Friday, November 02, 2007

Twelve years is a long time. It is the normal span to complete primary and secondary education, which can seem like a lifetime. Historically, at 12 years old, one arrives at the age of reckoning, the time for children to confront maturity and take on responsibility. At adolescence, growing up can be awkward, painful — or possibly terrific.

This weekend marks the twelfth year of the Texas Book Festival, the state's largest literary event benefiting our public libraries. Within 12 years, the Texas Book Festival has grown to become the third-largest event of its kind in the country. Over a two-day period, the festival attracts up to 45,000 people who descend upon the Capitol like a parliament of owls.

What began as an idea to feature Texas writers has grown into an annual gathering of 200 local and national authors. Each year, the venue features award-winning writers, charismatic politicos, pop culture starlets, creative fictional authors and flamboyant chefs who entertain with words, food and, of course, live music. In its early days, the free public event became iconic to publishers, authors and anyone with a voracious appetite for books.

However, the Texas Book Festival is more than just a two-day gig in Austin. Throughout the year, the organization cultivates an interest in reading and the practice of writing to Texans young and old. As the source of more than $2 million in grants to Texas public libraries, the Texas Book Festival plays a part in many literary events across the state. Whenever the Texas Book Festival brand collaborates with local libraries or book clubs, well-known and burgeoning authors tend to be on the scene.

Yet adolescence can be a precarious time for organizations as they test their wings for flight. Nurtured through its first eight years under the leadership of one executive director and a volunteer chair, the festival got on its feet quickly. With Laura Bush, then the state's first lady, serving as honorary chairwoman, the festival attracted interest and support of state politicians, lobbyists and companies. However, it was an attractive model, and the resulting financial support produced a stellar weekend program that increased literacy awareness, a love for books and much-needed grants for public libraries.

When Bush moved into the White House, her loyalty to the Texas Book Festival never waned. She modeled the National Book Festival in Washington on the Texas festival. The national festival and the White House connections fueled greater level of support for the Texas program — and more money for public libraries.

But growing up can be hard. The festival is searching for a new executive director. Its Reading Rock Stars program, which brings authors into the classrooms of economically deprived public schools, is trying to reach more students. The Texas Book Festival on the Road program helps local organizations generate grassroots support for literacy. The Texas Book Festival University Interscholastic League Writing Contest for student writers is still in its nascent stage but full of opportunity. And the organization's partnerships with the University of Texas Libraries, the Harry Ransom Center, the Michener Center for Writers and the UT-Pan Am campus are just glimpses of how the Texas Book Festival can influence a generation with a bent for books online.

So, this weekend, Texans should celebrate the accomplishments of the Texas Book Festival. Though an adolescent, the Texas Book Festival already knows what it wants to be when it grows up: the No. 1 book festival in the country.

Salas, a founding board member of the Texas Book Festival, is president of Salas Public Relations LLC.