April 7, 1997

Contact: Craig D'Ooge (202) 707-9189

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Center for the Book Announces Four-Year "Rivers of America" Project

The literary, historical, and environmental heritage of America's rivers will be examined and celebrated in Rivers of America, a new Center for the Book educational project.

"Our Rivers of America project will continue through the year 2000, when the Library of Congress marks its bicentennial," said John Y. Cole, the center's director. "The kickoff was on April 9 and 10, when the Center for the Book, in cooperation with the Library's American Folklife Center, celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Rivers of America book series. This 65-volume series, published between 1937 and 1974, inspired our project," he said. "The books combine good writing, regional and local history, and a concern for place and community that our new project will encourage--particularly in the schools."

The new Rivers of America project is being developed by the Center for the Book in cooperation with other Library of Congress offices and organizations outside the Library. Aimed primarily at the general public, teachers, and students, the project will use the cultural heritage of America's rivers to stimulate interest in reading, literacy, history, and the environment.

For information about the Center for the Book and its activities, contact the Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540-4920, (202) 707-5221 (phone) or (202) 707-0269 (fax), or visit its site on the World Wide Web at http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/.

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PR 97-68
4/4/97
ISSN 0731-3527