Twenty-eight enthusiastic representatives of state centers affiliated with the national Center for the Book at the Library of Congress met at the Library on May 6 for their annual "idea exchange day."
"It was an excellent turnout and an exciting day for all concerned," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "Three new state centers-New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee-were welcomed, and together we reviewed current projects, shared ideas, made plans and learned about potential new projects."
State centers are statewide organizations that help the LC Center for the Book carry its reading promotion themes and projects to states, regions, and local communities throughout the United States. To be approved as an affiliate, a state center must meet requirements established by the national center. Affiliate status is granted and renewed for three-year periods. In addition to using the national center's reading promotion themes and materials, state centers celebrate the book culture of their respective states through author and book awards programs, book fairs, television and radio programs, school projects and other activities. They also host Library of Congress traveling exhibitions, symposia, and educational and outreach projects. State centers must provide their own funding.
Since the approval of Florida's 1984 application to establish a state center, 35 states have participated in the state center educational outreach program. Currently there are 32 active state center affiliates. About half of them are not-for-profit organizations with 501 (c)(3) status, and most of them are located either in state libraries or in large public library systems.
At idea exchange day on May 6, state center representatives were joined by approximately 40 people from other organizations, including educational and civic groups, state libraries, library associations, and members and officers of state center boards around the country. Librarian of Congress Emeritus Daniel J. Boorstin and his wife, Ruth, also participated. Dr. Boorstin founded the Center for the Book in 1977.
The program on May 6 began with a brief "state of the Center for the Book" talk by John Cole, who reiterated the center's dual purpose: (1) to stimulate public interest in books, reading and libraries; and (2) to encourage research about the role of books and print culture in society. Now approaching its 20th anniversary, the LC Center for the Book works with an active network of partners that includes the 32 affiliated state centers, more than 100 civic and educational organizations and about a dozen scholarly institutions and organizations. While the Library of Congress supports the center's four staff positions, the Center for the Book has always relied on funds from other sources to support its program and publications.
The center's continued growth and success, Dr. Cole observed, has been fueled by society's increasing concern about the future of books, reading and libraries in an electronic age. He paid tribute to the innovative ideas and devoted work of the state centers and their coordinators. He also thanked the center's corporate sponsors and in particular, the H.W. Wilson Foundation, for its generous and continuing support. Such private donations, he noted, make it possible for the center's staff to participate in state center and other events throughout the country; in fiscal year 1995, for example, Dr. Cole and Program Officer Maurvene D. Williams attended events and made talks or presentations in 18 states.
The discussions on May 6 were led by state center coordinators and brought forth ideas and information in nine general areas: (1) developing partnerships and coalitions; (2) fundraising; (3) making effective use of reading promotion themes; (4) "surfing the net," the development of home pages and databases of information about authors; (5) literary heritage projects, including literary maps and book awards; (6) book fairs-their organization and importance; (7) reading promotion and literacy projects for young readers; (8) book and poetry discussion programs in libraries and elsewhere; and (9) using technology as both a link and an introduction to the world of books and reading. Each state representative participated in the discussion and many of them gave brief reports on the projects, financial condition and future plans of their centers.
Other parts of the program included a tour of the Jefferson Building led by John Cole and remarks from Dr. Boorstin. In addition, several guests described special projects. Arthur Tannenbaum summarized the "Everybody Wins" project, which in separate projects in New York City and Washington, D.C., focuses on adults reading with young children on a weekly basis. The Center for the Book, Mr. Tannenbaum explained, is helping Everybody Wins become a national project by encouraging state centers to become involved-beginning with Minnesota and Vermont. Cathy Gourley of READ magazine reported on the successful "Letters About Literature," essay contest in schools across America. She noted that a record 19 state centers participated in the 1996 contest, and she invited additional centers to join the project for the 1996-1997 school year.
Center for the Book consultant Virginia Mathews talked about the center's Library- Museum-Head Start project which, through Head Start funding, has created hundreds of community partnerships across the country. She urged the state centers to become even more deeply involved in the early-childhood reading and literacy projects sponsored by the Center for the Book and partners such as Head Start and the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association.
Many of the state center representatives returned to the Library on May 7 for meetings about special projects, particularly Everybody Wins and the center's new Alphabet Project with the American Institute of Graphic Arts and to enjoy the center's noontime "Books & Beyond" program: author Estelle Ellis showing slides and describing her new volume, At Home with Books: How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries.
For a list of the state centers and more information about their activities, write or call the Center for the Book, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540, (202) 707-5221, or consult the center's homepage on LC's Web site (http://www.loc.gov) under Special Programs and Services. The direct address for the center's homepage is http://lcweb.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/.