Alabama State University News July 21, 2014 Historic Agreement Signed for Interpretive Center Alabama State University President Gwendolyn E. Boyd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Park Service to develop a new $5 million interpretive center for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail on the campus of ASU. "Our University is honored to be a partner with the National Park Service in this project," Boyd said. "We pledge today to all those souls who took part in this great campaign for freedom (that) Montgomery's Interpretive Center will be a living, breathing, speaking, organic structure which will touch many lives with its buoyant story." The Center at ASU will have exhibits to tell the story of the voting rights march, with a focus on the roles of ASU and the city of Montgomery. It will be the third and final center on the National Historic Trail, established by Congress in 1996. "We are honored to partner with the citizens of Montgomery as we again move forward in getting this story told," said Sandra L. Taylor of the National Park Service. Congresswoman Terri Sewell attended the signing and pledged her support to the University's efforts. Also attending were Rep. Thad McClammy, along with other state, local and community leaders. The MoU calls for ASU to construct the building and for the National Park Service to develop the exhibits. The center will be funded by $2 million in federal funds for architectural work and construction and another $3 million in federal and donated funds to develop the exhibits. The groundbreaking for the center will be held in September and the facility is expected to take 18 months to complete. The center will be located in front of The New ASU Stadium, which is a short walk from the one-time home of civil rights leader Ralph David Abernathy and from the birth home of singer Nat King Cole. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!