Carla Hayden to deliver 2015 Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture

For Immediate Release
Tue, 05/26/2015

Contact:

John L. Amundsen

Program Officer, Outreach and Communications

ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services

(312) 280-2140

jamundsen@ala.org

CHICAGO – Dr. Carla D. Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, will return to deliver the 2015 Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture during ALA’s Annual Conference in San Francisco. The lecture will take place from 8:30 - 10 a.m. on Monday, June 29 in room 120 in Moscone Center North.

Hayden was selected by the Advisory Committee of the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services in recognition of her efforts to keep the Enoch Pratt Free Library and its branches open and continually engaged with the Baltimore community during the civil unrest in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray in April.

“Carla’s actions embody the finest traditions and core values of our profession, particularly in the face of a difficult crisis that drew international attention,” said Office Advisory Committee Chair John Sandstrom. “In the midst of this painful time and in the epicenter of it all, Carla and her staff showed the world that libraries are safe havens and community anchors.  Acts we see as a natural continuation of her years of service, leadership and dedication to librarianship, for which she was named the 2006 Coleman Lecture keynote.  It is a true honor for the Committee to invite her back for 2015.”

“This is just a continuation of libraries being vital. It’s just part of the tradition of public libraries in America being here in good and bad. I’m proud that we were able to carry that on.” Hayden said in a recent interview with American Libraries, adding “In a lot of communities in Baltimore, especially challenged ones, we are the only resource. If we close, we’re sending a signal that we’re afraid or that we aren’t going to be available when times are tough. We should be open especially when times are tough.”

The lecture series honors Dr. Jean E. Coleman, the first director of the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (now the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services) for her leadership in focusing the Association's attention on issues affecting traditionally underserved and underrepresented people in libraries. 

For more information, please visit www.alaannual.org. 

The Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture is open to all Annual Conference attendees. This year’s event is coordinated by the Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services Advisory Committee: John C. Sandstrom (Chair), Taliah Abdullah, Nancy L. Baumann, Barbara L. Flynn, Kymberly Mieshia Dionne Keeton, Mimi Lee, Sam Leif, Susan H. Polos, Mary M. Todd, Jacqueline M. Welsh, and Lizz Zitron.