ALA honors Mrs. Laura Bush for Service to Libraries

Contact: Bernadette Murphy

Washington Communications Director

ALA Washington Office

202.628.8410

bmurphy@alawash.org

April 12, 2005

ALA honors Mrs. Laura Bush for service to libraries

(WASHINGTON, DC)
The American Library Association today honored Mrs. Laura Bush for her years of support to America's libraries and librarians at the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library in downtown Washington, D.C.
ALA Immediate Past President Carla Hayden presented Mrs. Bush with a citation and a gift of
Kira-Kira and
Kitten's First Full Moon, the 2005 winners of the Newbery and Caldecott medals, respectively.

"Mrs. Bush has been a tireless supporter of libraries and library workers during her tenure in the White House," said Carol Brey-Casiano, president of the American Library Association and director of the El Paso Public Library in El Paso, Texas. "She has been an exemplary role model to women and men considering the profession of librarianship, and she has been a consistent advocate for the importance of reading since her days in the Texas Governor's mansion. Librarians and library users everywhere owe her thanks," she continued.

In 2002, Mrs. Bush hosted the White House Conference on School Libraries, an event which highlighted the
power of school libraries to make a difference in student achievement. In 2003, Mrs. Bush was a guiding force behind "Recruitment of Librarians for the 21st Century," legislation designed to help attract and retain librarians.