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HRH The Prince of Wales will today attend a celebration to mark the end of a lottery funded scheme to give 1.5 million free books to schools. The Everyman Millennium Library project has donated the books to secondary schools all over the UK as a result of a £4 million grant from the Millennium Commission. A total of 250 Everyman Classic titles from George Orwell’s 1984 to Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, have been distributed to 4,300 secondary schools in the UK. Books have also been given to schools in 77 different countries overseas via the British Council. Today’s final delivery includes a set of CD-ROM Millennium Library masterclasses, a unique electronic resource to encourage pupils to take an interest in literature. Mike O’ Connor CBE, Director of the Millennium Commission, said, “The Millennium Library is providing a fantastic asset to schools across the UK, helping students to access some of the best literature the world’s writers have produced and encouraging them to broaden their imaginations through reading. I believe it is an excellent use of National Lottery money and will be a lasting legacy for schools for generations to come. On the boundaries of Millennia, it is particularly appropriate that these works are available in old technology, books, and new technology, CD- ROMs.” The Millennium Commission is investing £1.3 billion of National Lottery money in around 200 capital projects on 3,000 sites around the UK. Much of this investment has gone towards projects which will either directly or indirectly provide educational resources for people of all ages and abilities. Projects include the creation of a new University for the Highlands and Islands, a new landmark library building for Norfolk and the Challenger Learning Centre at the National Space Centre in Leicester which teaches children about space science and travel. In addition, 16,000 small grants have been given to individuals across the UK to put a bright idea into practice to benefit themselves and their wider community through the Millennium Awards Scheme. A huge range of innovative projects have been undertaken from artists skills sharing groups to community support groups. -ends- Notes to Editors 1 The Millennium Commission is one of the good causes funded by the National Lottery. 2 The Millennium Commission has also supported:
• Around 200 new buildings, environmental projects and visitor attractions on over 3000 sites across the UK.
• A UK-wide programme of community festivals which began on New Year’s Eve 1999 and culminated on New Year’s Eve 2000 with celebrations in 32 towns and cities across the UK.
• The Millennium Experience at Greenwich and the National Programme. 3 The Millennium Commission also works with over 100 Awards Partner organisations to distribute Millennium Awards to individuals for community based projects. 16,000 people have already received a Millennium Award and there are still thousands of Awards available. Further information is available on 0800 06801 2000. For further information contact: Millennium Commission Press Office on
020 7880 2007, out of hours 07775 573263. The Millennium Commission web sites can be accessed at www.millennium.gov.uk and www.starpeople.org.uk For television enquiries please contact Marc Leuw at The Television Consultancy on 020 7435 4343.
Millennium Commission 10th-July-2001
Categories: News Archive
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