Press contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217
Public contact: Center for the Book (202) 707-5221

November 2, 2009

Journalist Steven Roberts to Discuss His Book on Immigrant Families in America

“From Every End of This Earth” Relates the Stories of 13 Families

New York Times best-selling author Steven V. Roberts follows the stories of 13 families in his poignant, eye-opening look at immigration in "From Every End of This Earth: 13 Families and the New Lives They Made in America" (HarperCollins, 2009). Roberts will discuss and sign his work at the Library of Congress on Monday, Nov. 16 at noon in the Mumford Room, sixth floor of the Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E. The event, sponsored by the Center for the Book as part of its Books & Beyond author series, is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

What it means to be an immigrant in this nation of immigrants is the central issue that Roberts tackles as he tells the stories of people who have come here from nations such as China, Afghanistan, Mexico and Sierra Leone. Although much remains the same for newcomers today as it has for generations of immigrants to America, much has also changed. According to Roberts, today’s immigrant families maintain strong ties to their homelands and are able to communicate more easily and cheaply using technologies such as cell phones and e-mail that were never available to older generations. Roberts also notes that the attacks of 9/11 and the recent wave of undocumented workers have changed Americans’ perceptions of the value of immigrants to society.

Following the discussion, "From Every End of This Earth: 13 Families and the New Lives They Made in America" will be available for sale and signing.

Roberts’ book and the topic of immigration are also the subject of a discussion on Facebook. The new Books & Beyond Book Club is available at www.facebook.com/booksandbeyond/ (external link). Presented are discussions of books whose authors have appeared or will appear in this series. The site also offers links to webcasts of these events and asks readers to talk about what they have just seen and heard.

The Center for the Book (www.loc.gov/cfbook/) was established by Congress in 1977 "to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, literacy and libraries." With its many educational programs that reach readers of all ages, through its support of the National Book Festival and through its dynamic state centers in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Center for the Book has developed a nationwide network of organizational partners dedicated to promoting the wonders and benefits of reading. The Center also oversees the new www.Read.gov website, with its exclusive "Exquisite Corpse Adventure" serialized story.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at myLOC.gov.

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PR 09-223
11/02/09
ISSN 0731-3527

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