Iowa’s First Lady is inviting up to 200 Iowa libraries to become part of her “Iowa Stories” initiative. In the past year, libraries in seven Iowa towns launched programs to boost literacy. First Lady Christie Vilsack says her goal is to have every Iowa library participate by 2002. Many of the literacy projects focus on getting new parents to read to their babies. Rotarians around the state have each committed five-dollars to the Literacy project and Rotary Clubs have given 24-thousand dollars to date. Today, A-T-and-T donated 15-thousand dollars. Vilsack made her comments during a news conference in the newly renovated State Library. Mrs. Vilsack rebuked plans, which would move legislative staff into the library’s space. The seven communities already part of the “Iowa Stories” initiative are Algona, Ames, Bayard, Belleplaine, Cherokee, Independence and Oskaloosa. Other libraries have until March 15th to sign up for the program.
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