GOVERNOR MINNER ACKNOWLEDGED FOR SUPPORT OF LIBRARIES
Library Journal names her 2007 "Politician of the
Year"
| Status | For Immediate Release | Contact | Christopher Portante |
| Release Date | Wednesday, 26 September 2007 | Phone | (302) 739-4111 |
Dover - Governor Ruth Ann Minner has been selected as Library Journal's 2007 "Politician of the Year" for her strong, ongoing support of Delaware's libraries. Library Journal, a well-respected publication in the library field, announced this month that Governor Minner, along with Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor and Assistant Secretary of State Rick Geisenberger, had received the prestigious award.
This award honors political figures who have continually shown vision in improving libraries. One particular area in which Delaware libraries have been improved under the leadership of Governor Minner is in the area of technology. Library technology funding in Delaware has increased by more than 1100% since FY2001.
Delaware is now a national leader in library technology, ensuring citizen access to high-speed internet, e-government and other services with the purchase of hundreds of new, state-of-the-art computers for use in public libraries.
A key technology initiative of the Minner-Carney Administration noted by Library Journal is the Three-Year PC Replacement Cycle to replace and keep current every public access computer in Delaware public libraries. "We keep updating our computers because of their importance to the lives of our children," said Governor Minner.
Other accomplishments noted in the article are Delaware's superior e-government standing, the extensive Delaware Library Catalog, and the Delaware Book Festival.
In his article, John N. Berry III, wrote that "influenced by libraries, Minner, Windsor, and Geisenberger-the Delaware Dream Team-have supported and improved them, with the state's citizens and librarians the beneficiaries."
Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor, who oversees the Delaware Division of Libraries (administered by State Librarian Annie Norman), has been an integral member of the team which has nurtured Delaware's libraries. Assistant Secretary of State Rick Geisenberger has likewise helped to implement many of the Governor's library initiatives.
Past honorees form an illustrious group. Some recent "Politicians of the Year" have been former Governor of Pennsylvania and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Philadelphia mayoral candidate Michael Nutter, and U.S. Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders.
Library Journal is in its 132nd year of publication and, as such, is the oldest publication covering the library field. It is read by over 100,000 library directors, administrators, and staff in public, academic, and special libraries.
The article on "Delaware's Dream Team" can be found at http://www.libraryjournal.com/tocarchive/2007/20070915.html.
