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December 23, 1999
Contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217

Pennsylvania Center for the Book Established

The Library of Congress has approved a proposal from the Penn State University Libraries for the creation of a Pennsylvania Center for the Book that will be located at Penn State and affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

"This is a welcome development and one that presents new opportunities for book, reading and library promotion," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "It will be the only affiliated state center located in a statewide university library system."

"We are delighted that the center will be under the auspices of Penn State Libraries," said Nancy L. Eaton, dean of University Libraries. "Our two dozen campuses across the commonwealth are perfectly suited to carry out the Pennsylvania Center for the Book's objectives in partnership with other Pennsylvania libraries and members of our state's community of the book."

A 15-member statewide advisory board is being formed. Initial projects will include the establishment of a Web site and a Pennsylvania Center for the Book on-line book club, co- sponsorship of Penn State's Summer Institute for the Study of Children's Literature, the development of a literacy training workshop for meeting the literacy needs of new parents and close cooperation with the Penn State Center for the History of the Book.

For information about the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, contact Steven Herb, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Penn State, 510 Paterno Library, University Park, PA 16802, telephone (814) 865-0401, fax (814) 865-3665, e-mail: slh18@psu.edu.

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PR 99-190
12/22/99
ISSN 0731-3527