December 10, 2001 Hawaii Center for the Book Approved

The Library of Congress has approved a proposal from the Hawaii State Library for the creation of a Hawaii Center for the Book that will be affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

"We're delighted to welcome Hawaii as our latest state affiliate," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "It becomes the 43rd state affiliate in a network that also includes the District of Columbia. The first state center was approved in 1984; each is required to apply for renewal every three years."

"Hawaii's Center for the Book will preserve and celebrate our different ethnicities, cultural values, religious, and political structures," said State Librarian Virginia Lowell. "In keeping with Hawaii's long history of diversity, our Center for the Book will be the locus of many local and regional programs which encourage and promote the practice of reading as a lifetime habit; it also will encourage individuals in a variety of ways to read widely and voraciously."

Activities being planned for the Hawaii Center for the Book include increasing awareness of Hawaiian authors through the creation of a book award for a Hawaiian children's book and the development of a Hawaii Center for the Book Web site that will include a calendar of book, library, and reading events throughout Hawaii.

For information about the Hawaii Center for the Book, contact Caroline Spencer, coordinator, Hawaii Center for the Book, Hawaii State Library, 465 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone (808) 586-3553, e-mail: car@lib.state.hi.us.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was established in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries. For information about its programs, publications, and the activities of its affiliated centers for the book, visit its Web site at www.loc.gov/cfbook.