Empire State Book Festival to Be Launched

ALBANY, NY (06/24/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York Library Association (NYLA) has announced that it will launch the first ever Empire State Book Festival in Albany on April 9 & 10, 2010. The event will bring together authors, illustrators, librarians, storytellers, publishers and booklovers to celebrate the literary heritage of New York State.

The event will be free and open to the public. It will be held in The Empire State Convention Center and adjoining meeting rooms, where readings, author signings and special presentations will take place. In conjunction with the festival, NYLA will establish a New York State Writers' Hall of Fame. Five writers who are either native New Yorkers or have lived a significant part of their lives in the state will be inducted into this pantheon with an additional five being inducted annually. The announcement of the first inductees will be announced on October 15, 2009 in Niagara Falls, New York during NYLA's Annual Conference.

The festival is funded in part by a legislative grant from Senator Neil Breslin (D - Albany). "We are grateful for this opportunity to celebrate the rich literary heritage of New York State and replicate here the enthusiasm for literature begun by the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C." said Michael Borges, Executive Director of the New York Library Association. "In addition, the New York State Writers' Hall of Fame will provide a unique and permanent venue to recognize and showcase our literary notables."

The public can nominate New York State writers both living and dead to the selection committee via the festival's website www.empirestatebookfestival.org . In addition, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available and those interested can receive more information by emailing info@empirestatebookfestival.org .