Texas Book Festival
Encyclopedia
The Texas Book Festival was established in 1995 by Laura Bush
, then the First Lady of Texas, and Mary Margaret Farabee, wife of former State Senator Ray Farabee
. The festival was created to benefit the state's public library
system, to promote the joy of reading
, as well as to honor Texas author
s. With the assistance of Honorary Chairman and librarian
, Mrs. Bush, and a task force, the festival has grown, hosting more than 2,000 authors since its inception.
Each year, the festival honors a writer with the "Bookend Award" for outstanding contribution to the literature of Texas. In addition to the award event, the festival includes children's books, crafts, and costumed characters.
The 2008 festival took place November 1-2, 2008, at the State Capitol Building in Austin, Texas
. It featured approximately 200 authors, including professors and alumni from the University of Texas.
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
, then the First Lady of Texas, and Mary Margaret Farabee, wife of former State Senator Ray Farabee
Ray Farabee
Kenneth Ray Farabee, known as Ray Farabee , is a retired attorney in Austin, Texas, who served as a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate from Wichita Falls from 1975 to 1988. He is credited with the authorship of 245 Senate bills that became law during his 13-year tenure. In 1985, he was the...
. The festival was created to benefit the state's public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
system, to promote the joy of reading
Reading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
, as well as to honor Texas author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
s. With the assistance of Honorary Chairman and librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, Mrs. Bush, and a task force, the festival has grown, hosting more than 2,000 authors since its inception.
Each year, the festival honors a writer with the "Bookend Award" for outstanding contribution to the literature of Texas. In addition to the award event, the festival includes children's books, crafts, and costumed characters.
The 2008 festival took place November 1-2, 2008, at the State Capitol Building in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. It featured approximately 200 authors, including professors and alumni from the University of Texas.