Book Festival Organizer Receives Recognition
2nd Annual Festival to Be Held November 3 in Dover
| Status | For Immediate Release | Contact | Christopher Portante |
| Release Date | Thursday, 11 October 2007 | Phone | (302) 739-4111 |
Dover - Patty Langley, administrative librarian at the Delaware Division of Libraries, has recently been named the Department of State's "Employee of the Quarter" for her initiative and leadership in establishing and organizing the Delaware Book Festival, first held last November. The 2nd Annual Delaware Book Festival will take place Saturday, November 3, 2007 in Dover.
Langley proposed the idea for a book festival and was given approval to recruit volunteers and organize the event as long as she could keep up with her daily work. While attending the University of Pittsburgh to obtain her master's degree in library and information science, she wrote and received a grant to fund the first Delaware Book Festival last year.
Langley recruited volunteers from public libraries and state agencies, as well as nationally-known authors and illustrators to appear at the event. "Her leadership skills were evident as she coordinated the work of several committees and kept track of myriad details to make this event a huge success," said Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor. "Because of Patty's perseverance and dedication, Delaware libraries will continue to move forward in becoming the best in the nation."
More than 2,500 people from Delaware and surrounding states attended the first Delaware Book Festival. The 2007 event is on track to attract even a greater number. It will feature more than 35 authors and illustrators and will include workshops, an on-site bookstore, and two children's activities pavilions with storytelling and theater performances.
In addition to the Delaware Book Festival, Langley is responsible for youth services including the Summer Reading Program; the "What's the BIG Idea?" Program, which introduces math and science concepts into story time; Letters About Literature; and a national reading and writing competition for children. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Coalition for Literacy and the First State Children's Theater Company.
The 2nd Annual Delaware Book Festival will be held, rain or shine, at the First State Heritage Park at Dover from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All events are free. For more information about the Delaware Book Festival, visit www.debookfestival.lib.de.us.
To view a printable version of this press release please visit the following website: http://sos.delaware.gov/news/LangleyDEBookFestival.pdf.
