Miami Book Fair International 2009: The World's Largest Outdoor Library

"Miami Book Fair is the literary mecca of the western world." — Author Tom Wolfe

The Miami Dade College campus will play host to the 26th edition of Miami Book Fair International from November 8–15, 2009, where downtown Miami will be transformed into the "World's Largest Outdoor Library." Literary enthusiasts, book lovers, locals, and international attendees will explore over one million books and participate in cultural and educational activities — including readings, lectures, international cultural presentations, the famous three-day Street Fair, and various programs for adults and children. The entire family is invited to be a part of this literary event.

Over the years the fair has welcomed hundreds of authors — from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, biographers, and journalists to novelists and poets from England, Peru, Trinidad, the United States, and beyond. Past attendees include Senator Barack Obama, Tom Wolfe, Gore Vidal, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Angelou, and Tavis Smiley, among many others.

This year, Al Gore, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, John Hemingway, Allegra Huston, Barbara Kingsolver, Mary Karr, Dennis Lehane, Philip Lopate, Madison Smartt Bell, Andy Borowitz, Meg Cabot, Betsy Carter, Susie Essman, Bruce Feiler, Mary Gordon, Jill McCorkle, Ana Menendez, Ralph Nader, Elizabeth Nunez, Francine Prose, and Jeannette Walls are just a few of the more than 300 authors from the U.S. and abroad who will gather at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami to read from their works in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Haitian Kreyol.

According to Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, president of Miami Dade College and Miami Book Fair International co-founder: "We're again pleased and honored to host such an important event, especially during these difficult times, when people truly want the type of substance that books can provide — whether they are stories that affirm our resilience or help us escape our troubles for a while. The Book Fair is a cornerstone of what we do at Miami Dade College. Literacy helps make a community strong and stable."

Although the country is experiencing an economic downturn, the fair has shown an increase in attendance over recent years. Organizers have made some adjustments in response to the economic climate, including the removal of the inauguration ceremony and festivities, no International Pavilions Village, no Street Fair Parade, and a reduction in the number of author presentations.

Other changes include an increase in Street Fair admission from $5 to $8 per person; seniors 62 and over pay $5. The Evenings With Series — featuring authors Elizabeth Alexander, Margaret Atwood, Ruth Reichl, Barbara Kingsolver, Jeannette Walls, Richard Powers, Isabella Rossellini, and Orhan Pamuk — which has been free for the past 25 years, now carries a $10 admission fee with free parking in Building 7. Free access remains available to attendees 18 and under, volunteers, and all day Friday. Twilight Tastings, a free reception, will be held every evening before each presentation. Attendees paying for evening sessions are eligible for a $5 discount on any author's book at any time during the fair, or toward any book purchase before December 31, 2009, at any Books & Books location (does not apply to complimentary tickets).

Despite the cutbacks in programs and festivities, the 26th edition of the nation's finest and largest literary gathering promises to be a spectacular event. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.miamibookfair.com. Photos courtesy of Miami Book Fair International.

For more upcoming events across South Florida, visit the Premier Guide Miami Events Calendar.