The Nebraska State Historical Society’s Nebraska History Museum—15
th and P Streets in downtown Lincoln—will be the site of the 2012 Celebration of Nebraska Books, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Humanities Council, Nebraska Library Commission, Nebraska State Historical Society, and Friends of University of Nebraska Press. The
Jane Geske Award will be presented to the
Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation. The Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation promotes the memory, life and writings of the author. The Foundation solicits memberships and donations to sustain the Aldrich home and museum in Elmwood, NE and sponsors the Annual Bess Streeter Aldrich Short Story Contest with divisions for intermediate, middle, and high school age groups and an adult category. See
www.bessstreeteraldrich.org for more information about the Foundation.
The Nebraska Center for the Book annually presents the Jane Geske Award to an organization, business, library, school, association, or other group that has made an exceptional contribution to literacy, books, reading, 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 celebration—free and open to the public—will also feature presentation of the 2012 Nebraska Book Awards, and the celebration will include readings by some of the winning authors. A list of the winning books is located at
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards.html. This year the Celebration marks the eighth year of One Book One Nebraska, selecting and promoting a title for Nebraskans to read to celebrate the literary richness of our state. “I Am a Man:” Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice is the 2012 One Book One Nebraska and Nebraska libraries and other literary and cultural organizations across the state are hosting activities and events to encourage all Nebraskans to read and discuss the same book (see
http://onebook.nebraska.gov/2012/index.aspx). Author Joe Starita will speak about the book and his experience discussing this book with Nebraskans across the state through the One Book One Nebraska program.
The Nebraska Center for the Book Annual Meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m.—just prior to the 3:30-6:30 p.m. Celebration. An Awards Reception honoring the winning authors, book signings, and announcement of the 2013 One Book One Nebraska book choice will conclude the festivities. 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,
www.nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
