CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Virginia Center for the Book has a new director.

On Monday, Virginia Humanities announced that Kalela Williams will serve as the new director.

According to a release, the Virginia Center for the Book is an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, working across Virginia to unite readers, writers, artists and book lovers.

The center is also the home for the annual Virginia Festival for the Book.

Williams is bringing experience from the Philadelphia Mighty Writers, the Free Library of Philadelphia and more.

She has also played an important role in implementing special program initiatives for other Philadelphia institutions, such as the Museum of the American Revolution.

Williams also has experience with the Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University and with the University of Virginia Office of Admission’s Outreach Department.

“I am thrilled to return to Virginia, and to be a part of the transformative conversations that books open up for us all," she said. "It will be exciting to engage with fellow Virginians from every corner of this state through our upcoming Festival of the Book, and our Center's many other amazing offerings."