This past Saturday, I volunteered at the Westchester Book Festival in Katonah, New York. I served as an Information and Directory Volunteer. It was such a rewarding experience to be part of an event that brings together people who genuinely love books, reading, and community. Throughout the day, I helped festivalgoers find author signings, panel discussions, and activity areas. I answered all kinds of questions, from where to grab a program to which tent a favorite author was speaking in. Town locals and visitors to the area were full of excitement about the activity-filled day. I was constantly interacting with people who came up to the gazebo where I was stationed, which gave me a real sense of how much coordination and communication go into running a successful literary event.
What I enjoyed most was seeing how events like this connect readers, writers, and publishing professionals in such an open and inspiring way. It reminded me why I love the world of publishing and plan to make my own contributions to the industry as well. Whether it’s helping someone discover a new author or simply making their experience smoother, it felt meaningful to contribute to something that celebrates books and storytelling.
Participating in the Westchester Book Festival was a great opportunity to apply what I’ve been learning in the MS in Publishing program at Pace University as a graduate assistant in a real-world setting. All of my experience in event coordination and planning really shone through and allowed me to make the event a smooth ride for attendees. I love attending events where I can be hands-on and hit the ground running, so I was right in my element. This experience definitely strengthened my passion for publishing and helping to bring people and literature together.