The ninth annual Edible Book Festival, which is sponsored by Booth Library, is set for 9 a.m. Monday in the Marvin Foyer of the library and will kick off National Library Week.

An “edible book” is something that looks like a book or is book-themed and is made out of food, according to a press release.

Anyone in the community can enter work made out of edible materials that has something to do with books in either its shape or content, and the artwork will not be eaten.

The deadline to register entries is April 5, and the registration form for this year’s festival is available online at https://library.eiu.edu/exhibits/edible-book/.

Participants can design an entry on any topic, and those who are interested but are not sure where to begin can try the “Theme Challenge.”

According to a press release, the theme challenge is intended as a starting point to inspire ideas and creativity.

Participation is optional, and this year’s ingredient for the theme challenge is apple, and the genre theme is mystery.

Participants in this year’s festival can drop off their entries between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. in the Marvin Foyer of the library.

Entries will be on display all day, with voting starting at 4:30 p.m.

A reception with light refreshments will begin at 4 p.m., with the award winners announced at 5 p.m.

The festival is free and open to the public.

All edible book entries are eligible to win one of two best-in-show prizes, one determined by a jury and the other by popular vote of the festival attendees, according to a press release.

The winners for each best-in-show entry will receive a $50 gift card. Honorable mentions also will be awarded.

To view entries from last year’s competition, go to https://thekeep.eiu.edu/ediblebook_2018/.

If people are unable to deliver their entry during the start time, they can contact Ellen Corrigan, the event organizer, at [email protected] to make alternate arrangements.

In addition to the Edible Book Festival, Booth Library will host its annual book sale and a social media contest to celebrate National Library Week.

The annual book sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 10, outside the south entrance of Booth Library in the Library Quad (weather permitting).

A large selection of books in all subject areas and hundreds of paperback fiction titles were donated by the campus and Charleston communities and will be available for sale.

People will not be allowed to browse or purchase the books prior to the 9 a.m. start time. The proceeds from the sale are used to enhance library programs and services, according to a press release.

Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to enter Booth’s social media contest by creating their own “Read” poster.

Students can take pictures at the “READ” photo booth located in the Marvin Foyer using any of literary-themed props available or simply posing with their favorite book.

Students will have to post the picture to their Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the tag #BoothNLW2019.

The student with the most likes will win a small prize.

National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April that was first sponsored in 1958.

“It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and library staff, and to promote library use and support,” according to a press release.

This year’s honorary chair for National Library Week is Melinda Gates.

Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has invested more than $1 billion through her foundation’s Global Libraries initiative to enhance the power of libraries. On April 23, Gates will debut her book, “The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World.”

More information about National Library Week can be found on the Booth Library website, www.library.eiu.edu.

The News staff can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].