UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler to Sponsor East Texas Book Fest

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August 12, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 12, 2015

UT Tyler, in collaboration with Smith County Area Libraries Together and Tyler Area Partners for Literacy, will once again host the East Texas Book Fest.

This year’s two-day event will be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug 21 – 22 at the Harvey Hall Convention Center in Tyler.

“The 2015 East Texas Book Fest, in its seventh year, offers more opportunities to learn how to enhance literacy for all ages, as well as more opportunities to meet literacy experts and Texas authors than any event ever held in Tyler,” said Dr. Kouider Mokhtari, UT Tyler Anderson-Vukelja-Wright Endowed Professor of Literacy Education and event co-chair.

Day 1 targets K-12 teachers and administrators interested in literacy. Keynote speaker is Dr. D. Ray Reutzel, internationally known literacy scholar and International Reading Association Hall of Fame member. Reutzel will share practical ideas and insights for enhancing literacy achievement in schools. Day 1 registration is $40 and includes lunch for those who register before Wednesday, Aug. 19. To register, visit etxbookfest.org/.

Continuing professional education credits will also be offered through the UT Tyler School of Education, Mokhtari added.

Day 2 offers free family fun with books, authors, musicians and storytellers. More than 100 East Texas authors will be available for one-on-one discussion and autographs/book signings. In addition, there will be breakout sessions led by authors about their work and presentations designed to help would-be authors succeed.

For additional information, contact Mokhtari, kmokhtari@uttyler.edu.