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May 11, 1999
Press Contact: Yvonne French (202) 707-9191

Virginia and Missouri Win 1999 Boorstin Center for the Book Awards

Librarian of Congress Emeritus Daniel J. Boorstin and his wife, Ruth, on May 3 presented the 1999 Boorstin Center for the Book awards to the Virginia and Missouri Centers for the Book. Each of the annual awards includes a cash prize of $5,000. The awards were presented at the annual state center "idea exchange day" hosted by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

The National Award was won by the Virginia Center for the Book. The award recognizes the contribution that a state center has made to the Center for the Book's overall program. The State Award, won by the Missouri Center for the Book, recognizes specific state center initiatives that "stimulate public interest in books, reading and libraries."

The Virginia center's initiatives, cited by Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole, included the sponsorship of a model "Virginia Authors Room" at the Library of Virginia, the creation of a listserv for all 36 affiliated state centers, and the establishment of the first statewide system of local affiliates. The award was accepted by Virginia Center for the Book Director Deborah Hocutt.

Mr. Cole cited Missouri's annual Celebration of the Book and the databases the center has created for information about Missouri authors and the Missouri community of the book. The award was accepted by Missouri Center for the Book Director Madeline Matson.

The awards are supported by a 1985 gift to the Center for the Book from the Boorstins on the occasion of Dr. Boorstin's retirement as Librarian of Congress. Dr. Boorstin established the Center for the Book in 1977. Most of the center's activities are supported by tax- deductible contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations.

For information about the Center for the Book and its network of 36 affiliated state centers, contact the Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC 20540-4920, (202) 707-5221 (telephone), (202) 707-0269 (fax), or visit its Web site at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook.

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PR 99-072
5/11/99
ISSN 0731-3527