The Library of Congress has approved a proposal for a Massachusetts Center for the Book that will be affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. "We're delighted to welcome Massachusetts to our growing network of affiliated state centers," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole during an Oct. 15 reception at the Library of Congress celebrating the new state center.
Director of the Center for the Book John Cole (far left) with members of the new Board of Governors of the Massachusetts Center for the Book: David Tebaldi, Cora Marrett, Joseph Hopkins, John Hench, Diane Bell, Bernard Margolis and Margo Crist. - Jim Higgins
A collaborative effort among six Massachusetts organizations, the new center will be located at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of the members of the Massachusetts Center for the Book's Board of Governors. The other members are the American Antiquarian Society, the Boston Public Library, Five Colleges Inc. (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges, along with the University of Massachusetts Amherst), the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities.
"It's been a complicated process and taken a few years, but we are delighted that Massachusetts finally has a Center for the Book," said Margo Crist, director of libraries for the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who represented the host institution in the planning meetings. "The unique partnership we have formed will give a real boost to all aspects of the book in Massachusetts. We will work with organizations and individuals throughout the commonwealth to stimulate widespread interest in books, authorship, publishing, reading, libraries and literacy and to encourage the study of the history, art and future of books."
The Center for the Book's Anne Boni with John Kominski, former Library of Congress general counsel and a trustee of the Massachusetts Friends of the Library. - Jim Higgins
The Oct. 15 event was sponsored by the Friends of the Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Ms. Crist moderated the program. John Kominski, former Library of Congress general counsel and a trustee of the Massachusetts Friends of the Library, was a special guest. James Kelly of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Library, a driving force behind the creation of the Massachusetts Center for the Book, spoke briefly, as did the following representatives of the new center's Board of Governors: John Hench, American Antiquarian Society; Bernard Margolis, Boston Public Library; Diane Bell, Five Colleges Inc.; Joseph Hopkins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; David Tebaldi, Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities; and Cora Marrett, University of Massachusetts Amherst. A series of launching celebrations at various locations throughout Massachusetts is being planned.
For information about the Massachusetts Center for the Book, contact Sharon Shaloo, Executive Director, Director's Office, DuBois Library, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01033, telephone: (413) 545-2029, fax: (413) 545-6873.
Center for the Book Receives Bicentennial 'Gift to the Nation'
Madison Council member Brian Heidtke, vice president of Colgate-Palmolive Co., and his wife, Darlene, a former librarian, have made a $250,000 "Gift to the Nation" to support the development of state centers for the book affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Describing why he and his wife decided to establish the State Center for the Book Trust Fund, Mr. Heidtke said: "Darlene and I wanted our gift to help the Library of Congress promote grassroots reading and literacy projects in every part of the country. We hope our gift will inspire others to join us in this effort."
Former librarian Darlene Heidtke and her husband, Brian Heidtke, vice president of Colgate-Palmolive Co., have made a gift to support state centers for the book.
"Brian and Darlene have been strong and loyal supporters of the Center for the Book since they became Madison Council members in 1991," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "Their most recent donation, this generous "Gift to the Nation" on the occasion of the Library's Bicentennial, will make an enormous difference in the Center for the Book's efforts to stimulate interest in reading. It will help us strengthen our current projects and help us encourage the creation of new centers in many states."
The Heidtkes' gift was featured in the June 1999 issue of Jefferson's Legacy, a quarterly charitable-giving newsletter published by the Library's Development Office. The newsletter highlighted the Center for the Book as a worthwhile recipient for contributions from citizens and corporations, pointing out that it depends on tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to support its projects and publications.
Vermont's 'Mother Goose' Project Begins Second Year
"Mother Goose Asks 'Why?'," the Vermont Center for the Book's family science and literature program that is funded through a $1.5 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation, held its second National Institute in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 23-26. Libraries in 14 states, including nine state centers for the book and the District of Columbia, are collaborating on the project. Designed both to review the first year's work and to prepare for the second year, the five-day institute gave state teams the opportunity to expand their understanding of this informal science-through-children's-literature program for parents.
The institute differed in significant ways from last year's, which was held in Baltimore (see Information Bulletin, January 1999). A two-day preconference was held for the 25 professionals from various states who were recently recruited to participate in the project. Also, many of the workshops were conducted by veterans from participating states. Panels of professionals who were introduced to the project last year in Baltimore made presentations on topics such as "Involving Non-English Speakers," "A Second Look at Group Facilitation" and "Opportunities for Program Extensions."
Teams from Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland participate in the "Mother Goose Asks 'Why?'" National Institute held this year in Baltimore.
The reports from the 71 participants were positive. Almost all states had met the goal of training 100 families in the Mother Goose books and science activities in the first year. More than half the states exceeded this goal by virtue of local fund-raising efforts, which enabled them to purchase and distribute more sets of books, activity guides and science kits. Reports from the field also indicated that programs had been very successful in engaging disadvantaged parents in reading and informal science activities with their children.
Reviewing the tasks accomplished and the work yet to be done, one participant commented, "We have a moral responsibility to provide access [to books and ideas] to all. With the "Mother Goose Asks 'Why?'" program, our mission has begun. Each participant is touching the lives of a few and those few will tell others ... [This is all because] a few took a chance on an idea and made it work."
