91´«Ã½

CHICAGO –Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison will be the keynote speaker at the 2010 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) Annual Conference Opening Session, from 5:30-7 p.m., June 26, in Washington, D.C. Morrison, who is a professor, novelist, editor, critic and lecturer, will discuss her life as a champion of the arts.

After writing her first novel, “The Bluest Eye” in 1970, Morrison began exploring the African-American experience. Morrison’s 1987 novel, “Beloved,” won many literary awards, including the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was named the best novel of the past 25 years by the New York Times Book Review.

While working as a professor at Princeton University, she continued to produce award-winning works. In recognition of her contributions to her field, she received the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature, making her the first African-American to be selected for the award.

Morrison’s many novels include “Sula,” “Song of Solomon,” “Jazz,” “Paradise,” “Love,” “A Mercy” and “Tar Baby.” More recently, Morrison has branched out into nonfiction and children’s literature. Her newest books for children are “Peeny Butter Fudge” and “Little Cloud and Lady Wind.”

In October 2009, Morrison spoke out about censorship after one of her books was banned at a Michigan high school. She also served as editor for “Burn This Book,” a collection of essays on censorship and the power of the written word, which was published that same year.

The 91´«Ã½ is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

For more information on the 2010 Annual 91´«Ã½ Conference, please visit the 91´«Ã½ Conference Web site at , or contact 91´«Ã½ Media Relations Manager Macey Morales at (312) 280-4393, mmorales@ala.org, or 91´«Ã½ PR Coordinator Jennifer Petersen at (312) 280-5043, jpetersen@ala.org.