The Library of Congress Federal Credit Union is a proud underwriter of the first-ever Library of Congress National Book Festival PBS television special.
In celebration of the festival's 20th year, PBS stations will broadcast "The Library of Congress National Book Festival: Celebrating American Ingenuity" on Sept. 27, 6-8 pm ET/PT (check local listings). The two-hour program, hosted by HodaKotb of NBC News' "TODAY", will feature some of the nation's most renowned authors and literary voices.
"We are honored to help support the first-ever Library of Congress National Book Festival PBS prime-time special," said Marsha King, President/CEO of Library of Congress FCU. "We believe the library community advances America's great story. And this is one of the ways we can give back to a community that gives so much to the world."
The 2020 National Book Festival broadcast will feature a variety of presentations and interviews by two dozen of the nation’s most beloved literary voices. The best-selling authors will join thousands of book lovers across thecountrytocelebrateAmericaningenuity—what it means to them, how it first heir minds and imaginations and why books are so important in these times.
“The 2020 National Book Festival will reach an even bigger audience of book lovers during these challenging times, thanks to our collaboration with PBS and public broadcast stations across the country to present this television special,” said Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden. “We’d also like to thank our generous underwriters which include the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union. Without their support, this program would not be possible.”
The broadcast will feature an impressive group of authors, including the following:
- Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and 2020 recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction Colson Whitehead.
- Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
- National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds.
- NBC News “TODAY” co-host Jenna BushHager.
- Master of the legal thriller JohnGrisham.
- Melinda Gates, philanthropist and co-founder of the Bill and Melinda GatesFoundation.
- Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham on civil rights icon Rep. JohnLewis.
- A conversation between longtime friends Ann Patchett, whose recent novel, “The Dutch House,” is a Pulitzer finalist, and two-time Newbery winner Kate DiCamillo, whose recent book is “Stella Endicott and the anything- Is-Possible Poem.”
- Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie.
- Graphic novelist Gene LuenYang.
- Fantasy novelist LeighBardugo.
- Haben Girma, disability rights advocate, author and the first deaf-blind graduate of Harvard law school.
- National Book Award-winning novelist James McBride.
- Ann Druyan, Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and director specializing in science.
Throughout the program, the writers Walter Isaacson, Sandra Cisneros and Amy Tan will offer thought-provoking commentary on how “American Ingenuity” has led this nation through the best and worst of times and how that spirit has helped guide the journey toward a more perfect union.
The National Book Festival broadcast is made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Wells Fargo, theWomen’sSuffrageCentennialCommission, the National Endowment for the Arts and other generous underwriters including the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union.