PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2007

CONTACT: Alexander Eubanks
(301)314-9142
aeubank2@umd.edu

UM Libraries Celebrate Disabilities Awareness Month

College Park, MD -The University of Maryland Libraries announces its celebration of Disabilities Awareness Month throughout October.

The Libraries in cooperation with the President’s Commission on Disability issues will be highlighting items from library collections related to disabilities and disability studies.

Opening ceremonies for the month-long Disability Awareness Month celebration will feature the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange presenting "The Farthest Earth From Thee: De-Exceptionalizing Disabilities in Performance." Liz Lerman, Peter DiMuro and members of the cast will offer lively, animated excerpts from their original production The Farthest Earth From Thee, which features company and guest dancers with and without disabilities who transform Shakespeare's "Sonnet 44" into explosive, rolling and careening movement.

The Nonprint Media Library, located on the bottom floor of Hornbake Library, has a strong collection of video programming that deals with many aspects of disability issues. Their exhibit during the month of October will highlight some of them in both documentary and feature format. Exhibits are also planned in the Art Library, Engineering and Physical Sciences Library, and in the "Government Documents" section of McKeldin Library.

Staff of the UM Libraries are happy to provide additional services for the research and personal information needs of its patrons with disabilities. Service Plus Information and Research Services staff will assist with the use of the catalog, as well as periodical indexes and reference materials. One large screen workstation in the McKeldin Library first floor public Electronic Research area is wheelchair-accessible.

More Information:

For more information visit http://www.lib.umd.edu/MCK/PCDI.html