More than 45 organizations participated in the Center for the Book's annual reading promotion partners' "idea exchange" at the Library of Congress in March.
This writer welcomed new partner organizations and reminded everyone of the network's purpose: to work with the center and other partners in finding and sharing new and innovative ways to promote reading—nationally and internationally.
The Center for the Book's reading partnership network formally started in 1987 when the center launched "The Year of the Reader," the first of more than a decade of theme-based national reading promotion campaigns. The same year the center published a colorful 14-page pamphlet, "National Themes for Promoting Reading." The partnership program grew substantially between 1989-1995, thanks in large part to the enthusiasm and leadership of Center for the Book consultant Michael Thompson. His compilations, "Developing Lifetime Readers" (1993) and "Books Change Lives" (1996), document how the themes were used by partner organizations and others throughout the country.
At the March meeting, before asking each organization to describe its current activities, this writer asked two of the new partners to introduce themselves and their programs.
David Mazor explained that his organization, Reader to Reader, was founded in 2002 to bring books—free of charge—to libraries around the country. The focus is on school libraries in inner cities, Native American reservations and rural communities. The organization draws its supply of books from individual book donors and from the huge supply of books that are routinely discarded in wealthy communities and at private colleges. Thus far more than 75,000 books have been distributed to some 160 schools. In addition, 600 books were given to the Navajo Pine High School in Navajo, N.M, and approximately 1,000 books to the John Essex School in Demopolis, Ala.
Brigid Hubberman, executive director of the Family Reading Partnership, introduced her organization to the group. Based in Ithaca, N.Y., this nonprofit organization promotes family reading practices. The organization has three basic objectives: to encourage parents and caregivers to read to their children on a regular basis, to ensure that all families are able to own as well as borrow high-quality children's books and to provide both books and support for families who may not have found success in reading together. One important project is "Books at Birth," carried out in cooperation with the Cayuga Medical Center, which provides a new book (either Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" or "Mama, Mama" by Jean Marzollo) to the parents of every baby born at the center.
In addition to sharing project information at "idea exchange day," reading partners make valuable connections with other organizations. At the March meeting, Joan Pearson of SeniorNet Book Clubs (www.seniornet.org) introduced her organization and described such connections. SeniorNet Books is an online book discussion site for seniors. Since 1996 the site has hosted discussions about bestsellers, histories, biographies, classics and Great Books.
Director for the Center for the Book John Cole with participants in the reading partners program: Brigid Hubberman, Family Reading Partnership, left, and Jill Perlstein of the American Booksellers Association
"We at SeniorNet look forward to these annual idea exchanges," said Pearson." Good things start here."
SeniorNet connected with author Wally Lamb at the Library's 2003 National Book Festival. As a result, he agreed to participate in a SeniorNet-sponsored discussion of his book "Couldn't Keep It To Myself." The book was written in collaboration with his students, the women prisoners at the York Correctional Institute in Connecticut.
At last year's idea exchange, SeniorNet's Prison Library Project connected with Janice Delaney, executive director of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. As a result, 250 brand new hardcover books were sent off to the York Correctional Institute. SeniorNet subsequently entered into a partnership with the South Carolina Prison System, which serves 23,000 prisoners.
"The idea exchange in this room last year was indeed the start of something big," said Pearson. "Thank you for this annual opportunity."
