The Library of Congress has approved an initiative of the Missouri Center for the Book (MCB) to designate Missouri State University as the Ozarks Chapter of the MCB.

As the first official act, the Ozarks Chapter will co-host a reading by Missouri Poet Laureate William Trowbridge, as part of Wordfest. Free and open to the public, Trowbridge’s reading will be held at the Coffee Ethic in downtown Springfield at 4 p.m. on Sept. 28.

The event’s other hosts include the English department and English Society. There will be various activities held downtown starting the evening of Sept. 27 and continuing all day Sept. 28.