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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2007
Contact:
, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Mayor Will Wynn and the Austin Public Library Announce Book Title
for the 6th Annual Citywide Reading Campaign
Mayor’s Book Club ‘07
“KEEP AUSTIN READING”
Announcement to take place at the Austin City Store in City Hall,
Corner of Guadalupe & 2nd St. 10:30a.m.
The Book will be available to the media at the announcement
Event:
The sixth annual selection of the “Mayor's Book Club—Keep Austin Reading” campaign will be announced at a press conference at the Austin City Store, City Hall 301 W. 2nd St., at the corner of Guadalupe and Second St. For the past five years the library has circulated over 20,000 copies of the selected book title and each year area book stores report healthy sales of the chosen book. After five very successful years, the Library, in conjunction with the mayor’s office, and the University of Texas Humanities Institute will launch its annual citywide campaign to develop a community experience through reading and discussion of a shared book.
This year the mayor and the Library invite all of Austin to read the book during February and March, and then join us for special events and discussion groups at area libraries in April 2007.
The book will be available at all library locations, as well as, at area bookstores.
Location:
Announcement of the book title to take place at the Austin City Store in City Hall, 301 W. Second St.
Date/Time:
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 10:30 a.m.
Participants:
Mayor Will Wynn
Brenda Branch, Director of Libraries
Evan Carton, Director University of Texas Humanities Institute
Sponsors:
This year’s “KEEP AUSTIN READING” campaign is sponsored by Texas Gas Service, the Austin Public Library Foundation, and Friends of the Austin Public Library.
Notes:
2006 Mayor’s Book Club Statistics:
-The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea was checked out at branch libraries almost 3,000 times.
-The book prompted conversations and discussion about U.S. immigration policy and the experience of immigrant laborers in our local and national undocumented economy from a diverse group of people at these various programs in April 2006.
-Hundreds of people participated in film screenings, a panel discussion, photo and art exhibits, and group book discussions across the city at branch libraries and other venues.
-At the conclusion of the 2006 Mayor’s Book Club the mayor welcomed the award winning author to Austin at a reception and program where he was greeted by over 200 citizens of Austin.
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