The Provo City Library will host its Read Local Book Festival on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The afternoon opens with a panel of three well-known authors and then gives way to two hours of booths, where about 40 Utah authors meet readers and sign books. The library's event page says tickets are not required and that readers and writers of all ages are welcome.
| Detail | What the library says |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 |
| Time | 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. |
| Where | The Ballroom and The Nelson Attic, Provo City Library |
| Address | 550 N. University Ave., Provo, UT 84601 |
| Tickets | Not required; no price is listed |
| Parking | Free for patrons and scheduled-event attendees |
| Contact | Amber Lowe, outreach librarian, 801-852-7699 |
The schedule
The event page splits the afternoon into two parts. From 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., an author panel meets in The Nelson Attic. Ally Condie, Ann Dee Ellis and Lindsey Leavitt will talk about the writing and publishing process, and the library says they will sign books in the Attic once the panel ends.
From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the action moves to The Ballroom for author booths. This is the local-author meet-and-greet portion of the day, with book signings and what the library describes in general terms as activities. The page does not spell out what those activities are, and it does not list anything aimed specifically at young children. If you are bringing kids, call the library before you go to ask what will be on offer.
Who will be there
The library's page lists these local authors and author teams: C.F. Gonzi, Chelsea Fransen, Chelsey M. Ortega, Christopher McClelland, Cleiton V. Lima, D.C. Wynters, Hannah Melville, Hannah Shoaf Hardy, Harrison Jenkins, Heather B. Moore, J.A. Hemingway, Joe Monson, Judith Hale Everett, Justin Greer, Karin Mallard, Kimberly Loper, Lauren Burlett, M.C. Lee, Maggie Bradford, Mairi Bontorno, Marcus Williams, Marian Scadden, Max Florschutz, Natalie Brianne, Orwenda, R.R. Mangold, Rebecca Rode and Sasha Hart, Richard Monk, Rio L. Barney, S.K. Wenger, S.L. McMullin, Shaun Barrowes, Shelly E. Powell, Staci Olsen, Taffy Lovell, Tanya Harris Roundy, T.J. Tarbet, Tyler Tarter, V.S. Lawrence and Valeria Nuñez.
The page does not say which genres each author writes, so it is hard to plan a route in advance. The practical approach is to walk the Ballroom once, see who is at each table, and then circle back. The festival is built for readers, local authors and people who hope to write a book of their own, and the booth hours are a natural time to ask working authors how they got published.
Authors who wanted a booth had to apply by Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. The library says it is not accepting additional authors, so the list above is the lineup.
Cost and registration
The library's page states plainly that tickets are not required. It does not list a price, and it does not say whether books will be sold at the booths or how authors will accept payment. Bring a card or cash in case individual authors sell copies, and ask each author how they take payment. That is a general tip, not something the library has announced.
Getting there and parking
The library is at 550 N. University Ave. in the historic Academy Square building. Its directions page tells drivers coming from I-15 to take the Provo Center Street exit (Exit 265), follow Center Street east, turn left on 500 West, turn right on 500 North and cross University Avenue. The library will be on your left.
Parking is free for library patrons and for people attending scheduled events. There are two above-ground lots, one north and one south of the building, plus a one-level underground garage entered from the east side off 100 East. The page gives two clearance figures for the garage, 8 feet 3 inches in one place and 8 feet 6 inches in another, and says some beams dip to 7 feet and are marked. If you drive a tall vehicle, use an above-ground lot. The library also warns that an unauthorized vehicle left overnight in the garage may be towed.
For accessible parking, the library recommends the south above-ground lot, parallel to 500 North, which has three accessible stalls. A wheelchair ramp is to the right of the South Entrance, and an elevator takes you up one floor. Additional accessible spaces are in the garage on both the north and south sides. For the Academy Building, which houses the Ballroom, the page suggests entering the garage off 100 East and parking near the yellow "Academy Entrance" sign, where two accessible stalls sit near an elevator. The Ballroom is on the third floor.
The directions page does not include public transit or bike information, so check the Utah Transit Authority's trip planner or the city for current routes. Our own downtown Provo parking guide covers street and garage options nearby if the lots fill up on a busy Saturday.
