Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies Postpones Celebration of Being Named Literary Landmark

Nov. 7 Celebration Will Be Rescheduled Due to Weather; New Date to Be Announced

In addition to being the world’s largest collection of jazz-related materials, the Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS) can add yet another distinction to its name. The New Jersey Center for the Book (NJCB) has designated IJS a New Jersey literary landmark. The NJCB is the state chapter of the national Center for the Book, which is headquartered at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

The designation seeks to honor New Jersey’s rich literary history by focusing on special locations or institutions. Past designees have included the Walt Whitman House in Camden, the Newark Public Library, the Paterson Public Library, the oldest continually functioning library in the state, and the Joyce Kilmer tree at Rutgers University. IJS will be the sixth awardee in the eleven years that the NJCB has been in operation.

The celebration originally planned for Nov. 7 was to include an official ceremony to mark the designation with Renee Swartz, chair and coordinator of NJCB. A concert with a jazz ensemble was to follow, featuring distinguished jazz performer Daryl Sherman.

The NJCB’s mission is to “celebrate books, libraries and the diverse literary heritage of New Jersey.” The broad collections at IJS pay tribute to national and local jazz musicians and offer a rich history of jazz that has produced much scholarship.

The NJCB is housed at the School of Communication and Information, on Rutgers New Brunswick campus. The National Center for the Book program began in 1977 and now has chapters in all 52 states and territories. Those interested in learning more about the New Jersey Center for the Book can visit: http://www.njcenterforthebook.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

For more information on the IJS:

Have You Met Rutgers-Newark? Institute of Jazz Studies

Institute of Jazz Studies website

MEDIA CONTACT:

Merve Fejzula, John Cotton Dana Library
(973) 353-5906
fejzula@andromeda.rutgers.edu