Join us for the 9th 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. 

2024 Southern Miss Edible Book Festival
- Monday, April 15 at 2 p.m.
- Cook Library Room 209A 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

Eligibility Requirements
- Any USM student, faculty, staff, alumni, or community member may participate
- Book must be made from edible materials (books will not be eaten at the festival or tasted by judges)
- Your entry does not have to look like a book but must be inspired by a book title, character, or author
- Remember, the “punnier” the better!

Registration
Participants must complete the Registration form by April 10 and bring edible book entries to the campus location they have chosen by 2 p.m. on April 15. 

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 15 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.

Instructions for Virtual Entries
Register as a virtual participant, and you will receive instructions via email for submitting photos. Create your edible book and submit two photos of your edible book to the submission portal by Wednesday, April 10 at 5 PM. 

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 15 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.

Contact with questions
Hali Black, Hattiesburg: Hali.Black@usm.edu
Allisa Beck, Gulf Park: Allisa.Beck@usm.edu