The New Jersey Center for the Book

Presents

Literature, Libraries and the Arts:

A Vibrant Legacy of New Jersey’s 350 Years

The New Jersey Center for the Book, in partnership with Grounds for Sculpture, will present a statewide Literary Festival to celebrate New Jersey’s 350^th Anniversary on Saturday, October 18, 2014, from 11 am to 4:30 pm at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey. Note: You must still pay the entrance fee to attend this event, unless you are one of the exhibitors.

The Grounds for Sculpture opens to the public at 10 am. The main presentation from 1 to 2 pm will feature keynote speaker, world-renowned artist, sculptor, author and founder of Grounds for Sculpture, Seward Johnson, who will present a signed copy of his latest book to the Librarian of Congress. Seward Johnson is widely known for his sculptures depicting people engaged in everyday activities. 

American Library Association Director of United for Libraries USA, Sally Reed, will then present Mr. Johnson with its inaugural award, an honorary membership in the national initiative, United for Libraries USA.  It will be followed by a presentation by the New Jersey Center for the Book of New Jersey’s own prestigious literary award, the Literary Lion Award, to eminent New Jersey novelist, Joyce Carol Oates, winner of the National Book Award, the National Humanities Medal, and the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award among many others.

Presenting at 11 am will be New Jersey’s own astronaut, Robert J Cenker, an engineer and aerospace systems consultant who flew aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-61-C as Payload Specialist for RCA.

New Jersey Council for the Humanities will honor their award-winning 2014 authors at 2:30 pm. The authors will have their autographed books available for sale at the Council for the Humanities table. Following this presentation will be the winning poets, selected by the Grounds for Sculpture in a poetry contest, reading their works.  The Garden State Storytellers will then entertain the public.

In addition there will be over 100 exhibits, including New Jersey museums, libraries, cultural institutions, historical associations, professional organizations, the renowned Liberty Science Center, and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

Forty New Jersey authors, poets, and illustrators  will be attending the event, including children’s authors or illustrators Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Linda Bozzo, Vanita Braver, Pat Brisson, Jen Bryant, Eileen Cameron, Margery Cuyler, Juliana McIntyre, Michael Dooling, Doris Ettlinger, Lisa Falkenstern, Dan Gutman, Leeza Hernandez, Lenny Hort, Dar Hosta, Tara Lazar, E. B. Lewis, Peter Maloney, Felicia Zekauskas, Wil Mara, Trinka Hakes Noble, Donna M. Zappala and Thomas F. Yezerski. Adult authors who will be there include Michael Aaron Rockland, Karen L. Schnitzspahn, Dr. William Truran, Gordon Thomas Ward, and Kevin Woyce. They will all be selling and signing their books as they interact with the public at their respective tables.

The honor libraries that received grants from the New Jersey Center for the Book, as listed below, as well as Literary Landmarks around the state, will be showcased.

West Windsor Branch of the Mercer County Library (Mercer County)

Hello World, Mercer is Calling; The History Behind the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm

The Roebling Legacy

Atlantic County Library System (Atlantic County)

Naval Air Stations: Naval Pilots during World War II

Fred and Ethel Noyes of Smithville, New Jersey: The Artist and the Entrepreneur

Monroe Township Library: (Middlesex County)

Looking for America on the New Jersey Turnpike

New Jersey at 350 Years – 1664-2014: Key Events in the State’s History

Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library (Morris County)

A History of Parsippany’s Past

Union Public Library: (Union County)

James Caldwell: The Fighting Parson of the Revolution

Warren County Library: (Warren County)

Celebration of Warren County’s Agricultural Heritage

Wayne Public Library (Passaic County)

The Dutch Colonial Influence on the History of New Jersey

Bergenfield Public Library: (Bergen County)

Dear Bergenfield: Greetings from World War II

Bridgeton Free Public Library: (Cumberland County)

Hard Times for These American Hard Times

Maplewood Memorial Library: (Essex County)

Loves and Longings and Wicked thoughts: The Shared Experiences of Children and Adults

Join the New Jersey Center for the Book and come savor the richness of the cultural and literary landscape of the great State of New Jersey as we celebrate its 350th anniversary at the Grounds for Sculpture on October 18, 2014.

Forwarded by:

Sharon Rawlins, MLS

Youth Services Specialist for Lifelong Learning

NJ State Library

185 West State St.

P.O. Box 520

Trenton, NJ 08625-0520

...@njstatelib.org">sraw...@njstatelib.org

609-278-2640 ext. 116 - phone

609-278-2650 - fax