New Hampshire Celebrates Center for the Book

On Monday May 5th a crowd of librarians, booksellers, publishers, and citizens gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Center for the Book at the N.H. State Library. Speakers included John Cole from the Library of Congress, New Hampshire Poet Laureate, Marie Harris, journalist John Harrigan, author Tomie DePaola, and writer and humorist Rebbecca Rule. In preparation for the event a favorite book survey was sent to libraries across the state and the results tabulated by the State Library. The top 10 favorite books of New Hampshire readers are as follows:

1. HARRY POTTER SERIES (ROWLING)
2. LORD OF THE RINGS (SERIES TOLKEIN)
3. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (LEE)
4. HOLES (SACHAR)
5. BIBLE
   GONE WITH THE WIND (MITCHELL)
6. BEL CANTO (PATCHETT)
   JUNIE B. JONES (PARK)
   LITTLE WOMEN (ALCOTT)
   MAGIC TREE HOUSE (OSBORNE)
7. POISONWOOD BIBLE (KINGSOLVER)
   SHELL SEEKERS (PILCHER)
   TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (SMITH)
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (AUSTEN)
   RED TENT (DIAMENT)
   SECRET LIFE OF BEES (KIDD)
9. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (WHITE)
10. I SPY (MARZOLLO)

The Center for the Book at the N.H. State Library will serve as an umbrella and clearinghouse for the state's literary community, initially focusing on promoting and expanding existing programs. Said Acting Director Katie McDonough, "There are so many groups working to promote reading and literacy and a number of talented authors in New Hampshire. Our task is to coordinate and publicize opportunities, recently we established a website to facilitate this task."

New Hampshire's application to establish a Center for the Book was approved by the Library of Congress in December of 2002. Since that time an advisory board has been established and plans are underway for a number of literary activities. New project ideas include an interactive version of a "Literary Map of New Hampshire," a Bookchat Listserv, and a Franco-American Book Festival, to be developed in cooperation with the American-Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission.

For more information about the Center for the Book at New Hampshire State Library go to http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter/index.html or call Katie McDonough at 271-8520.