UNIVERSITY NEWS | Los Angeles is an integral part of an LMU education, so when the city annually gathers its book lovers, academics and creatives, Loyola Marymount University sets up its own tent. Just as the university deepens its connection to the city in scholarly ways, the L.A. Times Festival of Books offers an opportunity to deepen the cultural ties.
Over the two-day festival, more than 100,000 people will gather on the USC campus to shop for books and mementos, attend panels on important current events, and hear music and spoken-word performances. The central intellectual event in the region’s calendar will take place this year on April 21-22.
This is the eighth consecutive year LMU will have a place in this vital civic happening. The festival gives the university a chance to present itself in a direct, person-to-person way. Past experience, as expressed by volunteers working the booths and visitors who picked up literature, was very successful. “We were all so proud!” said one staff volunteer. Another said, “I enjoyed greeting people and introducing them to LMU. It was a wonderful experience.” Each year, the LMU crew has contact with hundreds of people; about a third are prospective students, a third are alumni and a third are interested passersby.
As in previous years, Iggy the Lion will be greeting visitors and taking pictures on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Visitors to the LMU exhibit will be greeted by a contingent of mostly English majors and minors. Also, there will be LMU gear, cups and mementos for sale at the booth.
Because of LMU’s participation in the Festival of Books, more people than can be counted know the LMU name and have learned about the university’s programs.
