HomeJournalist Juan Williams joins exciting JCLC speakers list to d

Contact:
Macey Morales
JCLC Media Relations
312-280-4393
mmorales@ala.org

For Immediate Release
July 21, 2006

Journalist Juan Williams joins exciting JCLC speakers list to discuss
controversial new book on topic that has stirred national debate

CHICAGO - Author and journalist Juan Williams will serve as key presenter during the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) Morning Keynote Session on Saturday, October 14 at 8:30 a.m. at the Adam's Mark Hotel. Williams will discuss his controversial and politically charged book "ENOUGH: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America-and What We Can Do About It." "Enough" will be released on August 1 and is sure to continue to fuel the national debate on race relations in America.

In this bold new book, Williams, a well-respected political and social commentator, argues that black America has lost its way. Inspired by Bill Cosby’s controversial speech about the state of black America at the NAACP gala celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Brown decision, Williams has used Cosby’s comments as an impetus to research and analyze what issues continue to undermine the poor and offer solutions that everyone, black and white, can embrace to help the black community.

Juan Williams is a senior correspondent for NPR. He is also a political analyst for the Fox News Channel and a panelist on Fox News Sunday. He is the author of "Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary" and "Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965," among other books. During his twenty-one-year career at the Washington Post, Williams served as an editorial writer, op-ed columnist, and White House correspondent. Williams’ appearance and book signing is sponsored by Random House.

Other best-selling authors to appear at the JCLC include Bertice Berry, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Loung Ung.

Hundreds of library staff, educators and authors will gather in Dallas October 11 through the 15 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Dallas to discuss diversity challenges in U.S. libraries. The conference will serve as an opportunity for library staff from all types of libraries and backgrounds to come together and discuss how libraries can better serve diverse populations.

With the theme "Gathering at the Waters: Embracing Our Spirits, Telling Our Stories," the conference will feature more than 100 programs that will explore how to better assist communities of color, those with physical disabilities, gay and lesbian users, and seniors. Key areas of discussion will include literacy, equity of access, diversity best practices, collection development, recruitment, service delivery and much more.

For more information or to register for the JCLC please visit www.ala.org/jclc.

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