A six-page brochure has just been published that describes how individuals, families, schools, libraries, civic and educational organizations, and businesses can participate in "Building a Nation of Readers," the Center for the Book's national reading promotion campaign for 1997-2000.
![Building a Nation of Readers](images/cfb_1.jpg)
The brochure features Tara Holland, Miss America 1997, the official campaign spokesperson, and photographs from Library: The Drama Within, by Diane Asséo Griliches, a book of photographs celebrating libraries and their patrons published in 1996 by the University of New Mexico Press in association with the Center for the Book.
"This activist theme reminds Americans of the importance of reading to individuals and to the nation," said John Y. Cole, the center's director. "It is both a reminder and a goal for where we want the nation to be in the year 2000. The Library of Congress invites others to join us in "building a nation of readers" by organizing and supporting reading promotion projects that benefit all age groups."
The brochure was funded in part by Pizza Hut Inc., sponsor of the BOOK-IT! National Reading Incentive Program in the nation's elementary schools, and one of the Center for the Book's national reading promotion partners.
Copies are available from the Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC 20540-4920, phone (202) 707-5221, e-mail: pwhi@loc.gov and from the BOOK-IT Program, phone (800) 426-6548 or e-mail: read@bookitprogram.com.
The Center for the Book was established by law in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading and libraries. For further information, visit the center on the World Wide Web at: http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/.
Minnesota Celebrates Its Books and Writers
Program Specialist Anne Boni represented the Center for the Book on April 11 and 12 in St. Paul at the ninth annual Minnesota Book Awards, sponsored by the Minnesota Center for the Book. The awards program, held on April 11 at the Minnesota History Center, was videotaped and broadcast in May on "Northern Lights: A Look at Minnesota Books and Writers" on Metro Cable Network/Channel 6. Readings by 14 of the nominated writers were presented by Minnesota Literature and the Minnesota Center for the Book at a special program, "A Celebration of Minnesota Writers IV," held at the History Center on April 12.
The Minnesota Center for the Book, a program of Metronet, promotes "books, reading, libraries and a literate, creative culture for all Minnesotans." Its priorities are audience development, advocacy and networking, and education and assistance. In addition to sponsoring the annual Minnesota Book Awards program, it sponsors the Minnesota Center for the Book Web site "a rich mix of in-depth information about publishing, Minnesota writing, libraries, literary awards and events"; produces and distributes the weekly "Northern Lights" cable television show about writing and publishing in Minnesota; sponsors the "Everybody Wins" reading promotion program that features reading partnerships between adult volunteers and elementary school students; and, in partnership with FORECAST Public Art and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, sponsors the Alphabet Project.
Mary Tracey is executive director of Metronet and the Minnesota Center for the Book. For information, contact the Minnesota Center for the Book, Suite 116, 2324 University Ave. West, St. Paul, MN 55115, phone (612) 646-0475, fax (612) 646-0657.
New Mexico Center for the Book Launched
![Maurvene Williams, Susie Sonflieth and Marsie Cate](images/cfb_2.jpg)
Center for the Book Program Officer Maurvene Williams (right) with Susie Sonflieth of the Santa Fe Public Library and Marsie Cate, the New Mexico Center for the Book's first president, at the annual meeting of the New Mexico Library Association on April 9.
Program Officer Maurvene D. Williams represented the Center for the Book on April 8-10, in Santa Fe in activities that introduced the New Mexico Center for the Book to the state library community. At an April 9 program at the annual meeting of the New Mexico Library Association, Ms. Williams described the Center for the Book concept and how the New Mexico state center could help make books and reading a more visible part of New Mexico's educational and cultural life. Her comments emphasized ways in which the LC center helps its state affiliates in promoting literacy and highlighting each state's individual literary heritage. She also participated on April 10 at the Governor's Mansion in a ceremony at which New Mexico first lady Dee Johnson presented certificates to the 20 New Mexico winners of the Center for the Book's "Letters About Literature" essay contest for young people.
Literacy advocate Marsie Cate is the New Mexico Center for the Book's first president. Ann Racuya-Robbins is vice president, Marianne O'Shaughnessy is the secretary, and Desiree Mays serves as treasurer. The center's purpose is to promote books, reading and literacy throughout the state by bringing together people "who believe that books ought to be a fundamental part of every home, family, and individual life." Its quarterly newsletter, New Mexico Center for the Book News, describes its activities and lists book and literacy events throughout New Mexico. For information, contact the New Mexico Center for the Book, 3922 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505, telephone (505) 983-1516 or fax (505) 983-1391.
Arizona Presents Parnassus Award to Daniel Boorstin
![Arizona Center for the Book](images/cfb_3.jpg)
Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole participated on April 6 in Phoenix in the Arizona Center for the Book's second annual Parnassus Awards Tea, which honors individuals and organizations "whose contributions to books, reading, libraries, and literacy have made a difference to Arizona." This year's individual awards went to Daniel J. Boorstin, who was honored for his creation of the National Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in 1977, and to Jack E. Brown, who was honored for his contributions to Reading Is Fundamental and to the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library. The organization award went to OASIS (Older Adult Service and Information System), an intergenerational tutoring program in Scottsdale. Also honored were five Arizona students who were state or national winners in the center's Letters About Literature contest, which in 1996-1997 was cosponsored by READ magazine and the LC Center for the Book. Pulitzer prize-winning author N. Scott Momaday was the keynote speaker.
In his prepared remarks, Dr. Boorstin talked about the importance of reading in the information age, calling reading "the most important antidote to the temptation to make learning passive." Reading, he said, makes "learning an act of creation." John Cole also introduced Ruth Boorstin and acknowledged the special contribution she has made through the years to the Center for the Book.
Established in 1988, the Arizona Center for the Book works to stimulate public interest throughout the state in books, reading, libraries and literacy. It is a nonprofit organization headed by a board of directors and includes public officials, educators, authors, publishers, book sellers, librarians and members of the public. Major activities include "Books & Co.," an Arizona public television program, and "Feast for the Mind," monthly luncheons that provide guests with an opportunity to meet authors and others who share their love of reading. It also publishes Bookbound, a quarterly newsletter. One of the Arizona center's recent publications is a 20-page pamphlet "Reading in Company: Starting a Reading Group" by board member Beth Luey, who is director of the Scholarly Publishing Program at Arizona State University and the author of several books on publishing.
For information about the Arizona Center for the Book and its activities, contact Executive Director Kathy Alikhan, 1242 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004-1887, telephone (602) 257-0335, ext. 26, fax (602) 257-0392.
Corrections
The captions for the Center for the Book story in July should have read: "John Cole with (from left) Kathy Alikhan of the Arizona Center and Heather Cameron and Sandy Dolnick of Friends of Libraries USA"; and "Marsie Cate of New Mexico (left) and Pat Morris of New Jersey look at some of the reading promotion materials on display."