FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

January 27, 2004

Randy Nehrt
Pat McGuckin

White Announces Black History Month Events at State Library

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has announced a number of events will be held at the Illinois State Library in Springfield in February to commemorate Black History Month.

White said the theme of the celebration will be "A Diversity Experience." All of the events are free and open to the public.

On February 5^th at 12:00 noon, a "Read-In-Chain" will be held featuring the book In Montgomery... and other poems by the late Illinois poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. Refreshments will be provided.

On February 10^th, State Library Reference Librarian Gwen Harrison will conduct two training sessions where patrons may learn to search and use Microsoft's Encarta AFRICANA, the world's most comprehensive African-American computer resource. Basic computer skills are required. Sessions will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. To register, contact Sharon Layne at slayne@ilsos.net or 217-557-0136.

On February 11^th at 12:00 noon, Classie Murray, Children's Librarian and storyteller at Springfield's Lincoln Library, will share African-American folk tales from long ago to the present.

On February 19^th at 12:00 noon, Charlotte E. Johnson, historian with the Madison County Historical Society in Edwardsville, will give a lecture entitled "African-Americans In Madison County, 1815 to the Present." Patrons will learn the historical background of many free blacks that lived in Illinois during the 1800's, after the Reconstruction Period, and Black pioneers in America. An exhibit related to the lecture will be on display during the entire month of February on the 1^st and second floors of the State Library.

On February 26^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library's first floor atrium, Springfield rhythm and blues duo AZ ONE will perform songs from their recent CD "The AZ ONE EP." AZ ONE were winners of the 2003 African-American Expo in Springfield.