Former First Lady Dedicates Marriott Library

Salt Lake Tribune reports: No formality was overlooked at Monday’s rededication of the University of Utah’s Marriott Library.

But in a break from tradition, U. President Michael Young bypassed a ribbon cutting in favor of a book exchange between dignitaries headlining the event and four school-age children. The exchange was meant to symbolize the library’s enduring role, “the transfer of knowledge from one generation to another,” said Young.

But for the Rytting siblings, James and Lizzie, it was a chance to get up-close and personal with former first lady Laura Bush, America’s most famous librarian.

“It was so cool,” said 9-year-old Lizzie. “I want to be a librarian when I grow up.”

Bush delivered the keynote address Monday at the invitation of Bill Marriott, son of library namesake J. Willard Marriott Sr., and a contributor to the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.