Burlington Review

The Burlington County Book Festival is set to return for its third year on April 5, at the Main Branch Library in Westampton. This event will run from 10 AM to 4 PM and offers free admission. It aims to provide visitors of all ages with opportunities to explore new books and authors while celebrating literature.

The festival is organized by the Burlington County Library System and the Burlington County Library System Foundation, with support from the Burlington County Commissioners and sponsors such as Holman and PSE&G.

Burlington County Commissioner Tom Pullion expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “Even in the modern digital age, the power of books endures. Books help inform and teach. They inspire and spark imagination and allow us to better understand ourselves and the world around us. The Burlington County Book Festival celebrates these timeless qualities and how our libraries provide access to these treasures.”

More than 40 authors from various genres are expected to participate in this year's festival. Attendees will have opportunities to engage with these authors through discussions, autographs, and book sales.

The event will feature presentations, panels, and performances throughout the day. Notably, Tee Franklin, a best-selling DC Comics writer known for her work on Harley Quinn series, will deliver a keynote address at 12:30 PM in the library's auditorium. Franklin plans to discuss her experiences as a Black, queer, disabled writer.

Ranjna Das, Director of the Burlington County Library System said: “We are thrilled to welcome another exciting group of diverse and talented authors to the library.”

Additional presentations include a "Meet the Author" panel featuring romance writers Tina Gabrielle/Kashian among others at 10:30 AM; poet Nancy Reddy reading excerpts from her new book at 11 AM; Allen Crawford discussing his illustrated edition of Whitman's poem at 11:30 AM; Jay Cooper offering an interactive presentation also at 11:30 AM; Kerri Sullivan providing tips on nonfiction proposals at 1:30 PM.

Attendees can also shop for gently-used books during a pop-up sale by Friends of the Burlington County Library Inc., alongside vendors selling items related to literature.

A full schedule is available on BCLS's website. Commissioner Randy Brolo remarked on this occasion’s significance saying: “The Book Festival is one of the library’s premier events so mark your calendar."