11 Local Libraries will Receive a Collection of Books Celebrating the Theme, “Created Equal”
April 18, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) announced today that 11 libraries throughout the Third Congressional District were awarded a collection of books from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The awards are part of NEH’s We the People Bookshelf Program designed to encourage younger readers (K-12) to explore significant American themes through classic works of literature.
The NEH awarded these south Louisiana libraries a collection of 17 classic American hardcover books relating to the theme, “Created Equal” as part of the upcoming bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth in 2009.
“This book collection will help pass on the American values of equality and compassion to future generations of Louisianians,” Rep. Melancon said. “I thank the National Endowment for the Humanities for awarding this important collection, and encourage families in south Louisiana to visit their local libraries and share these books with their children.”
All the libraries awarded with the collection agreed to hold public programming for children complete with reading competitions, essay contests, guest speakers and other community-enriching activities.
The following libraries in the Third Congressional District were awarded the Bookshelf collection:
• South Lafourche Branch Library in Cut Off
• Destrehan High School Library in Destrehan
• Gheens Branch Library in Gheens
• Golden Meadow Branch Library in Golden Meadow
• Bayou Blue Franch Library in Houma
• Larose Branch Library in Larose
• Lockport Branch Library in Lockport
• Lakewood Elementary School Library in Luling
• Raceland Branch Library in Raceland
• Choctaw Branch Library and Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library in Thibodaux
The following are among this year's We the People Bookshelf titles:
1. The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, illustrated by Michael McCurdy
2. Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom by Virginia Hamilton
3. Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Busy Boycott by Russell Freedman
4. Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober
5. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
6. Lincoln’s Virtues: An Ethical Biography by William Lee Miller. (A full list is available here.)
In addition, each library receiving the “Created Equal” Bookshelf will receive a bonus “History in a Box” resource kit created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and supplementary programming materials, including bookplates, bookmarks, and posters.
More information about the We the People Bookshelf Program can be found online here.
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