June 17, 1996

Contact: Guy Lamolinara, Library of Congress (202) 707-9217

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Librarian Of Congress James H. Billington To Address Annual American Library Association Meeting

James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, will address attendees at the American Library Association Annual Meeting in New York City on July 7. Dr. Billington will speak during the President's Program, which begins at 2 p.m., in the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

The Librarian will focus on the potential of the National Digital Library and the importance of universal access to the Information Superhighway. Dr. Billington will also discuss how U.S. libraries can digitize their unique American historical collections by participating in the Library of Congress/Ameritech National Digital Library Competition, funded by a $2 million gift from Ameritech.

The National Digital Library Program of the Library of Congress aims to make freely available 5 million items by the year 2000 in collaboration with other research institutions. The program, which began October 1994, is being funded principally through funds from the private sector augmented by congressional appropriations. So far, more than $22 million in donations has been raised.

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PR 96-92
6/19/96
ISSN 0731-3527