A Mid-Summer's Afternoon Potluck

Almost 100 JLW New Members of the JLW 2014-2015 class met their Advisors at the New Member Potluck. As the first official event of the New Member year, New Members, Advisors and Board Members mingled at JLW Headquarters. Begun only seven years ago, the New Member Potluck has become a JLW institution and this year did not disappoint.

Ladies munched on an array of dishes they’d provided while getting to know fellow New Members and Actives alike. Heather Foss, New Member Committee Co-Chair, welcomed attendees followed by a series of introductions from members of the Steering Committee.

New Members were able to get more familiar with Headquarters. The weather was beautiful and everyone was able to enjoy the JLW back patio. Based on this years’ Potluck’s success, this promises to be a strong New Member year!

Not the Same Old National Book Festival

New venue among changes coming to this year’s festival

This year, the 14^th Annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will take place on Saturday, August 30, and JLW Members and the public can expect some changes from years past. Whether you are a book lover or someone who would rather just see the movie, this year’s festival has something for you.

Sign up for a volunteer shift today. 

What’s different?

The venue: Sunscreen and ponchos are no longer needed as the festival moves indoors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The continued success of the festival – last year’s event brought more than 200,000 attendees to the National Mall – and new National Park Service rules for use of the Mall made the Convention Center the best choice for this year’s festival.

Evening activities: Not a morning person? This year’s festival will go from 10 AM to 10 PM; however, JLW shifts end at 6:30 p.m. Among the new nighttime offerings is “Great Books to Great Movies,” a pavilion with a panel discussion and screenings about film adaptations of the classics.

International Pavilion: Authors from around the world will gather in one place at this year’s National Book Festival.

Culinary Arts Pavilion: Expect cooking demonstrations and talks from author-chefs like Carla Hall, Cathal Armstrong, and Daniel W. Thomas in the new Culinary Arts Pavilion.

Learn more about these changes at http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/.

What’s the same?

The focus: Celebrating a lifelong love of reading and promoting literacy remain central to the Festival.

The lineup: An outstanding lineup of award-winning authors will present readings and signings, including Kai Bird, Kate DiCamillo, Francisco Goldman, Alice McDermott, and many others. Find out more about the lineup here: http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2014/14-062.html.

The volunteers: The Library of Congress counts on JLW to provide outstanding volunteers, and as always, we need your help. Sign up for a shift today to help make this year’s festival the best yet.