About US

The Southern Kentucky Festival of Books is dedicated to its mission: to encourage reading and the love of books and to be a positive force in reducing the illiteracy in our region and state. Statistics from the "Kentucky Literacy Survey" show that 40 - 44 percent of Kentucky's working age population (ages 16-64) have minimal to no reading skills. Fourteen percent of adult Kentuckians have no literacy skills, and 25 percent of Kentucky households do not own books.

The festival, presented in partnership by Western Kentucky University Libraries/Kentucky Museum, Bowling Green Public Library and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, is considered to be one of the state's premier literary events. Proceeds from the Festival benefit the Bowling Green Public Library's Go Forth program; the WKU Libraries' collection development fund; and Barnes & Noble's contribution to the Bowling Green Housing Authority's Reach Higher program.

The first festival held in 1999 had an attendance of approximately 3,500; in 2000 the attendance was over 4,000; in 2001 attendance surpassed 6,000. Attendance for 2002 is expected to exceed 8,000.

Held annually during National Library Week, the Festival is a two-day event. Day 1 is devoted to school children, who have the opportunity to meet authors, participate in dramatic and musical performances, and exercise their creativity in the make-and-do room. Day 2 is the major book signing event. Activities from Children's Day are continued in addition to all the adult authors and related events including workshops, lectures, etc. The 2001 Festival hosted over 150 authors representing all genres. Some authors who have appeared here in the past include: David Halberstam, John Carpenter, LeVar Burton, R. L. Stine, Gywn Rubio and Dick Schaap.

The Festival, Southern Kentucky's biggest literary event, also includes a Film/Video Competition sponsored by Cory Lash and WKU's School of Journalism and Broadcasting. This event involves regional high school students interested in pursuing careers in film and entertainment production.

Admission to the Southern Kentucky Festival of Books is free. Southern Kentucky Festival of Books 2002 is April 19-20 at the Bowling Green & Warren County Convention Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky.