91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) today announced that FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will open the in Washington, D.C., June 23-28, 2022.

In the , 91´«Ã½ President Patricia "Patty" Wong will host a lively, fireside conversation with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to discuss policymaking and provide insight into current issues central to the core values of libraries, from the ongoing fight to preserve a free and open internet (net neutrality) to the challenges and solutions to close the digital divide.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel works to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in our communications services to ensure that all Americans get a fair shot at 21st-century success.

From fighting to protect net neutrality to ensuring access to the internet for students caught in the Homework Gap, Rosenworcel has been a consistent champion for connecting all. She is a leader in spectrum policy and is responsible for developing policies to help expand the reach of broadband to schools, libraries, hospitals, and households across the country. As chairwoman, she is a fierce advocate on consumer protection issues, most notably taking swift action to improve the agency’s ability to combat unwanted robocalls.

Rosenworcel brings more than two decades of communications policy experience and public service to the FCC. Prior to joining the agency, she served as senior communications counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, under the leadership of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV and Senator Daniel Inouye.

Patricia "Patty" Wong is the first Asian American to serve as president of 91´«Ã½. Her term began July 2021 and closes at the adjournment of the 2022 Annual Conference. Wong has been an active 91´«Ã½ member for 37 years. She is a member of the Freedom to Read Foundation and, as an 91´«Ã½ Executive Board member, has worked with the association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, Committee on Legislation, and the Conference Committee.

Wong is city librarian for Santa Clara (Calif.) City Library. She has worked as a school librarian, children’s librarian, cataloger, and special librarian, as well as held leadership roles in public libraries. Her work in managing change, equity and diversity, youth development, developing joint ventures and collaborations between public libraries and community agencies, and fundraising has been published in journals, conference proceedings, and edited collections. Wong is also the recipient of several awards, including the 2012 91´«Ã½ Equality Award, C91´«Ã½ Distinguished Service Award (2014), and Member of the Year, California Library Association (2012). She is also adjunct faculty for the iSchool at San Jose State University where she has taught hundreds of students to serve young people and write grants to benefit local and regional communities —and make the world a better place.

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The health and safety of conference attendees and vendors is our priority. 91´«Ã½ is carefully tracking the latest health and safety guidance for large group gatherings from the CDC, the DC Department of Health, as well as the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which is working with suppliers in environmental services, health and safety technology upgrades, food and beverage and other services. See the page that will be regularly updated should changes occur.

The 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference invites library professionals at all levels of their careers and from all library types to engage in top quality professional development opportunities, including more than 160 education sessions, and have access to the latest insights from experts on policy, research and technology at the News You Can Use sessions. There will be more than 12 memorable thought leaders and celebrity speakers who will share their unique insights on the main stage.

The includes a variety of education sessions and programs organized by 91´«Ã½ Divisions and Units. It will be updated with new agenda content as we move toward the conference.

New this year at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference is . Registrants for this virtual offering will have access to 42 education sessions, 14 News You Can Use sessions, and four main stage speakers. These sessions will be live-streamed directly from the conference in Washington, D.C. Registration for the Digital Experience includes on-demand content for the total of 60 sessions through August 31, 2022.

will host many of the popular exhibits and activities from past conferences. More than 550 knowledgeable exhibitors will provide access to innovative products and services, and publishers will host more than 80 presentations from established and new authors on nine genre-specific stages. Other onsite favorites include Meet the Authors, Poster Sessions, the Live at the 25 Podcast booth, free advanced reading copies of books, and more.

Get updates on the and follow and social media: , , and .

Media interested in registering for the session may contact cmomedia@ala.org.

About the 91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91´«Ã½ has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit .