Press Kits

ALA Annual Conference 2024
The ALA Conference will take place June 27 - July 2, 2024, in Chicago. As the world's biggest library event, the onsite Annual Conference & Exhibition brings together thousands of librarians and library staff, educators, authors, publishers, friends of libraries, trustees, special guests, and exhibitors.

PLA 2024
Offered biennially, the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference is the premier event for public libraries, drawing thousands of librarians, library support staff, trustees, friends, and library vendors from across the country and around the world. This multi-day event offers over 100 top-quality education programs, social events that include author luncheons and networking receptions, and a bustling exhibits hall featuring the latest in products and services. The conference will take place April 3 - 5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.

National Library Week
National Library Week, April 7 - 13, 2024, is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries offer opportunity to all. The theme for 2024 National Library Week is "Ready, Set, Library!"

DIA 

On April 30, 2024, libraries nationwide will celebrate Día. This nationally recognized initiative emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds by linking children and families to multicultural books, stories, and other library resources.

ALA Youth Media Awards

Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books and media for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards, including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth.

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were established in 2012, and recognize the best of the best in fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year. The awards serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers. 

LIBRARY ISSUES

Book Challenge Surge

Efforts to ban books have persisted in American history, but those efforts are now reaching unprecedented heights. According to censorship data released March 14, 2024, ALA documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023, more than the previous two years combined (2,571 in 2022; 1,651 in 2021), as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources. Pressure groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, drove the surge.

Libraries Respond to COVID-19

Academicpublic, and school libraries are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response and are providing library users with the resources needed to care for people whose lives have been disrupted by closures, job loss, and sickness.

Library eBook Lending Press Kit

America’s libraries are committed to promoting literacy and a love of reading with diverse collections, programs and services for all ages. In an increasingly digital world, our libraries are investing more in eBooks and downloadable media. And millions of people discover and explore new and favorite authors through both our digital and print collections.

Libraries and Voter Engagement

Libraries are centers of civic engagement in communities, schools, and academic institutions. By providing information, resources, and programming to foster full participation in the democratic process, libraries are valuable partners to government agencies, community leaders, and elected officials. 

PAST EVENTS 

Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week, October 1-7, 2023,  is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information.  Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Library Card Sign-up Month
September is Library Card Sign-up Month - a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind the public that a library card is a key to limitless opportunities. Library Card Sign-up Month also brings attention to the supportive role libraries and librarians play in transforming lives and communities through education and lifelong learning.

Money Smart Week 
From April 9-16, 2022, libraries will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Money Smart Week®. Earning a living can be hard. But knowing how to spend, save and invest your money wisely can be even more of a challenge. Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. The American Library Association (ALA) is among several partnering organizations.

Preservation Week
During Preservation Week, April 30 – May 6, 2023, libraries all over the country present events, activities, and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared history.

PAST CONFERENCES

The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX)
The American Library Association (ALA) will offer The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX), Jan. 27 -  30, 2023. This education experience for library professionals is designed to motivate, inspire, and engage attendees in discussions that will shape the future of libraries and their communities. The event will bring thousands of library workers, educators, special guests, and exhibitors from the library and information industry for meetings, programs, discussion groups, events, in-depth conversations, and exhibits.

AASL National Conference & Exhibition  
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference is the only national conference specifically for school librarians and dedicated to the unique role they serve as leaders, instructional partners, information specialists, teachers, and program administrators. This three-day event occurs once every other year and will be taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 21-23, 2021. The conference attracts more than 1,200 school librarians from across the country to share best practices, resources, and networking. Those communicating about the national conference are encouraged to use the official hashtag, #AASL21.