Michael Holland was elected president of the Missouri Center for the Book on April 24th by the board of directors of the Center. The one year term of the president follows Holland’s two years service as secretary of the MCB.
The Missouri Center for the Book was established in 1993 “to bring the words and ideas of books into the thoughts and lives of Missourians.” It is the only statewide organization that promotes the importance of books and reading to Missouri residents, celebrates the state’s literary heritage, and recognizes the contributions of Missouri’s authors, book illustrators, booksellers, publishers, librarians, and others involved in the literary arts.
The Missouri Center is an affiliate of the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, which was established by law in 1977 to strengthen and celebrate the vital role of books, reading, and libraries in the cultural life of the nation. Headquartered at the Missouri State Library in Jefferson City, the Center is governed by a board of directors composed of authors, publishers, librarians, editors, and community leaders. The board develops programs and plans activities that stimulate public interest in books and reading. Among the activities of the Missouri Center for the Book are the Missouri Poet Laureate program, the Letters About Literature contest (for grades 4 – 12), the Annual Celebration of the Book, and many cooperative activities with other Missouri cultural organizations.
Congratulations, Mike! Please let us know how we can assist you in this new role.
Congratulations! Great news, and a great organization. Does the Center also work with the ReadMOre project?