Public Information and Communication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 24, 2000
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Jo Ryan
402-471-3434
800-307-2665
Call for Student Entries for Letters About Literature Essay Contest
December 1, 2000 is the deadline for students to enter the 18th annual Letters About Literature national writing contest, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Weekly Reader Corporation. To spotlight the special relationship between young readers and authors, the Nebraska Center for the Book, as an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, invites Nebraska readers in grades four through twelve to write a letter to an author, living or dead, describing how the author's book or story somehow changed the young reader's way of viewing themselves or the world. The contest has two competition levels: Level I for students in grades four through seven; Level II for students in grades eight through twelve. Cash awards will be presented to the national finalists on each level and the Nebraska Center for the Book will award cash prizes to the top Nebraska essayists. To receive a copy of the official contest guidelines, plus the required entry coupon, log on to the Nebraska Library Commission home page at <nlc.nebraska.gov>, search on Letters About Literature or contact Mary Geibel at 402-471-2045, 800-307-2665, e-mail: Mary Geibel for a print copy. Letters must be postmarked by December 1, 2000.
Teachers and/or librarians can contact Weekly Reader Corporation at 203-705-3500 or e-mail sschreiber@weeklyreader.com to receive an official contest packet, including an entry form, a teaching guide, and complimentary copies of Weekly Reader's Read and Writing! magazines for junior/senior high school students. The official contest guidelines as well as winning letters from last year's contest are also available online at the Center for the Book's Web site: <lcweb.loc.gov/loc/cfbook>.
The Nebraska Center for the Book brings together the state's readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book. As the people who know and love books and value the richness they bring to our lives, our Nebraska Center supports programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word.
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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. The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission home page. Point your World Wide Web browser to <nlc.nebraska.gov>, search on news releases.
Nebraska Library Commission
The Atrium
1200 N Street, Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023
For more information see About the Contest, How to Enter the Contest, and Entry Coupon, or search on Letters About Literature on the Library Commission Search Page.