January 16, 1998 Center For The Book and Friends of Libraries USA To Promote America's Literary Heritage

The designation in June 1998 of the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress as a "Literary Landmark" will launch "Literary Heritage USA," a joint project of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA).

"Part of the center's 'Building a Nation of Readers' national reading promotion campaign, Literary Heritage USA will continue through the year 2000, when the Library of Congress marks its bicentennial," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "Together the center and FOLUSA will heighten awareness of America's literary heritage by celebrating literary sites, encouraging the creation of literary maps, promoting cultural tourism, and developing new projects that stimulate interest in writers, their regional heritage, and their books."

Established in 1979, FOLUSA is a national organization that helps develop and support local Friends of Libraries groups. More than 2,500 groups, individuals, libraries, and corporations are members. For information, the FOLUSA site on the World Wide Web is: http://www.folusa.com External .

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was created by law in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries. For information about the center and its projects, visit its site on the World Wide Web at: https://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/.