Public Information and Communication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 5, 1999
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Katherine L. Walter, 402-472-3939
Dee Yost, 402-462-1975, 800-569-4961
dyost@tcgcs.com
1999 Nebraska Literature Festival Set for September 17-18
The Nebraska Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress National Center for the Book, announces that the eighth Nebraska Literature Festival will be held September 17-18 in Chadron at the recently completed Chadron State College Student Center. This festival will be a multistate celebration, with Chadron State College and Oglala Lakota College (of South Dakota) as co-hosts. The theme of the Festival is "Crossing Borders: Geographical, Ethnic, and Literary Frontiers in Plains Literature." Andrew Elkins (Chadron State College Dept. of Language and Literature) and Deb Carpenter (Oglala Lakota College) will coordinate a program planning committee including representatives from the two colleges, from Pine Ridge SD High School, and Chadron High School.
Friday, September 17 will be High School Day, with programming open to high school students from across the state. The general public is invited to attend events Friday evening and all day Saturday, September 18. A book fair will be held in conjunction with the Festival.
The previous award-winning Nebraska Literature Festivals were held at various campuses of the University of Nebraska and Wayne State College. The selection of Chadron as the 1999 site underscores the Nebraska Center for the Book commitment to hosting the Festival across the state and emphasis on thematic programming.
The Chadron area is rich in scenic and historical attractions, including the Pine Ridge area, the Nebraska National Forest, Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park, the Museum of Fur Trade, Toadstool Park, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, and other sites. Chadron is also a short drive from the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore National Monument. Tours of Mari Sandoz country (in the nearby Sandhills) and Fort Robinson (site of Crazy Horse's death) will be offered at a modest additional registration fee. Funding for the Festival is provided by the Nebraska Center for the Book, the Nebraska Humanities Council, Chadron State College, Oglala Lakota College, and the Mari Sandoz Society.
The Nebraska Center for the Book is a nonprofit corporation that stimulates public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Center acts as a catalyst, bringing together individuals and organizations to build the Nebraska community of the book and serves as a partner and supporter of programs, events, and unique projects to celebrate the written word. The Nebraska Library Commission provides support and assistance to the Center for the Book. As the state library agency, the Library Commission advocates for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. In 1997, the Nebraska Center for the Book received the Daniel Boorstin/Center for the Book award from the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and a Mayor's Art Award from the Lincoln Arts Council. Both awards recognized the Nebraska Center for the Book for its outstanding Nebraska Literature Festival.
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