Miami Book Fair International 2009, The Worlds largest Outdoor Library
November 8-15, 2009
By: Daedrian McNaughton
Photos: Courtesy of the Miami Book Fair International
“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, participate in cultural and educational activities, including readings, lectures, international cultural presentations, the famous three days Street Fair and various activities arranged by the organizers of the Miami Book Fair International. There are several programs designed for adults and children. The entire family is invited to be apart of this literary event.
Over the years the fair has welcomed hundreds of authors from Noble and Pulitzer Prize winners, biographers and journalists to novelists and poets from countries like England, Peru, Trinidad, US and other regions. Past attendees include (senator) Barack Obama, Tom Wolfe, Gore Vidal, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Angelo, Tavis Smiley and 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, Jeannette Walls, are just a few of the over 300 authors from the U.S. and abroad who will gather at the 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. Padron, president of Miami Dade College and Miami Book Fair International co-founder, “We’re again pleased and honored t
o 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 conerstone of what we do at Miami Dade College. Literacy helps make a community strong and stable.”
Although we are experiencing an economic meltdown, the fair has shown an increase in attendance over the past years. The organizers have also made changes or abondoned some programs due to the economic climate. Some of the changes that were made include the removal of the inauguaration ceremony and festivities; no international Pavilions Village, no Street Fair Parade and they have also reduced the number of author presentations. The other major changes that have taken place is the increase in admission to the weekend Street Fair, from $5 to $8 per person, seniors 62 years old and over will only 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 has been free for the last 25 years, now has and admission fee of $10 with free parking in Building 7. If you feel you cannot afford to pay the price of admission or attend other featured programs, free access to the fair is available to attendees 18 and under, volunteers and others and free access all day Friday. In addition Twilight Tastings, a free reception will be held every night before the presentation. Finally, attendees paying for the evening sessions are eligible to receive a $5 discount on any of the authors’ books at anytime during the Fair or toward the purchase of any book prior to December 31, 2009 at any Books and Books location (Does not apply to complimentary tickets).
Dispite the cutbacks in programs and festivities, the reduction in presenting authors, the 26th Edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International (Fair) promises to be a spectacular event.
For more information on the 26th Edition of the Miami Book Fair International, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.miamibookfair.com