For Immediate Release
November 20, 2000
Information Contact
Rosalie Vlach
Washington, DC – The United States National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences (NCLIS) announced today that 50 libraries in ten states and 18 foreign countries have been designated as official participants in Sister Libraries: A White House Millennium Counsel Project. This brings the total number of foreign and U.S. libraries participating in the project to 353 with several U.S. libraries having multiple partners. The goal of the project is for libraries in the United States to pair with others worldwide. Initially focusing on programs specifically planned for children and teenagers, the project now includes all types of libraries. Participating libraries create opportunities for people around the world to communicate with one another and to share information about their lives and cultures.
Newly Designated Libraries Share Exciting Plans
The following examples demonstrate the variety of ideas and interests that designated libraries bring to their projects. They also illustrate the energy and ingenuity that librarians at all levels have contributed to fostering worldwide understanding and to making the Sister Libraries Project a success.
The Chicago Library System is a multi-type consortium with 250 special libraries, 500 plus school libraries, 53 academic libraries and the Chicago Public Library. The consortium provides support in establishing an environment that allows all types of libraries in a city to work together for the greater good of the whole. The concept of a multi-type library system is virtually unknown outside the U.S. and the Chicago System will help international partners by sharing their experience and knowledge.
The Irene Ingle Public Library, Wrangell, Alaska and the Lewis and Clark Library, Helena, Montana will partner with libraries in Japan to foster cultural awareness for preschoolers, school age and adults.
Because of the widespread interest in genealogy in the U.S. and China, Heritage Quest Library, North Salt Lake City, Utah, will establish a partnership to learn more about historical genealogical resources on Chinese Americans and assist American librarians and Chinese genealogist to learn more about the resources that are available in China.
In Florida, Yeshiva High School Media Center, Boca Raton, a private Orthodox school, is interested in e-pal, book reviews and a book club with a library in Israel to foster a greater understanding of the Orthodox Jew in American society. New Port Richey Library will encourage children and seniors to find pen pals and exchange information about the history and culture of Florida and to publish a web page of their exchange.
The youth services department at Perry County District Library, New Lexington, Ohio is planning to exchange ideas and program planning with other youth librarians and to implement a series of programs featuring the culture, stories and history of its sister library’s country. They will encourage staff exchanges and use their web page to post pictures, book reviews, and recipes and “use the program as a springboard for other programs encouraging cultural understanding, awareness and appreciation of the wide world around us.”
Voorheesville Public Library in New York will share ideas and resources with librarians in Zagreb and Zadar, Croatia; and Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, Ohio will work with libraries in Central America, Mexico or Italy on a project for Summer Reading 2001, because of their large immigrant population.
| Alaska Irene Ingle Public Library, Wrangell |
Ohio Perry County District Library, New Lexington Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia |
| Florida Yeshiva High School Media Center, Boca Raton New Port Richey Public Library, New Port Richey | Pennsylvania Clymer Library, Pocono Pines |
| Illinois Chicago Library System, Chicago |
Rhode Island Jamestown Philomenian Library |
| Minnesota Pelican Rapids Public Library, Pelican Rapids |
Texas Lee Junior High, San Angelo |
| Montana Lewis and Clark Library, Helena |
Utah Heritage Quest Library, Salt Lake City |
| New York Four County Library, Binghamton Sachem Public Library, Holbrook Brunswick Community Library, Troy Voorheesville Public Library, Voorheesville |
The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government charged by Public Law 91-345 to appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current library and information resources and services and to advise the President and Congress on national and international policies and plans.