Contra Costa County’s Reading Festival

From May 16 to 18, Contra Costa County’s Library System will be throwing a three-day reading festival that includes “readings and circus acts, panel discussions and puppet theater at 25 libraries in the county system.”

The festival includes many big name guests, including “New York Times best-selling author Catherine Coulter, author of several suspense thrillers including her newest, “Double Jeopardy,” and local author Kelly Corrigan, whose memoir “The Middle Place” spent several weeks on the Northern California best sellers list.”

Even more interesting than the festival itself is the history behind the creation of the festival. From 2003 to 2005, the Contra Costa County Library system underwent an extensive self-evaluation process, focusing on the role of a library in the 21st century. After many meetings in coffee shops, libraries, and community centers, the county library decided to transform the library into a place that, according to Laura O’Donoghue, deputy county librarian, offers “lifelong opportunities and special programming”, along with a wide variety of books.

From this mission, the idea of the festival evolved, offering, in the words of Susan Lynn, the Contra Costa County Library’s reading and literacy manager “a chance to discover the wonder of libraries while celebrating reading and literacy.” A reading festival of this scale would be an amazing idea here in Stockton!

For more information on the festival, click here.