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ALA Goes Global at D.C. Conference"The library evokes for me the hereafter," said novelist Amy Tan at the opening session of the American Library Association's 117th Annual Conference June 25-July 1 in Washington, D.C. Libraries "guarantee your immortality," she said, since books "will be in circulation when you are not." The author of The Joy Luck Club told stories about the cultural collisions she experienced as a Chinese-American living in Europe and evoked the spirits of those she has loved and lost who inspire her work as her "ghostwriters." ALA President Barbara Ford's theme of "Libraries: Local Touch, Global Reach" pervaded the conference, which featured speakers from around the world and drew registrants from 80 countries. The global flavor was evident in a special lounge for international visitors where many of the 24,798 attendees (an all-time ALA high) donned "I speak..." badge ribbons and chatted with visitors in their native languages. Diversity and literacy fairs with multicultural emphasis added to the festivities, which culminated at a reception hosted by the Library of Congress in the newly restored Great Hall of the historic Jefferson building. A full report on the conference is available. Posted July 6, 1998. |
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