Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole announced on Aug. 28 that the center's cooperative project with the Head Start Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services will continue into 1996.
"We are delighted with this vote of confidence from Head Start officials," he said. "The extension of the project into 1996 will enable us to reach Head Start teachers, librarians who serve children and museum specialists in rural areas in the Southwest."
Library-Head Start-Museum workshops will be hosted by the Texas Center for the Book (Austin, Dec. 7-8, 1995); the Arizona Center for the Book (Phoenix, Feb. 29-March 1, 1996; and the Colorado Center for the Book (Denver, Sept. 5-6, 1996).
The Library-Head Start-Museum Project, which began in 1992, brings libraries, Head Start programs and museums together at the community level to promote family literacy and reading. Virginia H. Mathews is national project coordinator. Since 1993, more than 350 individuals have participated in workshops hosted by state centers for the book in California, Florida, Kansas, Minnesota and Virginia. Developed in cooperation with the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, the project emphasizes the importance of sharing local resources in fostering a love of learning among children and young people. The Association of Youth Museums is the principal partnership link to museums.
For further information, write Head Start Project, Center for the Book, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540-8200.
Born to Read. John Cole and Center for the Book consultant Virginia Mathews are members of the National Advisory Board of "Born to Read: How to Nurture a Love for Learning in Your New Baby," a three-year national demonstration project administered by ALSC and funded by a grant from the Prudential Foundation. "Born to Read" establishes model programs to show how librarians and health care providers can reach out to "at risk" parents-to- be and help them raise children who are "born to read."
For information write or call April L. Judge, Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795, (312) 280-1398.
National Coalition for Literacy. On Aug. 9 the Center for the Book hosted a dinner for members of the National Coalition for Literacy, a network that brings major literacy organizations together to improve communication and unify efforts in the fight against illiteracy. The Center for the Book is an affiliate member. Brief remarks were presented by Peggy Barber, associate executive director of the American Library Association (ALA), who has served as coalition chair for the past two years, and who introduced the new chair, Lennox McLendon of the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education.
John Cole announced that the Center for the Book, with support from the ALA, the National Institute of Literacy, and several private sources, was developing a study of libraries and their role in promoting literacy. Center for the Book Program Officer Maurvene L. Williams attended coalition meetings on Aug. 10. For information about the Coalition, write or call the American Library Association, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 6061-2795, (312) 914-6780.
Rocky Mountain Book Festival. The third annual Rocky Mountain Book Festival, a project of the Colorado Center for the Book in collaboration with Rocky Mountain News, the Colorado State Library and other Colorado organizations, will take place Oct. 13-14, 1995, in Currigan Exhibition Hall in downtown Denver. More than 200 authors will participate. Activities include cooking demonstrations, storytelling, book displays, a literary chautauqua, autographing sessions, costumed characters, panel discussions, book arts demonstrations, entertainment for children, celebrity appearances and "bibliotherapy." The festival is free. For information, call (303) 273-5933.
Colorado Book Awards. The winners of the 1995 Colorado Book Awards have been announced. They are: Fiction, Bruce Ducker, Lead Us Not Into Penn Station (Permanent Press); Nonfiction, Juliet Wittman, Breast Cancer Journal: A Century of Petals (Fulcrum); Poetry, Luis Alberto Urrea, The Fever of Being (West End Press); Young Adult, Thomas Barron, The Merlin Effect (Philomel Books/Putnam); Children's, Marian Harris, Goose and the Mountain Lion (Northland); and Special Fiction, Timothy Hillmer, The Hookmen (University Press of Colorado).
Submissions are being accepted for the 1996 awards. The authors must be Colorado residents. The Colorado Book Awards, a project of the Colorado Center for the Book, is sponsored by Big Horn Booksellers and the Colorado center. For information, call the Colorado Center for the Book at (303) 273-5933.
Oklahoma Book Awards. The Oklahoma Center for the Book has issued a call for entries for the 1996 Oklahoma Book Awards. Books considered for the award must have been written by an author who resides or who has resided in Oklahoma, or have an Oklahoma-based theme. The book must have been published in 1995. For entry forms and further information about the activities of the Oklahoma center, write or call Tracy Alford, Oklahoma Center for the Book, 200 N.E. 18th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73105, (405) 521-2502, ext. 264.
Illinois Authors Book Fair. The Illinois Center for the Book and the Illinois State Library are sponsoring the first annual Illinois Authors Book Fair at the State Library in Springfield on Nov. 18, 1995. More than 120 Illinois authors have been invited to participate in readings, workshops, panel discussions and book signings. For information, write or call Melinda Robinson, Illinois Center for the Book, 300 S. Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701, (217) 524-8835.
Key West Literary Seminar. The Florida Center for the Book is one of the sponsors of the 14th Annual Key West Literary Seminar, which will be held on Jan. 11-14, 1996. This year's theme is "American Writers and the Natural World." The keynote reading is by Annie Dillard, and more than 14 important nature writers will participate in readings, discussions and special events.
For information, write or call Key West Literary Seminar, 419 Petronia St., Dept. F, Key West, FL 33040, (305) 293-9291.
Donations in the Memory of George A. Pughe Jr. The family of longtime Library of Congress employee George A. Pughe, who died on Aug. 6, has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Center for the Book.
Mr. Pughe began his career at the Library as a deck attendant in 1936 and was assistant director of personnel when he left in 1941 to enter the U.S. Army. He returned to the Library in 1946 as director of personnel, where he served until 1951, when became chief of the Air Information Division.
After his retirement on Sept. 19, 1969, he continued to serve the Library as a volunteer. "George Pughe loved reading and the Library of Congress, and the Center for the Book is honored to have his name associated with our efforts," said Center for the Book Director John Cole.