”

If you haven’t already you should read Nicholas Kristof’s (and Sheryl WuDunn’s) book, “Half the Sky-Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” It’s an eye-opening and sometimes horrifying, tho important, important, important, book.

Through the stories they share, the authors help us see that the key to economic progress in developing countries, and the best way to fight poverty, lies in tapping the potential of half the developing world’s resources: women. Their conclusion: The best way to fight poverty and extremism is to educate and empower women and girls!

In addition, an organization called Engender Health has an online reader’s guide to “Half the Sky,” chapter by chapter, with tips for what readers can do to take action. http://www.engenderhealth.org/halfthesky/

Kristof is scheduled to keynote the Opening General Session at the PLA 2010 National Conference, March 23-27, 2010, in Portland, Oregon. Also, look for Brendan Dowling’s interview with Kristof in the November/December issue of “Public Libraries.”