Arizona Center for the Book

About the Arizona Center for the Book

Arizona Center for the Book Logo

The Arizona Center for the Book at the Arizona State Library sponsors programs that highlight the state’s literary heritage and call attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy and libraries.

The Arizona Center for the Book is an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Starting in 1984, the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress began to establish affiliate centers in the 50 states. Today, there is a State Center for the Book in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Arizona Center for the Book at the Arizona State Library received its designation on January 2, 2004.

Arizona Center for the Book Programs

Please click on any of the following links to find more information regarding the Arizona Center for the Book programs:

Early Literacy Library Programs

Did you know that 90% of a child's brain develops by age five? The Arizona Center for the Book supports Early Literacy programs in libraries that help young children develop the skills they need to read during this foundational time for learning. By connecting with organizations like First Things First and Read On Arizona, the Arizona Center for the Book empowers parents and caregivers to be their child's first teacher and prepare children to read.

Visit your local library to learn more about early learning programs in your area.

Letters About Literature

Letters About Literature is a reading and writing contest for students in grades 4-12. Students are asked to read a book, poem or speech and write to the author (living or dead) about how the book affected them personally. Letters are judged on state and national levels.  Students can participate through their school, or they can enter the contest individually by submitting a letter. Watch this space for the Arizona winners to be announced this spring.

Congratulations to the winners of Letters About Literature 2019!:

  • Level I - Makenzie Gutierrez, Gilbert, wrote to Tiffany Papageorge, author of My Yellow Balloon

  • Level II - Jeston Zenko, Chandler Heights, wrote to Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables

  • Level III - Raelyn Dickinson, Chandler, wrote to R.J. Palacio, author of Wonder

Literary Landmark

A service of United for Libraries, a Literary Landmark™ is the designation for any special location in a community that is tied to a deceased literary figure, author or his or her work. Arizona’s first Literary Landmark was dedicated in honor of author Barbara Park at the Cherokee Elementary School in Paradise Valley.

National Book Festival

The Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. Over its 19 year history, the National Book Festival has become one of the pre-eminent literary events in the United States. The Arizona Center for the Book takes its place each year in the Pavilion of the States, and offers activities and literacy-linked items such as Rings of Rhymes and Southwest Books of the Year guides.

Every year, the also Arizona Center for the Book contributes a title to 52 Great Reads, a list of books representing the literary heritage of the 50 states. The 2018 Great Read was Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling.

Southwest Books of the Year

Southwest Books of the Year highlights outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction that feature a southwestern setting or subject. The publication is produced by Pima County Public Library and the Arizona Center for the Book helps distribute up to 12,000 copies of the publication to public, tribal and academic libraries outside Pima County.

Summer Reading Library Programs

For information on Arizona's Online Summer Reading Program, check out Arizona Summer Reading. For other summer reading programs, visit your local library.

Writers in Residence in Libraries

The Writers in Residence program promotes writing in communities by connecting local, professional authors to serve as Writers in Residence at local libraries.  Writers in Residence spend time at the library during their residency composing new works and providing education for community members.

The 2019 awardees for the Writers in Residence in Libraries are listed below.

Flagstaff City- Coconino County Public Library

Glendale Public Library

Mesa Public Library

Paradise Valley Community College (Buxton Library)

Pima County Public Library

Tempe Public Library 

For more information on this program, or if you are an author interested in participating, contact Jaime Ball.