The December 9 Washington Post reported that the panelists include former New York Public Library President Vartan Gregorian, former NYPL Board Chairman Marshall Rose, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, and dean of Catholic University’s School of Library and Information Science Martha Hale. Three members of the DCPL board of trustees are also on the commission. Williams said he had invited First Lady Laura Bush, a former school librarian, to join but her spokesman indicated she had not yet made a decision.
The mayor said the District’s 27 public libraries are insufficiently equipped to tackle Washington’s adult illiteracy and high-school dropout rates. Williams added that he was prepared to back up the panel’s recommendations with funding but wanted to see its members help raise some private money. The libraries lost out on a $45-million funding package November 30 that was tied to D.C.’s new baseball stadium plans.
The commission plans to issue a report and recommendations in September 2005.
Posted December 10, 2004.