Marshall B. Coyne Foundation Inc.
  • Tim and Diane Naughton

Philanthropy like theirs is important to the National Book Festival and important to our country. You can join this group of important of donors and sponsors by making a gift to support the Library of Congress. Thanks to all of our supporters, and thanks to you.

Author Michael Beschloss speaks with Festival co-chair David Rubenstein at the National Book Festival, August 31, 2019. Photo by Shawn Miller

Comments (2)

  1. A magnificent event !! Thanks to all sponsors and to all those behind-the-scenes technicians and sponsor-recruiters who made it work and kept it moving.

    Library of Congress offerings have been major pandemic discoveries for me. I’m hooked for life now.

  2. Thank you so much to everyone involved in making this year’s National Book Festival a rousing success ! Keeping the event and tradition alive is so very important. Please know all the work and sponsorships are truly appreciated. From children to seniors like me, books and reading are are so necesary for lifelong pleasure and education.

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