Both Temps and e-Books Were Hot at the National Book Festival this Year

The scorching 93 degree heat on Saturday was not enough to deter throngs of book lovers from coming out for the 10th Annual National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Library of Congress. For many, it was a chance to not only to pick up books from their favorite writers (and of course get them signed), but also to hear those authors live. The roster included two of American prose's favorite Jonathans (Safran Foer and "Franzen":http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2010/09/conversation-jonathan-franzen.html), as well as Jane Smiley, "Scott Turow":http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june10/books_05-27.html, Julia Glass and "Isabel Allende":http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2010/05/conversation-isabel-allende.html. One notable addition to this year's festival was the "Digital Bookmobile":http://www.digitalbookmobile.com/. Fresh off a two-year tour of the country, the Bookmobile was there to promote free digital downloading from local libraries. It was an example of a need that libraries are facing to respond to the rise of the Kindle and the iPad. **Art Beat took to the National Mall for some "reader-on-the-street" -style interviews:**   _-- Kiran Moodley, Matthew Kielty and Katherine Stevens_