Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, MN (August 25, 1999) – Minnesota State Law Librarian Marvin Anderson recently received the 1999 Spirit of Law Librarianship Award at the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries in Washington D.C.  Anderson received the award for his work with the “Everybody Wins” reading program at Benjamin E. Mays Magnet School in St. Paul. 

The national award is given each year to a law librarian who has made a meaningful contribution to a social concern or cause, or who has in some way used his or her training in service to mankind.

“Marvin is a wonderful example of how one individual can have a positive impact on hundreds of young people,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz.  “The court applauds his enthusiasm and commitment.” 

Each Tuesday, volunteers from the Minnesota Judicial Center, Minnesota Tax Court, Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals, Secretary of State and Attorney General’s Office travel by school bus to the Benjamin E. Mays Magnet School.  The volunteers meet with the same buddy each week, joining them for lunch and time reading together, playing word games and getting to know each other.

“The ‘Everybody Wins’ program offers me a chance to work one-on-one with a child over a school year,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page.  “Showing that child the pleasure and importance of reading is a chance I couldn’t pass up.”

When Anderson started the reading program in 1996 with 54 volunteers and 42 students, only one-third of the third-grade students had a reading partner.  Today the program includes 120 volunteers, over 80 students and begins a grade earlier.  Every student in second-grade at Benjamin E. Mays is matched with a reading buddy.

For more information on “Everybody Wins,” call Marvin Anderson, at 651-297-2084.