2023 Southern Miss Edible Book Festival
News item published on: 2023-03-06 13:36:00Join us for the 8th Annual Southern Miss Edible Book Festival!
Each year libraries and cultural institutions around the world hold edible book festivals to celebrate the birthday of Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), the French author of a witty book on food entitled Physiologie du gout. Since its beginning in 1999, the festival has grown into an international event held annually on or around April 1.
2023 Southern Miss Edible Book Festival Monday, April 3 at 3 p.m. Cook Library on the Hattiesburg campus and the Gulf Coast Library on the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach Refreshments Served Please Bring a Donation for your Local USM Food Pantry
What is an edible book? An “edible book” is a creation made from edible materials that is inspired by a book title, character, or author. Don't worry -- it doesn’t have to taste good – it won’t be eaten. For more information and edible book examples check out our Edible Book Festival Guide
Registration Edible book entries will be accepted from Southern Miss students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local community members. Participants must complete the registration form by March 31 and bring edible book entries to the campus location they have chosen by 2 p.m. on April 3.
View the Entries and Vote for Your Favorite Edible book entries will be on display for the public and judging at Cook Library in Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast Library in Long Beach on April 3 beginning at 2 p.m. Stop in to view this year’s entries and cast a vote for your favorite for the People’s Choice Award.
At 3 p.m. a panel of judges will choose the Punniest entry as well as the Most Creative and Best in Show. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Not able to attend in person? Enter the contest virtually Make an edible book any time by March 31 and post photos of your book to our drop folder, designating the campus where you would like your entry to be judged. Virtual entries will be displayed digitally at the festival and judged along with the entries for that campus. We will accept virtual edible book entries through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31. See the registration form for more details.
Contact with questions
Diana Simpson, Hattiesburg:
Allisa Beck, Gulf Park:
Eligibility requirements
o Any USM student, faculty, staff, alumni or community member may participate
o Book must be made from edible materials (books will not be eaten at the festival or tasted by judges)
o Your entry does not have to look like a book but must be inspired by a book title, character, or author
o Remember, the “punnier” the better!
What do I do after I register? o Gather the ingredients and plan to make your edible book o Bring your book to the location you registered for by 2:00 PM on the day of the festival o If participating virtually submit two photos of your edible book by Wednesday, March 29 and designate the campus where you would like your book to be judged
Instructions for virtual entries o Please complete all steps by Wednesday, March 31 at 5 p.m. o Register as a virtual participant – you will receive instructions via email for submitting photos o Create your edible book o Submit 2 photos of your edible book to the submission portal Photo 1: an overall view of your edible book by itself Photo 2: a selfie with you and your edible book
Photos of each entry will be used for display at the festival on April 3 for judging and archived in the University Libraries' institutional repository, Aquila. Winning entries may also be used for publicity and University Libraries social media posts after the festival.
About USM Food Pantries
The Eagle's Nest Food Pantry, the Gulf Park Pantry, and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory’s Gunter Library Eaglet Food Pantry provide resources for the Southern Miss community who are temporarily experiencing challenges accessing basic necessities and food. Please bring a food pantry donation to the event and we will make sure it is distributed to those in need.