The Center for the
BOOK
IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The Center for the
BOOK
IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The Center for the
BOOK
IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
D
ESPITE ALL THE ADVANCES IN COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OVER MANY CENTURIES, THE BOOK REMAINS THE FUNDAMENTAL
SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING.
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
COLLECTIONS FORM THE CORE OF THE
LIBRARY
OF
WHOSE
CONGRESS,
FAMOUSLY SAID THAT “I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS,” AND HIS WORDS ARE AS TRUE TODAY AS THEY WERE IN
1815.
WE STILL CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS. The Center for the Book was established by Congress in 1977 “to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, literacy and libraries.” With its many educational programs that reach readers of all ages, through its support of the National Book Festival and through its dynamic state centers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Center for the Book has developed programs dedicated to promoting the wonders and benefits of reading. From author events to television to Web sites, the Center for the Book harnesses the benefits of technology to encourage reading for all ages.
2
3
D
ESPITE ALL THE ADVANCES IN COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OVER MANY CENTURIES, THE BOOK REMAINS THE FUNDAMENTAL
SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING.
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
COLLECTIONS FORM THE CORE OF THE
LIBRARY
OF
WHOSE
CONGRESS,
FAMOUSLY SAID THAT “I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS,” AND HIS WORDS ARE AS TRUE TODAY AS THEY WERE IN
1815.
WE STILL CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS. The Center for the Book was established by Congress in 1977 “to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, literacy and libraries.” With its many educational programs that reach readers of all ages, through its support of the National Book Festival and through its dynamic state centers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Center for the Book has developed programs dedicated to promoting the wonders and benefits of reading. From author events to television to Web sites, the Center for the Book harnesses the benefits of technology to encourage reading for all ages.
2
3
Outreach to Young Readers
L
IFELONG HABITS ARE OFTEN FORMED AT AN EARLY AGE, WHICH IS
WHY THE
K-12
CENTER FOR THE BOOK PAYS PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO
STUDENTS.
THESE
YOUTH-ORIENTED PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE
READING ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE CHILDREN AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES:
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature In 2008 the Library named Jon Scieszka as its first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The position was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. During the two-year term, the National Ambassador travels the country to promote the importance of reading by young people. The program is administered in collaboration with the Children’s Book Council.
Letters About Literature We all can name books that changed our lives. The Letters About Literature contest invites children in grades 4 though 12 to write a letter to an author (living or dead) explaining how that writer’s work affected them. Winners and their schools receive cash awards at the state and national levels. Letters About Literature is co-sponsored with Target. For information about the program and a list of previous winners, visit www.loc.gov/letters. For further details, contact the national program director at lal@epix.net.
Young Readers Center The Young Readers Center is a new place in the Library’s Jefferson Building that welcomes children and adults to the wonderful world of books. Here they find a comfortable space to read aloud to young people, to access kidfriendly sites on the Internet and to attend programs featuring the nation’s best children’s authors. The center also features a theater for special readings and information on how young readers can participate in Center for the Book activities in Washington and across the country.
Lifelong Literacy Web Site The Center for the Book is an important contributor to the Library’s public awareness campaign, “Explore New Worlds. Read,” which offers resources online at www.literacy.gov. The Ad Council and the Library have teamed together to promote literacy through a series of public service announcements.
Read It Loud! Campaign Just because children are too young to read doesn’t mean they can’t discover the power of books. This campaign, in collaboration with the Read It Loud! Foundation and other partner organizations, aims to have 5 million adults reading to young children daily by 2014.
River of Words Each year, in affiliation with the Center for the Book, River of Words, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the nation’s watersheds through its educational programs, conducts an international poetry and art contest for students ages 5 through 19 on the theme of watersheds. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place in which they live and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover. For more information, go to www.riverofwords.org. 4
5
Outreach to Young Readers
L
IFELONG HABITS ARE OFTEN FORMED AT AN EARLY AGE, WHICH IS
WHY THE
K-12
CENTER FOR THE BOOK PAYS PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO
STUDENTS.
THESE
YOUTH-ORIENTED PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE
READING ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE CHILDREN AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES:
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature In 2008 the Library named Jon Scieszka as its first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The position was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. During the two-year term, the National Ambassador travels the country to promote the importance of reading by young people. The program is administered in collaboration with the Children’s Book Council.
Letters About Literature We all can name books that changed our lives. The Letters About Literature contest invites children in grades 4 though 12 to write a letter to an author (living or dead) explaining how that writer’s work affected them. Winners and their schools receive cash awards at the state and national levels. Letters About Literature is co-sponsored with Target. For information about the program and a list of previous winners, visit www.loc.gov/letters. For further details, contact the national program director at lal@epix.net.
Young Readers Center The Young Readers Center is a new place in the Library’s Jefferson Building that welcomes children and adults to the wonderful world of books. Here they find a comfortable space to read aloud to young people, to access kidfriendly sites on the Internet and to attend programs featuring the nation’s best children’s authors. The center also features a theater for special readings and information on how young readers can participate in Center for the Book activities in Washington and across the country.
