PBS To Provide Live Online Coverage of 15th Annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, September 5, 2015--Noon to 6 p.m.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As dozens of bestselling authors and thousands of book fans converge on Washington, DC this Labor Day weekend for the 15^th Annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, PBS Book View Now will be there to provide audiences nationwide with comprehensive coverage of the all-day literary event. Coverage will be produced by Detroit Public Television (DPTV) made possible thanks to the support of the Wyncote Foundation. The coverage will be hosted by Jeffrey Brown, Senior Correspondent and Chief Arts Correspondent for PBS NewsHour and Book View Now host Rich Fahle.

"Detroit Public Television is proud to be bringing book lovers around the nation coverage of The National Book Festival," said Rich Homberg, DPTV's President and CEO. "We look forward to this event and our continued partnership with PBS as we engage our viewers' interest in the enriching world of books."

"PBS and member stations are pleased to be showcasing the 15th Annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, and we thank the Wyncote Foundation and Detroit Public Television's Book View Now for helping to make it possible," said Anne Bentley, PBS Vice President of Corporate Communications. "We hope that book lovers across the country will take advantage of the opportunity to experience this unique event and hear from the many authors who will be on-hand." 

The National Book Festival will be held Saturday, September 5 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC. Live stream coverage of the event will air from 12 noon until 6 p.m. ET, with interviews tentatively scheduled with authors Kate DiCamillo, Jon Scieszka, David McCollough, Tom Brokaw, Louise Erdrich, Kwame Alexander, Marilynne Robinson, David Mariniss, and many more, as well as segments showcasing the energy of the Book Festival floor.

Live stream coverage will be available online via PBS.org and at www.BookViewNow.org, plus select PBS station websites, and the WORLDChannel.org. In addition, select segments will be archived and available for on-demand viewing on PBS.org, PBS station websites and all PBS video apps, including iPhone, iPad, Xbox, Roku and Apple TV, as well as YouTube.  

In addition to The National Book Festival, PBS Book View Now has also covered the Miami Book Fair International, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Book Expo America, and BookCon.

The Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. It was created by Laura Bush and Librarian of Congress James H. Billington at the suggestion of Mrs. Bush, who had created the Texas Book Festival.

Over its 15-year history, the National Book Festival has become one of the pre-eminent literary events in the United States. The first festival was Sept. 8, 2001. Mrs. Bush served as honorary chair of the festival through 2008. President and Mrs. Obama have served as honorary co-chairs from 2009 to the present.

This year also marks the 200th anniversary of the 1815 Acquisition of Thomas Jefferson's Personal Library. From its beginning in 1800, the Library of Congress was housed in the U.S. Capitol. During the War of 1812, the British burned the Capitol in August 1814, destroying the Library's collections. A month later, Thomas Jefferson, in retirement at his Monticello estate, offered to sell his personal library to the Library of Congress. The 6,487 volumes were considered to be the most comprehensive library in America at the time.

"The Library of Congress is so pleased to collaborate with Detroit Public Television and PBS to help connect book lovers all over America with the authors, discussions and energy of the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.," said Marie Arana, co-director of the festival. Added Co-Director Guy Lamolinara, "The 15th annual festival will be bigger and better than ever - a great year to introduce it to audiences who haven't experienced it before."

About the Wyncote Foundation:
The Wyncote Foundation was founded in 2009 with funds from the Otto and Phoebe Haas Charitable Trusts, at the direction of  John C. Haas. Its mission is to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community and the natural environment.

About PBS
PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 109 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS PressRoom on Twitter.

About Detroit Public Television:
Detroit Public Television (DPTV)-WTVS-TV is the non-commercial, viewer-supported PBS member station serving the nation's 11th largest television market, with 1.5 million weekly viewers in Southeast Michigan and 1.2 million weekly viewers across Canada. DPTV is a leader in programming related to health and the environment, public affairs, arts and culture and children. It is also a leading national producer and distributor of programming for Public Television, and winner of a 2012 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award, as well as the only dual PBS licensee / entertainment label in the country, operating as DPTV Media.  For more information, visit www.dptv.org

About WORLD Channel:
The WORLD Channel is a 24/7, multicast channel dedicated to delivering the best of public television's nonfiction, news and documentary programming as well as a growing schedule of original content from independent producers and multi-cultural communities. The complementary website, www.WORLDchannel.org, expands on broadcast topics and fuels content across social media, providing opportunities for broad and diverse audience interaction. WORLD Channel is service of WGBH/Boston, in partnership with American Public Television and WNET/New York, and in association with the Public Broadcasting Service and the National Educational Telecommunications Association. Funding for WORLD Channel is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Ford Foundation.

CONTACT: Rich Fahle 734-355-4364
Della Cassia 248-320-5680

SOURCE Detroit Public Television