June 19, 1995

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

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Wyoming Center for the Book is Established

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the approval of a proposal from Wyoming to establish a state center affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. This brings the total number of state centers to 30.

Each state center works in cooperation with the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries and to promote the state's literary and cultural heritage.

The Wyoming Center for the Book will be located at the Wyoming State Library. "We are thrilled and look forward to spreading the Center for the Book's positive message on behalf of reading and libraries throughout this magnificent state," said State Librarian Helen Meadors Maul.

Sen. Alan K. Simpson is an honorary member of new organization's advisory board, which includes writers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, historians, newspaper editors, humanities scholars, and book lovers and readers from Buffalo, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Evanston, Gillette, Laramie, Sundance, and Torrington. The center will work closely with the Wyoming Arts Council and many other statewide organizations.

Plans for the Wyoming Center for the Book crystallized on Jan. 6, 1995, during an interactive, statewide video conference in which 115 people in 11 cities and towns participated. Ms. Maul and John Coe, executive director of the Wyoming Arts Council, moderated the two-hour session.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was established in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, literacy, and libraries. Its program, which is supported mostly by private funds, reaches into every region of the country through a network of 30 affiliated state centers and 121 national educational and civic organizations.

For information about the Wyoming Center for the Book, its mission and its plans, write or call Linn Rounds, Wyoming State Library, 2301 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY. 82002, telephone (307) 777-5915.

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PR 95-090
6/19/95
ISSN 0731-3527