FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2005

Media contacts:

Heather O'Connell, (239) 461-2924, hoconnell@leegov.com

Karen Sloan, (239) 461-2914, ksloan@leegov.com

Secure Your Place in History

Fort Myers, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2005) – Have you or your family been part of an interesting or significant bit of Southwest Florida history?  If so, you may want to apply to be a participant in “A Florida Life Remembered.”

As a part of the community-wide reading project One Book, One Community: Lee County Reads “A Land Remembered,” Lee County Library System, News-Press and WGCU Public Media are partnering to document stories from long-time area residents about their family histories.

WGCU Public Media will record interviews with selected participants during the Lee County Reading Festival on March 19.  Interviews will take about ten minutes and will be scheduled throughout the day.

A Florida Life Remembered is modeled after the national StoryCorps project developed by David Isay that encourages people to share their life experiences with one another.  While StoryCorps recordings are archived with the Library of Congress, the recordings from A Florida Life Remembered will be kept on a local level.  Some will appear in Lee County Library System publications and may also air on WGCU 90.1 FM or appear in the News-Press.

To be considered for the project, please submit a brief statement of 50 words or less describing the story you would like to relate.  You may submit online by visiting www.lee-county.com/library, then clicking on the One Book, One Community icon, or at news-press.com under the “contests” area.  Entries may also be mailed to A Florida Life Remembered, Library Administration, 2345 Union Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901.  Entries must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, February 28, 2005.  If your story is selected, you will be contacted to set up a time for your interview on March 19.  Please be sure to include you mailing address, and phone number.  An e-mail address may also be helpful.

For more information on One Book, One Community: Lee County Reads “A Land Remembered,” the Lee County Reading Festival, or other library programs, call (239) 479-INFO or visit the library Web site at www.lee-county.com/library.

-end -