1997 Internet Conference

The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the California Librarians Black Caucus CLBC sponsored a successful one-day conference at the Los Angeles Central Library on Saturday, March 8th.

The conference, entitled "Bringing the Internet Home: African American Access to Information, Communication and Technologies," was an attempt to bring awareness about the Internet and its impact on the African American community. The conference featured keynote speaker, U.S. Representative Major Owens (NY), with guests Los Angeles City Librarian Susan Kent, Los Angeles 9th District Councilwoman Rita Walters, and a representative from Los Angeles Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke's office.

Congressman Owens applauded CLBC for undertaking this important endeavor. He further commented that he would like to take the model of this event back with him and replicate it in New York. The congressman's enthusiasm was echoed by a number of participants who are hoping to see this event become an annual occurrence. Councilwoman Walters and Ms. Kent commended the efforts of CLBC and noted that the topic was well-timed and critical to the interests of the African American community and to all of the communities of Los Angeles.

The conference hosted a discussion session to review concerns about the expanding influence of the Internet and its impact on libraries, communciations, business, education, and government, with respect to the needs of the African American community. In addition, hands-on and instructional workshops were conducted to address searching the Internet, African American websites, practical applications of the Internet, and how to buy a computer. The sessions were conducted by CLBC members, members from the Inner City Computer Society, and local entrpreneurs.

The conference was free and open to the public. Approximately 250 people attended the discussion sessions and workshops. The Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library supplied cutting-edge facilities and significant resources to access the Internet and for roundtable discussions and presentations. Conference attendees were given information packets about products and services provided by local African American vendors and relevant articles regarding the Internet.

The event was co-sponsored by the American Library Association, the Los Angeles Public Library, and the California Library Association, with assistance from the California State University Dominguez Hils Library Associates, the Inner City Computer Society, and the Los Angeles Chapter of the Black Data Processing Associates.

In addition, the following made significant contributions to the success of the program: West Afrikan Drummings (Samori Rock), Lynn Allen Jeter & Associates, the African American Business Alliance, Sable Systems, SuccessNet, Daphne Delores of Trips Inc., Theresa House of Technical Advantage, Ted Terry of Theodore Myles Publishing, Inc, and Welford Willis.

Gifts and prizes were provided by Black Enterprise magazine, PC Novice magazine, Sable Systems, AfroNet, and VirtuallyBlack.Com.

Many thanks to our Conference Committee: Stephanie Brasley (Co-Chair), Suzanne Johnson (Co-Chair), Joseph Atkinson, Betty Blackman, Jene Gresham, Audrey Jackson, Latonya Jefferson, Stacey McKeever, Alline Merchant, Joyce Sumbi, Shelley Werts, Binnie Wilkin, and Itibari Zulu.

A conference report is to be issued and a conference panel is to be convened at the upcoming national conference of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.