Mayor Announces Blue Ribbon Commission on Future of Libraries

(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced today that he has appointed a blue ribbon commission to help create a new library system in the District. The commission will be charged with assessing the current state of the city's public library system; evaluating and revising Mayor Williams' plan to build a new central library and redevelop the branch system; make recommendations for implementing the revised plan; and monitor the implementation of the plan. Mayor Williams will be the chairman of the commission. Council Chairman Linda Cropp will also serve on the commission.

"The nation's capital has an unacceptable adult illiteracy rate of 37 percent and a high school drop out rate of 41 percent, said Mayor Williams. "The current library system is ill-equipped to help address these issues, so we need to bring together some of the best minds in the library field to help us redefine our system.  Because my own commitment is so great, I will chair this commission personally."

The members of the commission include local and national leaders with experience in the rebuilding, financing and programming of libraries, including Marie Harris Aldridge, James Billington, Ann W. Brown, Claudine Brown, Jean Case, Bonnie Cohen, Ralph Davidson, Donald Graham, Terence Golden, Vartan Gregorian, Martha Hale, Carla Hayden, John Hill, Clifford Janey, Robert L. Johnson, Susan Kent, Richard Levy, Willee Lewis, Terry Lynch, Robert Martin, Richard Moe, Very Reverend Leo J. O'Donovan, Charles Overby, Catherine Reynolds, Marshall Rose, Thomas Susman, Peter B. Wiley, Joslyn Williams, Elaine Wolfensohn, Nina Zolt. The members of the commission will hold their first meeting today at 2 pm in room 433 of the Martin Luther King Library at 9th and G Streets, NW. While the meeting is closed to the media, photographers and camera operators are welcome to spray the room as the meeting gets underway.

Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of the Wa