If you didn’t think the Salt Lake City Public Library could be any more book focused, you probably haven’t attended the previous 12 Utah Humanities Book Festivals. While the beauty of most books lies in readers’ imaginations, allowing authors to speak on their works or on writing in general adds depth to literature for audiences of all ages.

Utah’s best of the best will be honored in the Main Library Auditorium during the Literary Awards Ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 21. Then, on Oct. 23, under the theme “What Kind of Idea Are You?,” more than 20 local and national authors of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, juvenile lit, history, biography and more will share stages for a day of interviews, discussions and book signings. Scheduled authors include Thomas McGuane, Ian Frazier (pictured, presenting Travels in Siberia), Joseph Marshall and Mark & Caralyn Buehner.

Additionally, throughout the library, there’ll be children’s readings, book-making workshops for children and adults, open-mic and poetry slams, a fractured fairy-tales workshop, a mash-up competition and a rare-books roadshow with book dealers Ken Sanders and Tony Weller. For book geeks at heart, a working replica of the 19th century Ramage Press will be exhibited in the main floor browsing stacks. End the evening with The Sonosopher, a film about Utah poet Alex Caldiero.

And, luckily for Utahns, the festival has spread its wings and is taking place statewide in multiple communities. 

Utah Humanities Book Festival @ Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, 801-524-8200, through Oct. 23, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; @ various locations through Oct. 30, free. More information at UtahHumanities.org/BookFestival.htm