ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 28 March 24, 1999 In this issue: First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to Serve as Honorary Chair for Sister Libraries: A White House Millennium Council Project Note: The following is a March 23 press release from the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. For more information contact NCLIS Executive Director Robert Willard at 202-606-9200, or go to http://www.nclis.gov. Washington, D.C.- The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) and Sister Cities International (SCI) have embarked on a major initiative, Sister Libraries: A White House Millennium Council Project. The goal is for public and school libraries in the United States to pair with other libraries worldwide, focusing initially on programs specifically planned for children and teenagers. In agreeing to chair the Sister Libraries project, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "This moment in history, the approach of a new millennium and the beginning of the next century, provides a wonderful opportunity for America's Free Public Libraries to join the young people of our nation with young people throughout the world so that they may learn from each other the wealth of information that is available in libraries around the globe." The White House Millennium Council was established by the President and First Lady to use the widespread interest in the millennium as a force for positive change and to celebrate accomplishments of this American century. The national theme is: "Honor the Past - Imagine the Future." Speaking of the Sister Libraries project, Ellen Lovell, director of the White House Millennium Council, said, "I cannot imagine how a society could honor the past or imagine the future without libraries and without free and open access to information." "The Commission is delighted that the First Lady will serve as honorary chair for our Sister Libraries initiative," said Commission Chairperson Jeanne Hurley Simon. "Participating libraries will create a mosaic of opportunities for young people around the world to communicate with and learn about each other's lives and cultures -- enabling young people to appreciate more fully their own place in, and impact on, the world of today and tomorrow." Libraries that are selected will receive recognition and designation as official White House Millennium Council Sister Libraries, but will not receive funds for staff, equipment, or materials. Libraries wishing information about participating in Sister Libraries: A White House Millennium Council Project should contact NCLIS at 1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 820, Washington, DC 20005, call (202)-606-9200, or send e-mail to SisterLibraries@nclis.gov. Sister Cities International is the national membership organization for sister city, county, and state programs in the United States. SCI is the official agency that links communities from the United States with communities worldwide. Currently, SCI represents 1,200 U.S. cities, counties, and states and their 2,100 partners in 125 countries worldwide. As the premier citizen diplomacy network in the United States, SCI leads the national movement for global community partnerships and volunteer action. SCI is the Commission's official partner in the Sister Libraries project and is using its contacts worldwide to identify and encourage broad participation. President Clinton is the honorary chairman of Sister Cities International. The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government charged by Public Law 91-345 to advise the President and Congress on national and international library and information policies and plans. The Commission coordinates national and international library activities with federal, state and local government in the U.S. and with other public and private organizations. Sister Libraries is the official White House Millennium Council Project of the Commission. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, Mary Costabile, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.