Reverend Jackson, Fiels kick off National Library Week at RainbowPUSH Coalition headquarters

Contact: Mark Gould
Director
ALA Public Information Office
(312) 280-5042
mgould@ala.org

NEWS
For Immediate Release
April 14, 2009

( Chicago) In recognition of the valuable contributions of our nation's libraries, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., CEO and Founder, RainbowPUSH Coalition in Chicago  and American Library Association (ALA) Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels spoke at a televised forum about the value of libraries and then  read to 20 children on April 11. The event kicked off   the 2009 observance of National Library Week and  took place in RainbowPush's library.

During the RainbowPUSH Coalition's Saturday Morning Forum, which is televised, Reverend Jackson and Fiels  discussed how libraries are an important community hub of literacy and learning; and a place people turn to during difficult economic times. The Reverend also reflected on libraries as community equalizers,  and places of opportunity and knowledge.

 Reverend Jackson read "We Were the Ship" by Kadir Nelson, winner of the Coretta Scott King Award,  and Fiels read Dr. Seuss' "I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew."

For more information about National Library Week, and the various activities that will take place, please visit    http://tinyurl.com/nlwpk09 .

-30-