For immediate release | January 29, 2015

PLEASE NOTE NEW SPEAKER: Senator Richard Durbin to open Washington Update session at 2015 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting

91´«Ã½

CHICAGO—Assistant Senate Minority Leader Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) will open a discussion on the implications of the November mid-term Congressional elections for America, libraries and library advocacy at the 2015 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) Midwinter Meeting in Chicago. The session, titled “Whither Washington?: The 2014 Election and What it Means for Libraries,” takes place from 8:30–10:00a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2015.
Sen. Durbin will explore the implications of the recent national election and the ways that librarians can help shape the coming debates on privacy, library funding and other key library issues. With critical bills to reauthorize federal library funding, efforts to reform key privacy and surveillance statutes, and changes to copyright law all likely to be on legislators’ plates, libraries will engage heavily with the newly-elected 114th Congress.
Additionally, Roger Goldblatt, associate bureau chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau, will speak at the session and focus on the Commission’s new consumer education initiative and its digital literacy agenda.
WHEN: Saturday, January 31, 2015, from 8:30–10:00 a.m.
WHO:
  • Sen. Richard Durbin, assistant Senate Minority Leader, Illinois Senator
  • J. Mark Hansen, professor, Department of Political Science, University of Chicago
  • Thomas Susman, director, Government Affairs, American Bar Association
  • Roger Goldblatt, associate bureau chief, Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission

WHERE: McCormick Convention Center, Chicago, Room W183A

REGISTER: To attend the conference session as a reporter, email Jazzy Wright, press officer of the 91´«Ã½’s Washington Office, at jwright@alawash.org.

About the 91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 55,000 members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. The mission of the 91´«Ã½ is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

Contact:

Jazzy Wright

Press Officer

Washington Office

jwright@alawash.org

202-628-8410