ALA to host a pre-White House Conference on Aging Forum

Contact: Beatrice Calvin


Communications Officer


312-280-4280


bcalvin@ala.org
For Immediate Release


March 24, 2005

ALA to host a pre-White House Conference on Aging Forum

CHICAGO - The American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) and Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) will host a pre-White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) Forum, “Libraries, Lifelong Learning, Information and Older Adults,” on Friday, June 24, 2005, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm during the ALA Annual conference in Chicago.

The theme for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, “The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action,” reflects the unique mandate of the 2005 WHCOA to focus on the aging of today and tomorrow. This group includes the 78 million baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), who will begin to turn 60 in 2006. The theme highlights the changing face of aging in the United States and encourages Americans of all ages to participate in developing plans for aging generations now and in the future.

Attendees at the ALA forum will discuss issues and develop recommendations about how libraries can serve older adults. These recommendations will be sent in an official report from the forum to the 1,200 delegates attending the conference in October.

The overarching theme of the forum is comprised of six major categories, which include:

  • Planning Along the Lifespan
  • The Workplace of the Future
  • Our Community
  • Health and Long Term Living
  • Social Engagement
  • The Marketplace

Registration for ALA's forum is free. However, attendance is limited to 150 participants. To register, visit the Forum's website at
www.ala.org/whcoa2005. Deadline to register is June 1.

This forum is a unique opportunity for the library community to come together and develop a set of recommendations that will promote libraries at the WHCOA and determine how we will serve older adults in the next decade and beyond. Be sure you participate in this exciting event.

For further information about the June 24 forum, please contact the forum chair, Allan M. Kleiman via email at
kleiman@aol.com or phone (908) 789-4090, ext. 4122.