U.S. Olympic Figure Skater Kimmie Meissner Named Teen Chair of Teen Read Week

United States Olympic Figure Skater Kimmie Meissner has been named Teen Chair of Teen Read Week™, the only national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians and educators. Teen Read Week™ is sponsored by the Young Adult Literacy Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA). YALSA and Meissner are encouraging teens to “Get Active @ your library” by using the vast library resources to lead an active life.

Despite a heavy practice and travel schedule, Meissner has agreed to take a national leadership role for Teen Read Week™ because not only does she love to skate, but she loves to read books about skating and other sports written by or about other athletes such as Lance Armstrong @ her library. Her main passion for reading however, lies in different types of fiction. As a small child, and even now, libraries and books allow her to escape into adventures that help her relax when on the road.

Meissner has many fond memories of her early library experiences. “My favorite librarian, Mrs. Berry from my elementary school always encouraged me to read and develop my imagination. Kimmie’s favorite book of all time is “Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. Her favorite books when she was younger was “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak.

When I was little, my Mom or Dad would take me to the library to read books. It was always our special time together,” Meissner says. "For school projects, I would immediately go to the school or public library to conduct research and the librarians always pointed me in the right direction to find just the information that I was looking for.”

Throughout Teen Read Week™, library events nationwide will encourage teens to explore the world of books including fiction and non-fiction -- novels, biographies, mysteries, and more. Teens also can vote for their favorite books during the week by logging online and checking out recommendations from the Teens’ Top Ten. When teens visit their local branches, they can surf the web to do research for their school projects, sign up for Poetry Slams and Open Mic Nights and get information on college and career choices.

Since it began in 1998, Teen Read Week™ has focused on the importance of teen recreational reading and encouraging teens to go to their local library. Teen Read Week’s objectives are to give teens an opportunity to read for the fun of it, to allow teens to select their own reading material, and to help teens get in the habit of reading regularly and often.

For more information contact Eric Katzman at 212-245-0510 or ekatzman@pro-mediacommunications.com.