Andrew P. Jackson to deliver 2016 Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture

For Immediate Release
Tue, 04/26/2016

Contact:

John L. Amundsen

Program Officer, Outreach and Communications

ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services

(312) 280-2140

jamundsen@ala.org

CHICAGO – Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), director emeritus of Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community and Cultural Center, will deliver the 2016 Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture during ALA’s Annual Conference in Orlando. The lecture will take place from 8:30 - 10 a.m. on Monday, June 27 in room W206A in the Orange County Convention Center.

Jackson was selected by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services Advisory Committee in recognition of over 35 years of service and a long record of commitment to the Queens community as executive director of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center and his leadership in the library profession through many years of active participation in the American Library Association, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and as an adjunct lecturer at CUNY York College and Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS).

Jackson is a past-president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and serves as co-chair of ALA’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunrise Celebration and a member of the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.  He also serves as chair of the Queens Borough President’s African American Heritage Planning Committee and is a member of the Queens Poet Laureate Committee.

Known for his extensive outreach to schools, libraries, civic organizations, cultural institutions, correctional facilities, churches and colleges, Jackson shares his knowledge and experience as a library consultant/advisor and mentors graduate students and new librarians across the country. He has received numerous awards and honors for community service, activism, outreach, librarianship, leadership, mentoring, professional achievement and advocacy and is a “distinguished alumnus” of both of his alma maters, CUNY – Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, where he earned his Master of Library Science degree, and CUNY-York College, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  

In recognition of his commitment to Black history and culture, Andrew was given five African names - Sekou-Warrior, Molefi-He Keeps tradition, Baako-first born, Bhekizizwe-Take care of your people, Orbai-Teacher.

A U.S. Air Force veteran (1964-1968), Jackson received The Bronze Star Medal for his service with 4th Air Commando Squadron in Vietnam and was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant. He was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.   

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: Mimi Lee, Chair; Nancy L. Baumann, Jane Cronkhite, Heidi M. Daniel, Kymberly Mieshia Dionne Keeton, Sam Leif, Kerri Rosalia, Vikki C. Terrile, Jacqueline Welsh, Lizz Zitron, Amy Laughlin (Intern), and Rebecca Marrall (Intern).