Bush, a former librarian and founder of the Laura Bush Foundation for Libraries, was less than an hour away from Heiligendamm, where President George W. Bush was participating in the Group of Eight summit.
“I think literature is very, very important for all people to read, because I think the more we read, the more we understand other ideas and other people,” she said in the June 6 International Herald Tribune. “And especially in our world today, it’s very important that we reach out to each other.”
The donated books, many of them for children, were chosen to provide stories and background on American history, culture, and society. The program also provides ongoing support for organizing lectures and readings by visiting American authors. After the ribbon-cutting with Schwerin Mayor Norbert Claussen and Chief Librarian Heidrun Hamann, Bush chatted with the children before returning to Heiligendamm.
“Reading is how we develop new interests, perform better in school, and have fun,” Bush said. “But the benefits of reading extend far beyond the library or the classroom. As we all know, reading and being able to learn and discuss ideas freely is a basic requirement for healthy, democratic societies.”
Posted June 8, 2007.