"This Hallowed Ground, Heidi, Beautiful Joe, Black Beauty, Gone with the Wind, Hawaii, The Story of Doctor Doolittle 1and Henny Penny", were among the books that "changed the lives" of readers of the International Reading Association's newspaper 2Reading Today, 1according to letters published in the June/July issue.
This was the second issue of Reading Today to feature responses from readers to the editor's invitation to write brief articles about the role of books in their lives.
The International Reading Association is one of more than 100 organizations participating in "Books Change Lives," the Center for the Book's national reading promotion campaign for 1993-1994. The campaign's purpose is to remind people of the joys of reading and of the importance of books in shaping individual lives as well as a knowledge-based democracy. It is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, who believed that the power of the intellect could shape a free and democratic society.
In 1815 Jefferson sold his personal library to the government to reestablish the Library of Congress (which had been burned by the British in 1814, when it was housed in the U.S. Capitol); he immediately began forming another library, explaining to his friend John Adams, "I cannot live without books."
"Books Change Lives" essay contests have been especially popular among the Center for the Book's reading promotion partners. More than 9,000 students entered READ magazine's contest (see LC Information Bulletin, June 13, 1994), and the Correctional Education Association sponsored a successful contest among prison inmates.
The American Library Association has just published Books Change Lives: Quotes to Treasure, a collection of more than 40 quotations from well-known children's writers and illustrators on how books have changed their lives. Contributors include Tomie dePaola, Jan Brett, Shonto Begay, Jerry Pinkney, Susan Cooper, Michael Dorris, Pam Conrad, Jim Haskins and the late Charles Mikolaycak. Each quotation appears with the writer's signature. The 48-page booklet makes an attractive gift. Copies are available for $6.95 from ALA Editions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Use code 7727-8-0070 when ordering. To order by phone call (800) 545-2433.
Copies of the Center for the Book's "Books Change Lives" promotional leaflet, which presents ideas for participating in the campaign, are still available. Write the Center for the Book, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540-8200.
Chautauqua and Rural Libraries in North Dakota. On July 18, the North Dakota Center for the Book and the North Dakota State Library began hosting "prologue" discussions of works of American literature prior to the Aug. 5-9 presentation in Bismarck by the Great Plains Chautauqua Society of "American Writers of the Gilded Age." Scholars interpreted Mark Twain, W.E.B. Du Bois, Stephen Crane, Jack London and Kate Chopin.
On Sept. 16 and 17, the North Dakota center and the state library, in cooperation with the Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship at Clarion University in Pennsylvania, will sponsor a conference, "The 21st Century: The Future of Rural and Small Libraries." Kathleen Norris, author of Dakota: A Spiritual Geography (1993), will present a lecture on Sept. 15, in Bismarck, an event being held in conjunction with the conference.
The first issue of the North Dakota Center's newsletter was published in July. To receive the newsletter and for information about the Chautauqua events and rural libraries conference, write or call the North Dakota Center for the Book, North Dakota State Library, 604 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck ND 58505-0800; (701) 224-3681.
Writing Rendezvous in Alaska. More than 60 authors, storytellers, playwrights, poets, journalists, booksellers, publishers and librarians were among the speakers at "Writing Rendezvous 1994: A Celebration of Alaskan Authors and Literature," an event sponsored by the Alaska Center for the Book in Anchorage on May 20-21. The gathering, attended by more than 400, took place in the Anchorage Museum of History and Art on May 20, and the Egan Convention Center on May 21.
Alaska State Librarian Karen Crane introduced the program on May 20, which was hosted by author and former Alaska governor Jay Hammond. Gov. (and author) Walter Hickel also spoke and issued an Alaska Center for the Book Day proclamation. Other speakers included Howard Weaver, editor of the Anchorage Daily News, Beverly Beeton, provost of the University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA); and Ronald Spatz, director of the UAA creative writing program, who read a letter of congratulations from Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to the Alaska Center for the Book and presented this year's awards to the winners of the UAA/Anchorage Daily News Creative Writing Contest.
Other highlights included: the unveiling of a new literary map of Alaska, a silent auction of handmade books by Alaskan children to benefit a new Head Start program in Anchorage's Mountain View area, the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to former Alaska poet laureate John Haines for his contribution to literacy in the state and a dance program.
The focus on May 21 was on panel discussions in the morning and a street fair with book-signings, poetry readings and book exhibits in the afternoon. The panel discussions were on topics such as Alaska native writers, computers and writing, collecting Alaskana, the oral tradition and the printed word, the art of interviewing, Alaskan children's books and how to get published. At another session, four Alaska poet laureates read from their works.
The entire event was the brainchild of Sandy Harper, owner of Anchorage's Cyrano's Bookstore and president of the Alaska center. For information write the Alaska Center for the Book, Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage, AK 99503-6093.
Treasures of Florida Libraries. An exhibit of rare books, manuscripts, photographs and maps from more than 25 leading public and private institutions in Florida opened June 22 at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida in Miami.
This exhibit was developed by the University of Miami Library, the Florida Center for the Book and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. In his preface to the illustrated 74- page exhibit catalog, LC Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole salutes this model cooperative project, which brings together treasures from 29 unique library collections, as "a guide to the intellectual riches of a still-growing state, a stimulus to historical and humanistic research and an inspiration for collectors and donors alike."
The catalog, published by the Florida Center for the Book, is available from the center for $10. Write or call the Florida Center for the Book, Broward County Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; (305) 357-7404.