Dallas Public Library kicks off summer activities with authors, book sale

Dallas Public Library is kicking off summer with a celebration of authors, books and reading at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library on Saturday, June 1, beginning at 10 a.m.

Picture book author Laura Numeroff (“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”) will be joined by Mayor Mike Rawlings to launch the 2019 Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge at 10:15 a.m., followed by presentations by local children’s authors and illustrators until 2 p.m.

“Summer is the busiest time of year at the library,” said Jo Giudice, director of libraries. “People are looking for something to read on vacation, parents are trying to keep their kids busy and learning – this is a big event to kick off summer at the library to highlight everything we do.”

This free event is part of the finale of the Dallas Festival of Books & Ideas, a five-day program happening city-wide aimed at energizing the people of Dallas through the power of books and ideas.

Bestselling historical fiction author Melanie Benjamin will talk about her latest book, “Mistress of the Ritz.” Texas authors Joe Lansdale (“Hap & Leonard”) and Melissa Lenhardt (“Heresy”) will round out the headliner stage. “Dallas 1963” authors Steven Davis and Bill Minutaglio will discuss their latest collaboration, “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Timothy Leary, Richard Nixon & the Hunt for the Fugitive King of LSD.” Additional panel discussions will be presented by Dallas Area Romance Authors, Deep Vellum, the Jane Austen Society of North Texas, The Dock Bookshop, WordSpace, DFW Writers Workshop, The Crew of the Barque Lone Star, and the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Festival.

A complete list of authors and program schedule can be found at www.dallasbookfestival.org.

As part of the June 1 festivities, the Friends of the Dallas Public Library will open the Book Cellar for bargain hunters in search of used books, CDs, DVDs and vinyl. The semi-annual sale will begin on Friday, May 31 and continue all day Saturday.

The event is made possible thanks to the Freda Gail Stern fund of the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and Half Price Books.

The Dallas Festival of Books & Ideas – Summer in the City – at Dallas Public Library runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young St. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The Festival continues at the Dallas Museum of Art 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information about other festival events, visit www.thedallasfestival.com