Reprint from Collections & Connections
Fall 1999, Vol. 4, No. 1

The name's the same--Southern Kentucky Festival of Books. Our mission's unchanged--to promote reading, love of books, and literacy in the state and region. But little else will remain the same for next year's book festival, scheduled for March 24-26 at the Bowling Green/Warren County Convention Center.

Under the leadership of volunteer co-chairs, Ray Buckberry, Jr. and Regina Newell, and working with partners, Barnes & Noble and the Bowling Green Public Library, plans are to make book festival 2000 bigger and better.

That's not to say we"ll "throw out the baby with the bath water." Many of the highly successful and well received activities will remain. But because of the tremendous response from people in the community and region, we are looking to increase attendance by providing additional opportunities for people of all ages.

Besides increasing the number of authors, a variety of speakers and programs, a high priority is to increase the festival's educational component by reaching out regionally to involve more schools in the contests for schoolchildren; working with librarians and classroom teachers to arrange for childrens authors to make pre-festival visits in area schools; adding dramatic performances; writing workshops for young people, etc.

To make the Southern Kentucky Festival of Books 2000 as successful as the first event, volunteers are needed. If you're willing and available to lend your time and talents to help, please contact the Southern Kentucky Festival of Books office (270) 745-5263 or earlene.chelf@wku.edu

~Earlene Chelf

In July 1998, Dr. Henry Harding, retired Dean of Academic Services at Western Kentucky University, sold four lots and houses to WKU. These lots, three on Kentucky Street directly across from the Kentucky building, and an adjoining house and lot facing Adams Street, were stipulated to be used for off campus visitors to the Kentucky Building.

In July 1998, Dr. Henry Harding, retired Dean of Academic Services at Western Kentucky University, sold four lots and houses to WKU. These lots, three on Kentucky Street directly across from the Kentucky building, and an adjoining house and lot facing Adams Street, were stipulated to be used for off campus visitors to the Kentucky Building.

~ Riley Handy