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August 2, 1999
Contact: Audrey Fisher (202) 707-0022

Center for the Book Invites Descriptions of Reading Promotion Projects for its Web Site

To celebrate the Library of Congress's Bicentennial in 2000, the Center for the Book is posting brief descriptions of reading promotion projects from across the nation on its Web site, www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/.

This effort will bring to a close the center's three-year "Building a Nation of Readers" national reading promotion campaign.

Libraries, schools, education, civic and government organizations, corporations and other groups are invited to participate. Each organization is limited to one description of a project in which they promoted reading in some way. Each project should be described in 50 words or less and should be submitted no later than April 10, 2000. The entry should include the name of the sponsoring organization and where the project occurred.

A form on which to submit the description is available on the center's Web site. Descriptions can be submitted via e-mail to: cfbook@loc.gov. The form can be faxed to (202) 707-0269 or mailed to: Reading Promotion Projects, The Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20540-4920. The form is also included in a Library of Congress Bicentennial Toolkit for libraries that is available without charge from the Library of Congress by calling (800) 707- 7145 or (202) 707-2000 or by e-mail: bicentennial@loc.gov. The Toolkit offers ideas for promoting all libraries as part of the Library of Congress's Bicentennial.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was established by law in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries and to encourage the study of books and print culture.

The Library of Congress, founded April 24, 1800, is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution. It preserves a collection of 115 million items - more than two-thirds of which are in media other than books. These include the largest map and film and television collections in the world. In addition to its primary mission of serving the research needs of the U.S. Congress, the Library serves all Americans through its popular Web site (www.loc.gov) and in its 22 reading rooms on Capitol Hill.

"We will celebrate with pride our first 200 years of Library history," said Dr. Billington. "During that time, the Library has grown into the world's largest repository of knowledge and creativity, which it has preserved for all generations of Americans. "We want to take advantage of this opportunity to energize national awareness of the critical role that all libraries play in keeping the spirit of creativity and free inquiry alive in our society."

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PR 99-108
8/2/99
ISSN 0731-3527