ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE, JESSE WHITE, AND JOAN E. SCHENK. L.I.S.T. FOUNDATION

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK | APRIL 14-20, 2013

“Communities Matter” is the theme of 2013 NLW sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), headquartered in Chicago, IL. Since 1958, a week in April has been set aside to recognize the importance of Libraries. This year’s theme relating to Communities underscores the impact and need for Communities to have a place for information gathering and a place to circulate books and other media in a free setting provided by local and state funding.

Jesse White, our esteemed Illinois Secretary of State, is Illinois State Librarian. He joins ALA Honorable Chairperson Caroline Kennedy and all librarians and libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week April 14-20, a time to highlight the value of libraries, librarians and library workers.

ALA states, “Libraries today are more that repositories for books and other resources. They are the heart of their communities, campuses, and schools. They are deeply committed to the places where patrons live, work, research and study. They are trusted places where everyone in a community can gather to reconnect and re-engage with each other to enrich and shape the community and address real issues.”

State Librarian Jesse White was an educator in Chicago Public Schools before he was an elected official. I also held a position as Librarian with CPS and both of us realize the importance of Libraries. My foundation entitled: Libraries, Information, Services and Technology (L.I.S.T. Foundation) was founded in 2009 to first help promote libraries in CPS and now its direction is to establish libraries everywhere from high rises to coffee shops. Shannon Wright, of BLÄQ + WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY, not only was with me in this endeavor since its beginning, but she served on my board as Executive Secretary and continues to encourage and support all forms of literacy.

Written by: Joan E. Schenk, April 5, 2013 | Chicago, IL

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