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A National Library
Heritage Center: A Concept
Underlying Vision
The people of the United States and
the American library community will appreciate and understand the heritage of
America’s libraries and the contribution that America’s libraries have made and
continue to make to our country. They will gain this appreciation as a result of
the efforts of a National Library Heritage Center to promote and preserve
America's library heritage.
Purpose of a National Library Heritage Center
- To contribute to a greater understanding by the
American people and America’s library community of how the legacy of the past
has contributed to the development of today’s libraries.
- To promote the telling of the story of America’s
libraries in multiple venues and through multiple modes.
- To provide recognition of those individuals and
institutions which have made a significant contribution to the development of
America's libraries.
- To promote the preservation of artifacts and archives
of America's library heritage and access to those artifacts and archives.
- To encourage and support research on the history of
America's libraries.
- To foster partnerships between libraries and
museums/historical societies at the national, state, and local levels.
Some Possible Projects for a National Library
Heritage Center
- Creation and maintenance of a
national database of archival collections of importance to American library
history.
- Creation and maintenance of a
national database of artifacts of importance to American library history.
- Coordination of the digitization of
archival and historical resources of importance to American library history.
- The sponsorship of national
traveling exhibits related to American library history.
- The designation of national library
heritage sites.
- Facilitation of the creation of a
library
heritage center in each state.
- Housing or supporting the expansion
of the American Library Association Archives.
- Housing or supporting a premier
research collection of library history resources.
- Support for a library historian in
residence program.
One Scenario for Establishing a National Library
Heritage Center
- The American Library Association
would provide the initial and possibly the ongoing leadership for creating and
maintaining a National Library Heritage Center.
- ALA would create a Steering
Committee to promote and oversee the Center.
- ALA would assume the primary
responsibility for funding the Center through outside fundraising and the
establishment of a mechanism for members to contribute on the ALA membership
dues form.
- The expansion of the ALA Archives
at the University of Illinois would be a primary component of this approach.
- ALA would seek the support of other
partners in promoting and supporting the Center. These could include:
divisions and units within ALA; the Library of Congress; the Institute for
Museum and Library Services; the Smithsonian Institution; the National
Endowment for the Humanities; the Friends of Libraries USA; the University of
Illinois; the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies; the Carnegie
Corporation of New York; the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; state library
agencies; and state library associations.
Another Scenario for Establishing a National Library
Heritage Center
- The Library of Congress would
provide the initial and possibly the ongoing leadership for creating and
maintaining a National Library Heritage Center.
- The Center would be modeled on the
successful Center for the Book.
- The Library of Congress would seek
federal legislation that would create and fund the Center.
- The library history resources of
the Library of Congress would be identified and utilized to support the
center.
- The Library of Congress would seek
the support of other partners in promoting and supporting the Center. These
could include: the American Library Association and its individual units; the
Institute for Museum and Library Services; the Smithsonian Institution; the
National Endowment for the Humanities; the Friends of Libraries USA; the Chief
Officers of State Library Agencies; the Carnegie Corporation of New York; the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; state library agencies; and state library
associations.
Other Thoughts about a National Library Heritage
Center
It would also be possible to spin off the National
Library Heritage Center as a separate legal entity after its initial
establishment.
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