Insight

              State Library/Archives Lincoln Bicentennial promotion
Secretary of State Jesse White has
announced that the Illinois State Library
and the State Archives have embarked on
a multifaceted promotional campaign to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of
the birth of Abraham Lincoln, Feb. 12,
2009.
“Next year, our nation will celebrate the
bicentennial of the birth of Illinois’ great-est
son and our nation’s greatest presi-dent,”
said Secretary White, who serves
as State Librarian and State Archivist. “The
State Library and State Archives have
many connections to Abraham Lincoln,
and the Secretary of State’s office is hon-ored
to help mark this important celebra-tion
by making the public, especially
schoolchildren, aware of Lincoln’s great-ness
and his special ties to Illinois.”
White said most people are probably not
aware that Abraham Lincoln was the first
person to borrow a book from the Illinois
State Library in 1842. Lincoln also is the
only U.S. President to be awarded a
patent, a replica of which is on file at the
State Library’s Patent and Trademark
Library.
The State Archives holds a number of
Lincoln documents, many written in
Lincoln’s hand. The Illinois Digital
Archives, a repository of the State Library’s
digital collections, contains books and
documents about the life, political career
and assassination of Lincoln. The State
Archives’ collection of Lincoln documents
has recently been digitized on IDA, which
may be accessed at www.idaillinois.org.
The campaign kicked off with a writing
contest — “Essays About Lincoln” — in
which students in grades 5 through 12 are
encouraged to write a modern-day ver-sion
of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,
reflecting their personal thoughts and
dreams about where America is as a
nation, and their ideals for freedom,
democracy and equal opportunity. The
deadline for entries is May 31, 2008.
Winners will be honored at an awards
presentation in Springfield next February
in conjunction with the bicentennial cel-ebration,
where they will read their
essays, receive a plaque and cash award,
and tour the Abraham Lincoln Presi-dential
Library and Museum. Essay con-test
forms have been sent to all Illinois
public and private elementary and sec-ondary
schools. Forms also are available
at www.illinoiscenterforthebook.org.
The Illinois State Board of Education and
the Illinois Center for the Book are co-sponsors
of the essay competition, and the
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commis-sion
and the Lincoln Illinois Bicentennial
Commission have endorsed the contest.
Other components of the Lincoln Bicen-tennial
campaign include:
• A series of six collectible bookmarks
with notable trivia about Lincoln;
• A colorful poster sent to schools and
libraries;
• A special display in the Secretary of
State’s tent at the 2008 and 2009
Illinois State Fairs;
• Flagpole banners on display around
the State Library and State Archives in
Springfield; and
• Informational packets for teachers to
use in the classroom.
The Lincoln Illinois Bicentennial Com-mission
has awarded a $3,153 grant to
the State Library to help pay for flagpole
banners.
April 1-3
Synergy Leadership Conference
Starved Rock Lodge and
Conference Center, Utica
April 10
Illinois Library Day
Springfield
June 1-6
Small Public Librarians Management Institute
University of Illinois at Springfield
June 8-13
Institute for School & Public Librarians
Bradley University, Peoria
Insight
Jesse White
Secretary of State
Illinois State Library, Gwendolyn Brooks Building
300 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62701-1796
Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian.
Produced by the Secretary of State Communications Department.
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. March 2008 — 10.8M
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Spfld, IL
2009 LSTA grant applications available
Information on the FY09 Library Services and Technology Act grant offerings is now
available at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. The Letter of Intent — the first step in
making a formal application for an LSTA grant — is due Wednesday, April 2.
The State Library is inviting library staff members to apply to be grant reviewers
for the FY09 LSTA grant applications. If interested, please contact Karen Egan at
kegan@ilsos.net or 217-782-7749.
State Library staff news
Bella Belogorsky and Cheryl Goza Smith have moved from the Reference Section
to the Library Development Group’s Diversity Program.
Jane Knipmeyer, Laura Large and DeeAnn Powless have moved from Technical
Services to the Reference Section.
Jim Shepard has moved from the Reference Section to the Library Automation and
Technology Division.
Brian Tober has begun work in the Library Automation and Technology Division as
a scanning technician.
Lisa Waller has left the Talking Book and Braille Service for another position in the
Secretary of State’s office.
Jim Solenberger, a cataloger, and Marti Martin, secretary to the director, recently
marked 30 years as State Library employees.
Donna Brown, a cataloger, has marked 25 years as an employee.
Melissa Ransom, a data input operator in the Operations Division, retired January 1.
March/April
2008
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Birthday Bicentennial
1809 2009
Abraham Lincoln
Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State
A Newsletter from the Illinois State Library — Jesse White, Secretary of State & State Librarian
in this issue
Lincoln Bicentennial
2008 Synergy Initiative
Emerging Writers deadline
School library per capita
grants
Wi-Fi at the State Library
LSTA grant applications
Illinois Library Day