A program to usher in the tenth annual month-long World of Words (WOW) began with a welcome on behalf of the State of Connecticut by Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. Deputy Chief Librarian Jenny Benedict spoke on behalf of Hartford Public Library, host of the Connecticut Center for the Book and its programs, including WOW. Diane Smith, far left, is Honorary Chairperson for WOW and was Master of Ceremonies for the event held at the Capitol. Southington Public Library Director Susan Smayda, second from left, presented awards to the student essay contest winners (left to right): Michael Scanlon, 1st Place; Divya Iyer, 2nd Place; and, Ryan Scanlon, 3rd Place. Ambassador José Garaycochea (far right), Consular General of the Consulate General of Peru in Hartford, was one of two Consular representatives to honor the festivities.

This was the first time that siblings—brothers—made it to the winners’ circle of the “Why We Came and What We Brought” essay contest. 3rd Place winner Ryan (left) is in grade 11 at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol; his brother Michael (center) is in grade 10 at Southington High School. Divya Iyer (right) is in grade 9 at Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield.

(Left to right) Jeanne Chmielewski, Programming Specialist, Southington Public Library; Anna Velasco, Cultural Affairs Officer, Consulate General of Canada in New York; Kat Lyons, Coordinator, Connecticut Center for the Book at Hartford Public Library; Katherine Kane, Executive Director, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center; Karen Gozzo-Saucier; Bruce Saucier; Ryan Scanlon.

(Left to right) Ambassador José Garaycochea, Consul General, Consulate General of Peru in Hartford; Kendall Wiggin, Connecticut State Librarian; Gisela Ramírez, Cultural Advisor, Consulate General of Peru in Hartford; Pat Wiggin, Adult Services Librarian, South Windsor Public Library; Jenny Benedict, Deputy Chief Librarian, Hartford Public Library; Linda McNair, Adult Programming Coordinator, New Britain Public Library; Divya Iyer; Meenu Iyer.

(Left to right) Author Chandra Prasad, WOW 2008 luncheon speaker; Nilofar Helder, Pakistani American Association of Connecticut; Aida Mansoor, Muslim Chaplain, Hartford Seminary; Homa Naficy, Manager of Multicultural Education and Outreach, Hartford Public Library; Shoufeng Hu, Chinese Culture Center; Mary Etter, Director, South Windsor Public Library; WOW 2008 Honorary Chair Diane Smith, CPTV and WTIC-AM.

(Left to right) Sue Smayda, Director, Southington Public Library; Michael Scanlon; Joe Gozzo; Amy Sailor, Arts and Cultural Programs Manager, Hartford Public Library; John Barry, Chair, Southington Town Council; Sandy Gozzo; Barbara Bailey, Director, Welles-Turner Memorial Library, Glastonbury.

(Left to right) An-Ming Truxes, Arts Division Director, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism; Catherine Blinder, Media Relations Officer, Hartford Public Library; John Wiehn, Reference Librarian, Howard Whittemore Memorial Library, Naugatuck; Diana Scalzi, Library Assistant, Howard Whittemore Memorial Library, Naugatuck; Carol Lennig, Reference Librarian, Prosser Public Library, Bloomfield; Linda Montañez, Assistant Youth Librarian, Park Branch, Hartford Public Library.

Amy Sailor and Anna Velasco exchanged gift books for Hartford Public Library and the Consulate General of Canada in New York, respectively.

Linda McNair and Ambassador José Garaycochea exchanged gift books for New Britain Public Library and the Consulate General of Peru in Hartford, respectively

Chandra Prasad inscribed the gift copy of her latest book, On Borrowed Wings, for Anna Velasco.