Other Provo library events in November
The festival is the biggest author event on the library's November calendar, but the library's homepage lists plenty more around it.
- Nov. 12: Teen Movie Night, showing Jurassic Park, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Small Programming Room #156.
- Nov. 16: Miss Liberty Belle Presents: History at the Provo Library, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., The Attic. The same evening, Mad Science: Spin, Boom, Pop! starts at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom, and registration is required.
- Nov. 16 to 20: Homegrown Art Show, 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. each weekday, Nelson Attic.
- Nov. 17 and 18: Book Sale in the Ballroom, noon to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 and noon to 3 p.m. on Nov. 18.
- Nov. 18: Sock Monkey Social, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Shaw Programming Room, with registration required.
The week before the festival also has recurring programs, including Spanish story time (Cuentos) on Monday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m., Trivia Night in the Nelson Attic that night at 7:00, a Senior Book Club on Tuesday, and Preschool and Toddler Time sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some programs, such as Tween Dungeons and Dragons and the stationery workshop, were full with wait lists as of the library's latest posting. The full calendar is at provolibrary.gov/events.
Library hours that week are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The library is closed Sundays. Because the festival happens on a Saturday, the building will be open before and after the 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. event, but confirm the hours on the library's site if you plan a long visit.
A look back at last year
This is not the first Read Local. Utah Humanities, the state humanities nonprofit, listed a Provo Library Read Local event on Oct. 25, 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Provo City Library, described as a day of discussion and panels celebrating local authors. The 2026 edition moves to a mid-November Saturday afternoon and is organized on the library's own event page. We could not confirm from the pages we read whether Utah Humanities is a partner this year, so we are not saying that it is.
If you want a library card first
You do not need a card for the festival, based on the library's page. But if the afternoon inspires you to borrow a few of the books you meet, here is how the card works. Provo and Orem residents qualify for a free Provo City Library card. Residents of Provo Canyon areas outside city limits, the library names Spring Dell, Sundance and South Fork Road, do not qualify for the free card. Non-residents can buy a card for $62.50 for six months or $125 for one year.
Bring a photo ID issued by a government agency, school or employer, a document showing your name and local address (a photo ID does not count for that), and a completed library card application, which is available at the Circulation Help Desk or printable from the library's website. Children from birth to age 17 can have their own card, linked to a parent's or legal guardian's account. Resident cards expire every two years, and cards for college students and educators expire every year. The library discontinued Internet Only cards in 2025.
For what a card unlocks beyond books, including museum passes, see our guide to free passes with a library card in Utah Valley.
What to do
- Arrive for the panel if you can. It starts at 1:00 p.m. in the Nelson Attic and runs 50 minutes. Booths in the Ballroom open at 2:00 p.m.
- Plan your parking. Use an above-ground lot if your vehicle is tall, and use the south lot for the closest accessible stalls.
- Ask about kids. The page does not describe children's activities, so call 801-852-6650 or reach out to Amber Lowe at 801-852-7699 to ask.
- Make time for the building. Our Provo City Library family guide covers the Academy Square building, and the library's Ballroom is the same room hosting the author booths.
- Shop local afterward. See our list of bookstores in Provo and Orem, or browse more free things to do in Provo.
Related
- Provo City Library: a family guide to Academy Square
- Free passes with a library card in Utah Valley
- Provo Library Ballroom weddings
- Bookstores in Provo and Orem
- Downtown Provo parking
- Free things to do in Provo
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Read Local Book Festival at the Provo City Library?
Where is the festival held?
Do I need a ticket or a library card?
Who is on the author panel?
How many local authors will have booths?
Can another author still sign up for this year's festival?
Where do I park for the festival?
Who do I contact with questions about the festival?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Provo Library Read Local (2025 event listing), Utah Humanities. Checked November 8, 2026.
- Read Local Book Festival, Provo City Library. Checked November 8, 2026.
- Directions, Parking, and Maps, Provo City Library. Checked November 8, 2026.
- Library card FAQ, Provo City Library. Checked November 8, 2026.
- Provo City Library home page and November events, Provo City Library. Checked November 8, 2026.