Contact:  Larra Clark

                                                                                    Media Relations Manager

                                                                                                                  312-280-5043
lclark@ala.org

For Immediate Release
December 8, 2006                                                             

ALA President hosts national library agenda summit

(CHICAGO) American Library Association (ALA) President Leslie Burger will gather dozens of policy and decision makers December 10 and 11 at a conference entitled “Toward a National Library Agenda Summit.”

“The meeting is intended to build on my presidential theme of ‘Libraries Transform Communities’ by formulating a national agenda that will position libraries to change the communities we serve,” Burger said.

Participants will help articulate key agenda items that will enhance support for improving libraries, as well as building a case for investing in libraries at the local, state and national level.  “The meeting is a first step in what I expect will be several nationwide conversations that will lead to the adoption of a national agenda for libraries,” Burger added.  “When testing this idea with congressional staff, legislators, state librarians, library advocates, members and staff, all welcomed the idea as a way to focus attention on how libraries can serve the critical needs of all Americans.

The meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., and a draft plan from the summit will be available for review and comment at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, January 19-24.  For more information, please visit http://lb.princetonlibrary.org/nla.html.