Juan Williams
General Session I · Wednesday, April 12 · 8:30 am - 9:50 am
One of the foremost political analysts and journalists in America, Juan Williams is the author of Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Right Years 1954 1965, companion to the acclaimed PBS series. For over sixteen years, he has contributed to The Washington Post as an editorial writer, columnist, and White House correspondent. Currently under commission to write the authorized biography of recently-retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Williams probes the value of information in a world with decreasing barriers and the role of libraries in a global community. Come prepared for an insightful look at libraries as information centers and librarians as facilitators
Marian
Wright Edelman
General Session II · Thursday, April 13 · 4:00 pm - 5:20 pm
Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans her entire professional career. The first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, she served as counsel for the Poor People's March that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began organizing before his death in 1968. Founder of the Washington Research Project and later the director of the Center for Law and Education at Harvard University, Edelman began the CDF in 1973. A national voice for children and families, Edelman's passionate message centers on society's responsibility to nurture, educate, and value children the lifeblood of any people. A recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, she is also the author of Stand for Children, Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social Change, and her new 1999 book, Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors.
Laura
Bush
General Session I · Wednesday, April 12· 8:30 am - 9:50 am
The presence of First Lady (and First Librarian) of Texas Laura Bush at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference has become a tradition eagerly awaited by Texas librarians, because it provides them the chance to say thank you to Mrs. Bush for her tireless support of Texas libraries and reading. Mrs. Bush will discuss the mission of the Texas Book Festival, an event that just achieved its most successful year to date by earning over $300,000 for public libraries in the state. Mrs. Bush has been invited to announce the recipients of this year's Texas Book Festival Awards as the library community celebrates the success of this important Texas initiative.
Carmen Tafolla
Closing Lunch · Friday, April 14 · 12:00 noon - 12: 50 pm
Noted author and speaker, Carmen Tafolla creates a moving mosaic of barrio voices that speak of the universal human condition: the laughter, tears, and dreams that make a life complete. Tackling the complex struggles of racism and ethnic awareness, Tafolla's work has been internationally acclaimed. She has performed in London, Madrid, Germany, Norway, Canada, and Mexico City. Called "a world-class writer" by Alex Haley, Tafolla has been named to the Outstanding Young Women of America and Foremost Women of the Twentieth Century. Experience an unforgettable program as Tafolla presents her one-woman theatrical performance.
Gloria and Jerry Pinkney
Wednesday, April 12 · 11:00 am - 11:50 am
Children's author Gloria Jean Pinkney and illustrator Jerry Pinkney share a creative partnership. By drawing on elements of their childhood experiences, they portray vibrant and emotionally authentic portraits of kids growing and experiencing the world around them. Their collaborative works, Back Home and The Sunday Outing, have garnered numerous honors and been praised nationwide. Jerry Pinkney has been illustrating children's books since 1964 and has the rare distinction of being the recipient of three Caldecott Honor Medals for John Henry, The Talking Eggs, and Mirandy and Brother Wind. Gloria Pinkney is currently working on a third book that builds on the Pinkneys' prior ventures. Through their working partnership, the Pinkneys translate elements of their unique ethnic backgrounds into works that speak the common language of childhood.
Laura Gasaway
Copyright Law: Changes for Libraries and Librarians · Friday, April 14, · 10:00 am - 11:20 am
Professor of law and director of the law library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Laura Gasaway is a leader in the analysis and interpretation of copyright laws for libraries. Co-author of Librarians and Copyright: A Guide to Copyright in the 1990s and editor of Growing Pains: Adapting Copyright for Education, Libraries, and Society, Gasaway offers an unparalleled assessment of copyright issues in libraries.
Georgia Harper
Interlibrary Loan Round Table · Wednesday, April 12 · 12:00 noon - 1:50 pm
In her position as manager of the Intellectual Property Section of the Office of General Counsel for The University of Texas System, Georgia Harper is uniquely qualified to discuss a wide range of copyright issues. Most notably, Harper is an expert on how to apply copyright to materials online and provides authoritative insights to TLA members on how federal copyright law will affect libraries and librarians.
Daniel
Quinn and Bill Minutaglio
Friends and Trustees Round Table Lunch · Wednesday, April 12 · 12:00 pm - 1:50 pm
Daniel Quinn, author of Ishmael (on which the movie Instinct is based) and Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure, has dazzled readers with his unflinching and bold examination of cultural hierarchies. Whether speaking in allegory or stark prose, Quinn challenges our thinking regarding humanity's investment in and dependence on civilization, both as a form of social organization and as an ideal. Quinn's works have been hailed as revolutionary commentaries on the modern condition. Join this critically acclaimed author as he shares the philosophy behind his works.
Bill Minutaglio offers a timely study of a political figure on the cusp of national and international influence. First Son: George W. Bush and the Bush Family Dynasty captures the often unconventional world of Texas politics and provides a new biography of the state's governor. A "Lone Star" journalist for the Dallas Morning News, Minutaglio examines an individual whose work and life bears great relevance to libraries.
Sarah Long
Wednesday, April 12 · 4:00 pm - 4:50 pm
American Library Association President Sarah Ann Long believes strongly in the role of libraries as agents for social good. Director of a multi-type library system, Long was a pioneer in initiating Internet access at the North Suburban Library System in Wheeling, Illinois and establishing programs for children and homeless populations. Long brings a sense of community and unity to her agenda for American libraries. Her recent writings focus on emerging themes in librarianship, including cultural diversity and building communities through libraries her ALA presidential theme for 2000. A multiple recipient of the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award and winner of the Illinois Library Association Librarian of the Year Award, Long's work has earned her the praise of her colleagues.