Visitor Information

When

• Doors open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 16 at the Main Library of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library. The festival ends at 4 p.m.

Where

• The Main Library of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library is located at 800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
• See Interactive Google Map + Driving Directions

Parking

• Handicapped parking is available in the North Building Lot. There is on-street parking and the Garfield Parking Garage is in close proximity to the Library. In addition, there are parking spaces located in metered street spaces, private flat lots and privately managed garages. 
• See Parking Map
• The Library is also a stop on the The Connector loop. Find out more information here. 

Books

Each author has their newest book for sale at the tables, and in some cases, past titles as well. Book sales sustain the festival and help us bring a fantastic author lineup to the Cincinnati region year after year. Buy for yourself — or get some holiday shopping finished.

Attendees are allowed to bring their own books to the festival, but we strongly encourage you to browse the more than 150 titles for sale.

Authors

Most authors are at the festival for the entire day. However, some have limited appearances. You can see the list of authors on our Confirmed Authors page.

Code Of Conduct

All participants and attendees are required to adhere to the Books by the Banks Code of Conduct.

Lost & Found

The Lost & Found is located at the Welcome/FAQ table.

Plan Your Visit

Make a day, night or weekend out of the festival! See the resources below for help planning your time beyond Books by the Banks. Downtown Cincinnati is home to hundreds of small businesses.  From restaurants to shops to art galleries to hotels, Downtown Cincinnati’s Central Business District has something for everyone!

Where To Stay:

• The Cincinnatian Hotel at 601 Vine Street is Downtown Cincinnati’s oldest (built in 1883) hotel.
• The 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati is located very near the Main Library on Walnut Street.
• The Westin Hotel on 5th Street, overlooks Fountain Square. The hotel is entirely smoke-free and features an indoor swimming pool for exercising or relaxing.
• The Hilton Netherland Plaza (on the National Register of Historic Places) is known for its spectacular Art Deco interior. Both casual and fine dining restaurants are available.

Places To Visit:

• Aronoff Center for the Arts at 650 Walnut Street, consists of three stunning performance spaces: Procter & Gamble Hall, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, and the Fifth Third Bank Theater.
• The Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park, features an art collection of more than 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years. In addition to displaying its own broad collection, the museum also hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year.
• Cincinnati Museum Center is a collection of three separate museums, including The Children’s Museum, and an Omnimax theater housed in the landmark Union Terminal. Cincinnati Metro Bus #1 connects downtown and the Museum Center.
• The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the home of the world famous hippo Fiona and is committed to inspiring visitors with wildlife and saving species.
• The Contemporary Arts Center along with the Aronoff Center, which is directly across Walnut Street, comprise the heart of the Cincinnati Arts Community.
• Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market. You will find the bustling open-air market in Over-the-Rhine at 1801 Race Street.
• The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, on the banks of the Ohio River, educates the public about the struggle to abolish slavery and showcases the efforts of modern day heroes from around the world.
• Newport Aquarium is also part of the Newport on the Levee complex. In 2004, this state-of-the-art facility was named the No. 1 aquarium in the Midwest by the Zagat Survey’s U.S. Family Travel Guide. A new Shark Central exhibit just opened.
• Newport on the Levee is a unique shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located just across the Ohio River in Kentucky. Walk across the Purple People Bridge or take one of the Southbank Shuttle buses to get to Newport on the Levee from downtown.
• The Taft Museum of Art is one of America’s finest small art museums. Built in about 1820, this National Historic Landmark is considered one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the countr