The Northern Marianas Center for the Book: Joeten-Kiyu Public Library shined at the Roadmap to Reading floor by proudly displaying the official book selections for 2025, representing the Northern Mariana Island’s local literary heritage. The 2025 Book of the Year titles selected were:
• “Håfa Un A’atan?” by Dolores Ichihara Marciano. Illustrated by Rodante Guardas.
Written in Chamorro with English translation, published by the Children of Our Homeland A.N.A. Project, the Library Friends c/o Joeten-Kiyu Public Library (2025 Young Reader’s Official Selection)
• “In Retrospect” written and published by Juan Nekai Babauta (2025 Adult Reader’s Official Selection)
Dressed in Chamorro floral print with a Northern Mariana Islands backdrop featuring our CNMI flag, a beach scene and an ancient Chamorro latte house, Team JKPL proudly shared the warmth, culture, and hospitality of the Northern Marianas with thousands of festival attendees. The team included NMI Center for the Book Director/Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi, NMI Center for the Book Program Manager/Technical Services Librarian Beth Demapan, and NMI Center for the Book Administrative Manager/Administrative Officer III Vincent P. Sablan. Visitors were captivated not only by the books but also by the stories, language, and rich cultural heritage of the Northern Marianas, with many expressing interest in visiting the islands.
“We are thrilled to participate in the National Book Festival’s Roadmap to Reading,” said Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi. “It is a great honor to represent the Northern Mariana Islands in our nation’s capital. This festival provides a remarkable opportunity to celebrate literacy, connect with book lovers from across the country, and showcase the unique culture, language, and stories of our islands. Coming from such a remote Pacific community, we are humbled to leave a lasting impression and inspire others to learn about and visit the Northern Marianas. Congratulations to our 2025 Book of the Year authors, Juan Nekai Babauta and Dolores Ichihara Marciano. I am also deeply grateful to my hardworking team for their dedication and commitment to promoting literacy and cultural heritage. Thank you to Keith Sonderling, Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, who warmly expressed his admiration by sharing how he loves the Northern Mariana Islands’ Center for the Book booth. Thank you to distinguished visitors to the JKPL booth including U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds, IMLS Associate Deputy Director Teri Devoe, IMLS Senior Program Officers Madison Bolls and Susan Fuller, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies Executive Director Jeremy Johannessen, Federation of State Humanities Councils President Phoebe Stein, and Guy Lamolinara, former Executive Director for the Center for the Book. Thank you to our amazing team for their hard work, and to all the thousands of visitors who praised, loved, and continued to support our library outreach here at the National Book Festival despite how far we traveled, we were able to display the best booth amongst the 56 booths in the Roadmap to Reading. We appreciate all the support we received from the mainland community, and we are always proud to promote our island beauty, culture, heritage, language, and history at the National Book Festival.”
During the 2025 National Book Festival at the Washington Convention Center, representatives from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Northern Marianas staffed tables to promote their book selections and other literary works reflective of their unique locations. The area at the convention center where the 56 tables were assembled is called the Roadmap to Reading. This activity has been a part of the festival since 2002.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov/.
The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chair David M. Rubenstein. Sponsors include General Motors, James Madison Council, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Friends of the Library of Congress, the John W. Kluge Center, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Diane and Tim Naughton, the Hay-Adams, Joseph and Lynn Deutsch, the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union and the Junior League of Washington. Presenting Partners include NPR and C-SPAN’s Book TV, which will televise select events and interview featured authors. Media Partners also include The Washington Post, Libro.fm, the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals.
All NMI Selections for the Center for the Book are available for check-out at Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.
About NMICB
Northern Mariana Islands Center for the Book is a state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. NMICB promotes literacy and a love of books, reading, and libraries throughout the state, celebrating the Northern Marianas’ robust literary heritage. The NMI Center for the Book is under the direction of Joeten-Kiyu Public Library-NMI State Library, which seeks to preserve the CNMI’s cultural heritage by connecting people, libraries, and government to the resources and tools they need to succeed and to build a strong community. The NMI Center for the Book encourages, develops, and promotes an appreciation for books and the bridges they create across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The NMI Center for the Book builds partnerships with library professionals, educators, authors, publishers, and booksellers who provide support to our shared mission of promoting a love of literature and lifelong learning throughout the CNMI. NMICB is administered by Joeten-Kiyu Public Library-CNMI State Library, an independent program under the Office of the Governor.
For more information, call (670) 235-7322/7318 or go to www.cnmilib.org like/follow JKPL’s Facebook page @joetenkiyupubliclibrary, Instagram @joetenkiyupubliclibrary, TikTok @jkpl670, X (Twitter) @JoetenKiyu or YouTube: joeten kiyu public library.
JKPL welcomes and encourages businesses to make Educational Tax Credit donations. Please make checks payable to: CNMI Treasury. For MUNIS payments, to the Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library MUNIS Vendor ID#100404.
