Contact Macey Morales/Jennifer Petersen
ALA Media Relations, Public Information Office
(312) 280-4393/5043
mmorales@ala.org/jpetersen@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
May 27, 2008
Parade of Bookmobiles held during 2008 ALA Annual Conference
CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) will hold its second annual Parade of Bookmobiles during this year’s ALA Annual Conference at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29, in Anaheim, Calif. The event will feature bookmobiles parading through the streets surrounding the Anaheim Convention Center.
Bookmobiles, like libraries, continue to mirror the needs of their communities by offering free access to the latest in technologies and collection formats to users of all ages. Patrons can search the Web, fill out a job application, take a computer class, participate in story hours and check out books or DVDs.
“Communities whose only access to library service through a bookmobile, will be hit the hardest as the economy continues to experience a downturn and gas prices continue to rise,” said Satia Orange, director of OLOS. “Without the necessary funding to keep bookmobiles on the streets, underserved populations in rural areas and urban communities will no longer have the opportunity to utilize these free services.”
The parade route will circle the Convention Center by West, Orangewood, Harbor and Katella Streets. Once back at the Convention Center, the bookmobiles will be open to conference goers and the media for pictures and tours from 2:30 – 4 p.m., in Car Park 5. Bookmobile staff will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the importance of mobile outreach services.
The Parade of Bookmobiles will coincide with the ALA’s “Bookmobile Sunday,” a ticketed event starting at 10:30 a.m. featuring educational sessions on the future of mobile libraries, current bookmobile services and improvements, as well as a lunch presentation with Masha Hamilton, author of “The Camel Bookmobile.” Sponsors of the parade include Overdrive, Inc.; Matthews Specialty Vehicles, Inc.; Harper Perennial; and OBS, Inc.
The Parade bookmobiles will include: Anaheim Public Library, Anaheim, Calif.; Fullerton Public Library, Fullerton, Calif.; Lewis Library & Technology Center, Fontana, Calif.; Alameda County Library, Fremont, Calif.; County of Los Angeles Public Library, West Covina, Calif.; San Diego County Library, Vista, Calif.; Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Riverside County Library, Perris, Calif.
For more information on the American Library Association and its Annual Conference, please visit
www.ala.org/annual, or call Macey Morales, ALA media relations manager, at (312) 280-4393 or Jennifer Petersen, PR coordinator, at (312) 280-5043 for media registration.
