First Lady to Host Conference On Value of School Libraries

Laura Bush is on a roll these days in her support of school libraries. The First Lady, a former media specialist, is hosting a June 4 conference on librarianship at the White House. The purpose of the event—which includes a guest list of 175, primarily school principals, superintendents, and education administrators—is to "focus the national spotlight on the important role of school libraries," says Robert Martin, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency that helped organize the event.

The program will focus on examples of good school libraries nationwide, what kind of services they provide, how they work with teachers as partners in the instructional process, and what a difference an appropriately supported and well-maintained school library collection can make in the educational process, Martin adds.

The gathering has an impressive roster of speakers. Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corp. and former head of the New York Public Library, will lead off with a presentation about the important role of libraries in communities. Other guest speakers include Susan B. Neuman, the assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary education (see "A Friend at the Top ," December 2001), Keith Curry Lance, a researcher on the impact of library media centers on academic achievement, and Gary Hartzell, a professor of educational administration at the University of Nebraska and an SLJ columnist (see "The Metaphor Is the Message"). A panel of education administrators, including principals and superintendents, will discuss their renovated school libraries and the significant impact they have had on student learning. Finally, Christine DeVita, president of the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, will close the four-hour session by talking about the role of philanthropy in supporting school libraries. The program will also focus on the importance of attracting qualified certified library media specialists to the profession (see "Filling the Void ").

The conference marks the second time this year that the First Lady has gone to bat for school librarians. In January, she unveiled a $10 million government initiative to attract a new generation of media specialists (see News, February 2002 ).

In July 2001, Bush launched the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries to enhance book collections for the nation's neediest school and community libraries. But fundraising efforts were put on hold following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The First Lady will jumpstart her foundation at the conference by announcing its board of trustees and advisory committee. The foundation will seek contributions from private individuals, corporations, and groups interested in school libraries, says Pam Willeford, executive director of the Laura Bush Foundation. A committee of experts will decide who receives the competitive grants, which are not expected to be given out until spring 2003, Willeford says.

The First Lady's foundation falls in line with the "Literacy Through School Libraries" bill, which was recently passed as part of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The law provides $12.5 million in funds to school libraries in fiscal year 2002. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who sponsored the legislation, is seeking to increase the funding level to more than $100 million for FY 2003.