Library Director Desiree Webber and board member Jo Ann Hickman hold a National Book Festival poster signed by First Lady Laura Bush. Hickman wrote to the first lady asking for the poster in October and received it recently. She also invited Bush to visit Mustang.

By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer
published Jan. 10, 2009

Mustang Public Library received a signed poster recently from one of the nation’s leading advocates for reading and education — First Lady Laura Bush.

Library board member Jo Ann Hickman wrote to the first lady in October after seeing a list of Bush’s favorite children’s books in a national women’s magazine in honor of the National Book Festival. Hickman asked Bush for a signed copy of the National Book Festival poster for the Mustang library.

“Laura, you are such a charming and gracious First Lady,” Hickman wrote. “ I appreciate the eight years that you and President Bush have dedicated to serving our great country.”

She sent her letter and didn’t receive a response until December.

“I hadn’t heard anything, I thought that she was busy getting ready to move out of the White House,” Hickman said. “Then I was nicely surprised.”

She received the poster rolled neatly in a tube in the mail. Hickman said she plans to get it framed and put it on display in the Mustang library children’s section.

She wrote Bush back, thanking her for her interest and her support of reading and enclosed a photo of the poster being held by children’s librarian Michalena McMahill.

“If at any time you are in the Oklahoma City area, we at the Mustang Public Library would be honored to have you visit and read to our children,” Hickman wrote.

The Mustang resident has her fingers crossed Bush will visit someday.

Before becoming first lady of Texas and then the United States, Bush taught and worked as a librarian in the Houston, Dallas and Austin school systems.

According to the White House Web site, the first lady has advocated to improve early education and encouraged parents and caregivers to read to young children. She’s also worked to help recruit qualified teachers and supported several recruitment programs including Troops to Teachers, the New Teacher Project and Teach For America.

She also serves as honorary ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade, working as an international spokeswoman for efforts to educate people worldwide, especially women and girls.