FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 04, 2003
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442

National Library Week April 6-12, 2003
City of Austin and Austin Public Library Announce Book Title for the 2nd Annual Citywide Reading Campaign
"KEEP AUSTIN READING"

Event:

The second annual selection of the “Mayor's Book Club—Keep Austin Reading” campaign will be announced at a press conference and video conference event at the Austin History Center. After a very successful first year the Library, in conjunction with the mayor’s office, will launch its second annual citywide campaign to develop a community experience through reading and discussion of a shared book. The event will be broadcast to three other library locations using TIF (telecommunications infrastructure fund) funded video teleconferencing equipment. A 5th grade class from JJ Pickle Elementary will be one of the audiences viewing the mayor’s announcement and the kids will have the opportunity to ask the mayor questions using the video equipment.The mayor and the Library invite all of Austin to read the book over the summer, and get together in the fall for discussion groups at area libraries facilitated by the University of Texas Humanities Institute. 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 History Center, 810 Guadalupe.

Date/Time:

Tuesday, April 8, 2003 at 10:45 a.m.

Participants:

Mayor Gus Garcia
Brenda Branch, Director of Libraries
Evan Carton, Director University of Texas Humanities Institute

Sponsors:

This years “KEEP AUSTIN READING” campaign is sponsored by the Austin Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Austin Public Library, Tokyo Electron America, H-E-B, and FOX 7 News.

Notes:

2002 Mayor’s Book Club Statistics:

• Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya was checked out at branch libraries over 3,000 times.
• During a three month period over 600 people attended 12 discussion groups hosted by the Austin Public Library and facilitated by University of Texas professors.
• The culmination of the three month program was made by a visit from the award winning author Rudolfo Anaya.

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