Title of Article: ALA joins ConnectNet/Conectado Campaign
Journal: American Libraries, May 2002, p.10
Web sites: www.connectnet.org (English) and www.conectado.org (Spanish)

American Libraries Association, a coalition of libraries, foundations, non-profit organizations, media and Internet companies, founded a national public-education campaign called ConnectNet/Conectado, which helps minority and low-income youth have free access to computers with Internet connections in their communities. America Online (AOL) Time Warner Foundation and the Digital Divide Network created a directory that contains an Internet directory with public-access locations. The campaign is being facilitated by the Benton Foundation and is providing information in English and Spanish regarding the location of these community computer centers. The Benton Foundation's phone number is (866) 583-1234. The Kaiser Family Foundation is putting out brochures and flyers in English and Spanish promoting computer literacy.

Title of Article: Berry to Focus on Equity of Access, Recruitment, and Grassroots Participation
Journal: American Libraries, August 2000, p. 7
Web site: http://www.ala.org/work/equity.html

Current President of ALA (2001/2002), John Berry has made Equity of Access one of ALA's Key Issues. ALA currently provides several links, such as the Benton Foundation link, in their Equity of Access web page, which is under the ALA link, Key Issues. By providing this information, libraries have resources and information about how to get funding to reduce the digital divide, such as E-rate funding from the federal government. During his American Libraries' interview, Berry stated that he wants to work closely with the White House, Department of Education, National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, Institute of Museum and Library Services, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Global Reach, and Local Touch Initiative to bridge the digital divide. He wants his Equity of Access task force to implement programs between June 2001-2002, such as having town meetings in libraries all over the country using satellite, teleconferencing and Internet conferencing.

Web site: http://www.ala.org/kranich/reports.html

Nancy Kranich, former president of ALA (2000/2001) and the Advocacy and Information Literacy Community Partnerships committee hosted a successful 2-session pre-conference at midwinter to teach ALA members how to promote information literacy and to build successful partnerships. Representatives who work with libraries were invited to discuss ways that libraries and community groups can work together to build information-smart citizens. Kranich created and made available toolkits created for these projects, which are available on her home page: A Library Advocate's Guide to Building Information Literate Communities, Library Advocate's Handbook, and Community Partnerships Toolkit.

Title of Article: ALA Goes Where the Action Is
Journal: American Libraries, January 2001, p. 70

The American Library Association conducted their Midwinter meeting on January 12-17, 2001 in Washington DC. One of topics discussed was the equity of access to services and information. Larry Irving, former assistant secretary of commerce delivered the speech on digital divide. A group of experts discussed how the libraries could bridge the digital divide.

** We looked for the actual discussion and or results of this meeting and did not locate the information.

Title of Article: Clinton, in "Digital Divide" Speech, Cites, ALA Efforts on Information Literacy
Journal: American Libraries, May 2000, p. 8

On April 4, 2000, Former President Clinton announced a "National Call to Action" addressing the digital divide and to promote literacy. Clinton plans to work with ALA to bring digital opportunities and information literacy programs to the youth, families and communities. Clinton sleeked the help of companies and non-profit organizations to help in funding these programs that will benefit the users. Clinton's goal is to connect every classroom to the Internet and to offer all Americans access to technology through technology centers and later having Internet access at home.