National Book Foundation to Debut Online in Partnership With BookWire

Posted on April 27, 1998

The National Book Foundation (NBF), sponsor of the National Book Awards, will launch its presence on the Internet on May 4th in partnership with BookWire. The National Book Foundation's website will be accessible directly at http://www.nationalbook.org or through BookWire's homepage beginning May 4. NBF will also promote its unique educational outreach programs aimed at building a stronger literary culture on the Internet. The online portion of these outreach programs, including the Internet's first "writers-in-residence" program, will kick off during this coming summer and fall.

This fall, in the weeks leading up to the National Book Awards, fans will be able to check the list of Finalists online, learn more about the nominated books and their authors, and cast their own votes for winners. Winners will be announced on the site the evening of the ceremony, Wednesday, November 18, at the Marriot Marquis Hotel, New York City.

"Windows on the Writing Life" will give web site visitors an opportunity to discuss books by National Book Award authors. In addition, these visitors will be able to participate in online interviews with renowned authors and use Study Guides prepared by the Foundation.

The National Book Foundation, founded in 1989, was created to raise the cultural value of great writing in America. The Foundation has developed a variety of outreach programs promoting "literate literacy:" reading, writing and an understanding of "the writing life" for a wide array of audiences. The National Book Foundation is the sponsor of the National Book Awards.