Member Benefits

As a member of PLA, you’ll be part of a diverse and engaged community of public librarians, library staff members, and other public library supporters. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of membership in an organization dedicated to your professional needs:

News You Can Use

• A complimentary subscription to Public Libraries, the official journal of PLA. Published six times a year, each issue of Public Libraries includes important industry news, PLA and ALA updates, and columns and features that offer strategies and ideas that can make a difference in your career.
• Exclusive access to e-News @ PLA, the members-only electronic newsletter, which keeps you up-to-date on PLA news as well as information about opportunities for public libraries outside of PLA, such as grants, programming, and scholarships.

Access to Top-Notch Continuing Education

• From the week-long PLA “Results” Boot Camp to CPLA courses to preconferences and conference programming, PLA offers a wide range of opportunities for you to develop the skills necessary to grow in your career. PLA has a reputation for top-notch continuing education programming, and as a member, you can enjoy discounted registration to these events.

Member-only Discounts

• Save on registration fees to popular events, including the biennial PLA National Conference. For the National Conference, members can save more than $100 on registration fees compared to nonmembers.
• Members also save on all other continuing education events including: CPLA courses, PLA “Results” Boot Camp, and the Spring Symposium.

Countless Networking Opportunities

• PLA members have the opportunity to meet and mingle with their colleagues in a number of settings. In addition to face-to-face opportunities at the PLA National Conference, the Spring Symposium, and other continuing education events, PLA members can join Communities of Practice (CoPs). CoPs are the evolution of PLA committees, and allow members to exchange ideas, share knowledge, make professional connections, and collaborate virtually using the social networking site PLAspace.org. Members are invited to create and/or join CoPs based on their interests and to take on leadership roles by starting projects, proposing conference programs, and opening up topical discussions within the communities.

To take advantage of these benefits, join PLA now.