FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 3, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Jo Ryan
402-471-3434
800-307-2665
Nebraska’s Champions of Literature and Literacy to
Be Honored
The Nebraska Center for the Book will present the
2016 Jane
Geske Award to
City Impact (Lincoln),
Literacy Center for the Midlands (Omaha), and
Platte Valley Literacy
Association (Columbus) at the
October 29 Celebration of
Nebraska Books in downtown Lincoln. These organizations
exemplify effectiveness and dedication to the cause of literacy
in Nebraska. These three organizations are empowering Nebraskans
through education, mentorship, and increased access to books and
reading.
The Nebraska Center for the Book annually presents the Jane
Geske Award to organizations, businesses, libraries, schools,
associations, or other groups that have made an exceptional
contribution to literacy, books, reading, bookselling,
libraries, or Nebraska literature. The Jane Geske Award
commemorates Geske’s passion for books, and was established in
recognition of her contributions to the well-being of the
libraries of Nebraska. Jane Geske was the director of the
Nebraska Library Commission, a founding member of the Nebraska
Center for the Book, a Lincoln bookseller, and a long-time
leader in Nebraska library and literary activities. The award is
supported by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
The Nebraska Center for the Book will also present the
2016 Mildred Bennett Award to Nebraska poets
Twyla Hansen and
Marjorie
Saiser at the Celebration. Hansen and Saiser will be honored
for their contributions to Nebraska writing and for their
service in support of Nebraska’s writers and readers.
The Mildred Bennett Award recognizes individuals who have made a
significant contribution to fostering the literary tradition in
Nebraska, reminding us of the literary and intellectual heritage
that enriches our lives and molds our world. The award
recognized inspired leadership and service on behalf of Nebraska
literature, highlighting how the recipients follow the example
of Mildred Bennett, the charismatic founder and long-time
President of the Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and Educational
Foundation. The award seeks to heighten awareness and interest
in Nebraska’s literary heritage and to enrich the lives of
Nebraskans and readers everywhere.
The October 29 Celebration, free and open to the public, will
also feature presentation of the 2016 Nebraska Book Awards, and
some of the winning authors will read from their work. A list of
winners is posted at
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards.html.
The Celebration will open with a program by
Karen Gettert Shoemaker,
author of
The Meaning of
Names, the 2016 One Book One Nebraska book selection,
and the 2017 One Book One Nebraska selection will be announced.
The Celebration of Nebraska Books is scheduled for 2:30 - 6:30
p.m. at the Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall North,
Lincoln NE, with the Nebraska Center for the Book Annual Meeting
to be held prior to the Celebration at 1:30 p.m.
The 2016 Celebration of Nebraska Books is sponsored by the
Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, and
the Nebraska State Historical Society Nebraska History
Museum—with support from University of Nebraska Press and
Humanities Nebraska. For more information see
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/celebration.html
and www.facebook.com/NebraskaCenterfortheBook.
The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska
Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers,
writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers,
educators, and scholars to build the community of the book,
supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest
in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for
the Book is supported by the Nebraska Library Commission.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is
an advocate for the library and information needs of all
Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide
promotion, development, and coordination of library and
information services, bringing together people and information.
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library
Commission are always available on the Library Commission
Website,
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.