National Library Week kickoff highlights feature Jesse Jackson, ALA’s Fiels

Contact: Steve Zalusky


Manager of Communications,


ALA Public Information Office


(312) 280-1546

szalusky@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release,


April 21, 2009

CHICAGO – Highlights from the National Library Week kickoff event at RainbowPUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago can be seen by visiting Visibility @ your library,
www.pio.ala.org/visibility.

In recognition of the valuable contributions of our nation’s libraries, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., CEO and Founder, RainbowPUSH Coalition in Chicago and American Library Association (ALA) Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels spoke at a televised forum about the value of libraries and then read to 20 children on April 11.

The event kicked off the 2009 observance of National Library Week and took place in RainbowPush’s library.

During the RainbowPUSH Coalition’s Saturday Morning Forum, Reverend Jackson and Fiels discussed how libraries are an important community hub of literacy and learning; and a place people turn to during difficult economic times. The Reverend also reflected on libraries as community equalizers, and places of opportunity and knowledge.




Reverend Jackson read “We Were the Ship” by Kadir Nelson, winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, and Fiels read Dr. Seuss’ “I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew.”

Visibility @ your library provides librarians and library supporters with news and information about important communications issues from ALA’s Public Information Office and the Campaign for America’s Libraries.