Saturday, September 9, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
San Luis Obispo, CA -- Mission Plaza

Book Festival Encourages Public to Thank Andrew Carnegie for our Public Libraries

San Luis Obispo, CA -  The 6th Annual Central Coast Book & Author Festival steering committee announced this week that they will be sponsoring a non-competitive writing challenge. Participants of all ages to write a letter to Andrew Carnegie, thanking him for establishing our Public Library system. SSubmissions can be anywhere from three sentences to three hundred words in length and may be submitted now through 5:00 p.m. August 5, 2005 in hard copy or by email to library@ccbookfestival.org through 5:00 p.m. September 8, 2005. The challenge is meant to create awareness of both the festival and the 100th anniversary of the San Luis Obispo Carnegie Library.

“You have to wonder where we would all be today, if Mr. Carnegie hadn’t been so inspired, a hundred years ago, to build more than 2,500 Public Libraries across the United States,” says Festival Chairperson and Library Foundation President Rick London. “Please join us in thanking Mr. Carnegie posthumously, by sharing why you continue to love your Public Libraries today.”

Letters must begin with the salutation, “Dear Mr. Carnegie,” and the first line, “Here is the reason why libraries are still important today.”

Entries must include the author's name, address, phone number, email address (if any) and age.  As a select number of essays may be published, entries must also include a brief statement stating, "Permission is granted for any publication."

Submissions can be dropped off at any branch of the San Luis Obispo City-County Library.  For participating branch locations see www.slolibrary.org.  You may also mail submissions to P.O. Box 12942, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-2942 or email them to library@ccbookfestival.org.

Although the writing challenge is not a contest, all submissions will be eligible for a random drawing of local vendor gift certificates, to be held at the 6th Annual Central Coast Book & Author Festival on September 10, 2005 in Mission Plaza at 3:30 p.m.  Participants must be present at the time of the drawing in order to be eligible to win the Grand Prize.

For more information, e-mail info@ccbookfestival.org, or leave a voicemail message at 546-1392.