Lifelong Literacy Web Site The Center for the Book is an important contributor to the Library’s public awareness campaign, “Explore New Worlds. Read,” which offers resources online at www.literacy.gov. The Ad Council and the Library have teamed together to promote literacy through a series of public service announcements.
Read It Loud! Campaign Just because children are too young to read doesn’t mean they can’t discover the power of books. This campaign, in collaboration with the Read It Loud! Foundation and other partner organizations, aims to have 5 million adults reading to young children daily by 2014.
River of Words Each year, in affiliation with the Center for the Book, River of Words, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the nation’s watersheds through its educational programs, conducts an international poetry and art contest for students ages 5 through 19 on the theme of watersheds. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place in which they live and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover. For more information, go to www.riverofwords.org. 4
5
Programs and Partnerships National Book Festival This celebration of reading has been held since 2001 on the National Mall in Washington. The festival (www.loc.gov/bookfest) attracts more than 100,000 book lovers from across the nation who come to hear their favorite authors talk about their works, meet characters from books and television shows and learn about authors from all the states in the Pavilion of the States. The Center for the Book organizes the program of participating authors and also sponsors the Pavilion of the States.
International Outreach The Center for the Book has formed overseas partnerships and advised other nations on topics as diverse as holding their own book festivals, increasing reading and literacy and establishing a Center for the Book in their own countries, such as South Africa and Russia.
History of Books, Libraries and Reading Since its founding, the Center for the Book has supported scholarly research on the history of books and print culture and their effect on American society. Many Center for the Book publications focus on book and print culture and on the history and importance of the Library of Congress itself.
State Centers for the Book The state centers for the book bring the national center’s message of the importance of books and reading to audiences nationwide. These centers actively work within their states to highlight their unique literary heritage. Many of the centers sponsor book festivals, author readings and other events that celebrate books and libraries. To learn more about your state center’s activities, visit www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/statecen.
Books and Beyond The Books and Beyond author series brings writers of new books to the Library to discuss their work with appreciative audiences. Many of their books are based on the Library’s collections and most of these programs are available at the Center for the Book Webcast site at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/cyber-cfb.html.
National Reading Promotion Partners The Center for the Book has formed a national network of more than 80 reading promotion partners to help it fulfill its mission. These partners collaborate with the Center and with each other to maximize their efforts. They also meet annually at the Library of Congress to exchange ideas on how best to promote reading. 6
7
Programs and Partnerships National Book Festival This celebration of reading has been held since 2001 on the National Mall in Washington. The festival (www.loc.gov/bookfest) attracts more than 100,000 book lovers from across the nation who come to hear their favorite authors talk about their works, meet characters from books and television shows and learn about authors from all the states in the Pavilion of the States. The Center for the Book organizes the program of participating authors and also sponsors the Pavilion of the States.
International Outreach The Center for the Book has formed overseas partnerships and advised other nations on topics as diverse as holding their own book festivals, increasing reading and literacy and establishing a Center for the Book in their own countries, such as South Africa and Russia.
History of Books, Libraries and Reading Since its founding, the Center for the Book has supported scholarly research on the history of books and print culture and their effect on American society. Many Center for the Book publications focus on book and print culture and on the history and importance of the Library of Congress itself.
State Centers for the Book The state centers for the book bring the national center’s message of the importance of books and reading to audiences nationwide. These centers actively work within their states to highlight their unique literary heritage. Many of the centers sponsor book festivals, author readings and other events that celebrate books and libraries. To learn more about your state center’s activities, visit www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/statecen.
Books and Beyond The Books and Beyond author series brings writers of new books to the Library to discuss their work with appreciative audiences. Many of their books are based on the Library’s collections and most of these programs are available at the Center for the Book Webcast site at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/cyber-cfb.html.
National Reading Promotion Partners The Center for the Book has formed a national network of more than 80 reading promotion partners to help it fulfill its mission. These partners collaborate with the Center and with each other to maximize their efforts. They also meet annually at the Library of Congress to exchange ideas on how best to promote reading. 6
7
C
ENTER FOR THE
BOOK PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED
THROUGH TAX-DEDUCTIBLE PRIVATE DONATIONS.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
FOR
MORE
CENTER FOR THE BOOK, ITS PROGRAMS AND
ACTIVITIES, VISIT WWW.LOC.GOV/CFBOOK OR CALL 202.707.5221. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ITS LIFELONG LITERACY PROGRAMS, VISIT WWW.LITERACY.GOV.
C
ENTER FOR THE
BOOK PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED
THROUGH TAX-DEDUCTIBLE PRIVATE DONATIONS.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
FOR
MORE
CENTER FOR THE BOOK, ITS PROGRAMS AND
ACTIVITIES, VISIT WWW.LOC.GOV/CFBOOK OR CALL 202.707.5221. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ITS LIFELONG LITERACY PROGRAMS, VISIT WWW.LITERACY.GOV.
101 Independence Avenue S.E. Washington, DC 20540 202.707.5000 www.loc.gov March 2009