1890
The first children’s room in a library is established. The public Library of Brookline (Mass.) set aside an unused room in its basement for a children's reading-room.
In addition to the American Library Association's Executive Board's statement on racism, several ALA chapters have stated their dedication to...
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The first children’s room in a library is established. The public Library of Brookline (Mass.) set aside an unused room in its basement for a children's reading-room.
The ALA has produced a number of publications during its history. The Booklist, a guide to current library materials, began publication in 1905. It continues to be published today.
ALA opened a library for American military personnel in Paris during 1918. This library was later established (1920) as the American Library in Paris
"During the closing years of World War I, when the United States entered the conflict, hundreds of American libraries launched the Library War Service, a massive project to send books to the doughboys fighting in the trenches - by the Armistice, nearly a million and a half books.
First meeting of the Young People's Reading Round Table; now part of Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).
The first National Library Week occurred in 1958.
Read more about National Library Week at National Library Week History which includes lists of both the National Library Week Honorary Chairpersons and the National Library Week Themes, from 1958 to the present.
ALA Literacy Assembly established.
Children's Day/Book Day, also known as El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día), is a celebration of children, families, and reading and held annually on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for every child regardless of linguistic and cultural background. Through several grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) continues to increase public awareness of the event in libraries throughout the country.
YALSA launches Teen Read Week, setting aside the third week In October to encourage teens to read for the fun of it
"Teen Read Week is a time to celebrate reading for fun and encourage teens to take advantage of reading in all its forms —books and magazines, e-books, audiobooks and more — and become regular library users." Read more from the offical Teen Read Week site.
First celebrated in 2007 by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA, a division of ALA) under its original name, Support Teen Literature Day.
The American Library Association (ALA) joined in a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make Money Smart Week® @ your library a national initiative, which was first held April 2-9, 2011. Celebrating its 12th year in 2013 (and its third as a national ALA initiative), the Money Smart Week® mission is to promote personal financial literacy.