With 100 authors and poets convening for readings, talks and more, the fourth Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books this Sat., May 31, will look a lot like the first three, with one big exception: It’ll have a new home at one of Pittsburgh’s best-known landmarks, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s main branch, in Oakland.
The move comes after the library took ownership of the festival following the departure of its founder, Marshall Cohen.
“Once we decided we were going to be primary organizers of the festival, we really just wanted to bring it home,” said Mary Monaghan, the library’s director of public services.
About 4,000 people attended the free, day-long festival last year, when it was held for the second year running at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, in East Liberty. Monaghan said the library expects even more this year for the nearly 50 programs to be held throughout the library and its Lecture Hall and outdoors on the grounds of neighboring Schenley Plaza.
The headliners include famed singer Judy Collins, whose new book of poetry is titled “Sometimes It’s Heaven.” Others are acclaimed novelists Rachel Khong (“Real Americans”) and Torrey Peters (“Stag Dance”) and award-winning Pittsburgh-based young-adult author Sharon G. Flake, whose new book is “The Family I’m In.”
Other guests include playwright, novelist and humorist Paul Rudnick, picture-book author Brittany J. Thurman and novelist Omar Tyree. Pittsburgh-based authors include Stentor Danielson, John Miller (“The Last Manager”), Ed Simon (“Devil’s Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain”) and Zoje Stage (“Dear Hanna”).
The library will remain open throughout the festival.
Poets will read every 15 minutes in the library’s second-floor newspaper and magazine room. There will also be poetry workshops.
The library grounds and Schenley Plaza will host exhibitors, vendors, food trucks and kids’ activities.
Festival sponsors include the Jack Buncher Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, the International Poetry Forum, Duolingo and the University of Pittsburgh Library System.
The festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Advanced registration is recommended for talks and workshops. More information is here.
