Conference program advocates for designation of a physical site for the National Women's History Museum

Contact: Lorelle Swader

Director, HRDR

312-280-4278

lswader@ala.org

NEWS

For Immediate Release

April 20, 2010

Chicago – During the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., June 24-29, 2010 its Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) will co-sponsor a program discussing the progress of the National Women's History Museum (NWHM) Project in developing grassroots support and legislative action towards creating a permanent, physical site for a national museum dedicated to the accomplishments of women in America.

The program will be held on Sunday, June 27th, at 1:30 p.m. and will have opening remarks by former COSWL Chair, Kathleen de la Peña McCook. The featured presenter, NWHM President/CEO Joan Wages, will discuss continuing efforts for congressional passage as well as provide ways people can participate in these efforts.

Since its inception in 1996, the NWHM has existed solely online. It is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contributions of women, and integrating this rich heritage fully into the nation's history. Until legislation passes in Congress designating a permanent, physical site for a museum in Washington, D.C., the NWHM promotes women's history through its exhibits, special events, CyberMuseum, and online educational materials.

The program is co-sponsored by the following ALA units: the Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL), the Association of College and Research Libraries Women's Studies Section (ACRL-WSS), the Social Responsibilities Round Table-Feminist Task Force (SRRT-FTF), and the Library History Round Table (LHRT). The Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) will be an additional co-sponsor of the program.

For more information, contact the ALA Office for Human Resources Development and Recruitment director, Lorelle Swader at 800-545-2433 x4278, or lswader@ala.org, or visit the National Women's History Museum website.