HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
KEYNOTE SPEAKERALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017
"We know that scientists can literally see the synapses and neurons firing when parents read, talk, and sing with their children."
"Statistics show that only about one in three low-income children are read to on a daily basis in their first two years of life."
"By 4 years of age, children in lower-income families have heard 30 million fewer words than their more affluent counterparts."
"Years of data suggest that reading fiction builds empathy. It helps us put ourselves in others' shoes. One study even found that young people who read the Harry Potter books, which first came out 20 years ago this week, were more compassionate toward immigrants, refugees, and members of the LGBT community."
"(Libraries) are places for communities to come together."
"Libraries are one of the few places in America shared by people of every income, race, background, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, everybody is there."
"At a time when 70% of teachers assign homework that requires the internet, and you have 5 million kids who don't have access to the internet at home, the library becomes an irreplaceable resource for those children."
"When an elementary school in Wisconsin recently canceled an event in support of a transgender student because they received threats from a hate group, it was the local public library that stepped up to host a reading of 'I Am Jazz' for 600 people."
"The third reason why we need libraries is because we need critical thinkers more than ever."
"Long before fake news and alternative facts were familiar terms, Librarians were teaching media literacy."
"As Librarians, you are guardians of the First Amendment and the freedom to read and to speak."
"We should all be reading books that challenge us."
"The work you do is at the heart of an open, inclusive, diverse society."
"I believe that libraries and democracy go hand in hand."
"As Librarians... you have to be on the front lines of one of the most important fights we have ever faced in the history of our country, the fight to defend truth and reason, evidence and facts."
"One book at a time, one library at a time, one person at a time."
TO WATCH HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S ENTIRE KEYNOTE ADDRESS, CLICK HERE
LINKS:
She Persisted Book by Chelsea Clinton
Marley Dias's 1,000 Black Girl Books
We Need Diverse Books
I Am Jazz Book by Jazz Jennings
