For immediate release | February 29, 2016
COSWL Celebrates National Women’s History Month
During the entire month of March, the American Library Association's (ALA) Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) will recognize and celebrate women’s historic achievements with National Women’s History Month. This year the Committee will be profiling four women who are leaders in technology every Wednesday in March. Visit COSWL’s Facebook page or check us out on Twitter at @ALA_COSWL. The observance also provides an opportunity to honor women within our families and communities.
National Women’s History Month traces its origins back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was later observed in 1909. In 1981, the U.S. Congress designated the second week of March National Women's History Week, and in 1987 Congress expanded it to a month-long observance.
COSWL was established by the ALA Council on July 23, 1976, to officially represent the diversity of women’s interests within ALA and to ensure that the Association considers the rights of the majority (women) in the library field.
Over the years COSWL has helped develop evaluative tools, guidelines, and programs in cooperation with other ALA units to enhance the opportunities and the image of women in the library profession. In 2008 the committee created the COSWL Cause Blog which highlights news and interested related to women’s issues. Other groups within the ALA represent women’s issues, including SRRT Feminist Task Force (FTF) and the ACRL Women’s Studies Section (WSS).
For additional information on National Women’s History Month, please visit the National Women’s History Project at http://www.nwhp.org/.
The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) serves as the liaison to the ALA Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL)
Related Links
Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL)
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR)
Contact:
Lorelle Swader
Director
Office for Human Resource Development & Recruitment (HRDR)
lswader@ala.org3122804728
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