New Head of Library of Congress Young Readers Center Named

Congratulations to Karen Jaffe,
the New Head of the
Library of Congress Young Readers Center
in Washington, DC

Karen Jaffe, manager of education projects for MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, producers of the PBS Newshour, is the new head of the Library of Congress Young Readers Center. In her new role, she will manage the day-to-day operations of the center, which opened in 2009 as the first Library space devoted to the needs of young people.
"The opportunity to join the Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress is a splendid gift," said Jaffe. "Being surrounded by the best in literature for children, working with talented and dedicated staff and volunteers, and helping children explore books in this very special space in the Jefferson Building is a privilege."

"We eagerly welcome Karen, who brings her extensive experience in creating educational programs for young people to the Young Readers Center," said John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book, which administers the Young Readers Center.

Jaffe’s experience at PBS included co-directing an online video news broadcast for middle- and high- school students and managing curriculum development, assessment and student competitions. Previously, Jaffe founded and directed KIDSNET, a clearinghouse for children’s electronic media. Jaffe has also been a communications specialist for the National Education Association.

"I look forward to developing new programs for the Young Readers Center and to expanding the center’s national outreach with new partnerships and collaborations," Jaffe said.

Since its creation by Congress in 1977 to "stimulate public interest in books and reading," the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (www.Read.gov/cfb/) has become a national force for reading and literacy promotion. A public-private partnership, it sponsors educational programs that reach readers of all ages, nationally and internationally. The center provides leadership for affiliated state centers for the book (including the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and nonprofit reading- promotion partners and plays a key role in the annual Library of Congress National Book Festival. It also oversees the Library’s Read.gov website and administers the Poetry and Literature Center.

The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance has been privileged to enjoy a long and productive relationship with the Center for the Book. Our partnership has developed many engaging programs for the National Book Festival, as well as the national reading and writing outreach initiative titled The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, which is featured on the Center for the Book's website Read.Gov. (Click here to check out The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.)  The NCBLA congratulates Ms. Jaffe on her appointment and wishes all the best to everyone in the Young Readers Center as they continue to promote reading and books for young people.

The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s pre-eminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. The Library provides information, understanding and inspiration to the public, scholars, Members of Congress and their staffs. Many of the Library’s resources and treasures may also be accessed through the Library’s website at www.loc.gov.