Press Releases

Feb 08: American Library Association launches EDI Speakers Bureau

Chicago – The Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS) has launched the EDI Speakers Bureau. This online resource highlights experts from the library profession who are available...

Feb 08: COA announces accreditation decisions made at 2019 Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO — The Committee on Accreditation (COA) of the American Library Association (ALA) announces accreditation actions taken at the 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting.

What follows reflects the April 2018 policy revision to...

Feb 07: Actor and Community Activist George Takei is Auditorium Speaker at 2019 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition

CHICAGO - With an acting career spanning six decades, George Takei is known around the world for his founding role in the acclaimed television series "Star Trek", in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise. But Takei's story goes where few stories have gone before. From...

Feb 07: New Library Bill of Rights Provision Recognizes and Defends Library Users’ Privacy

The Library Bill of Rights — first adopted in 1939 and last amended in 1980 — has been updated to include an article focused on the concept of ensuring privacy and confidentiality for library users.

The new article of the ...

Feb 07: Gregory’s updated text on collection development and management

CHICAGO — Packed with discussion questions, activities, suggested additional references, selected readings, and many other features that speak directly to students and library professionals, Vicki L. Gregory’s “...

Feb 07: Council adopts revisions to ‘Copyright: An Interpretation of the Code of Ethics’

At ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, ALA Council adopted revisions to “Copyright: An Interpretation of the Code of Ethics” a document first adopted in 2014.

The changes, proposed by the Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE), strengthened “...

Feb 07: Garczynski named 2019 ACRL/EBSS Distinguished Librarian

CHICAGO – Joyce Garczynski, assistant university librarian for development and communications at Towson University, is the recipient of the 2019 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Education and Behavioral Sciences Section (EBSS) Distinguished Education and Behavioral Sciences...

Feb 06: 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits Closes, Community Bound

SEATTLE – The dialogue continues on the position of our nation’s libraries. As evidenced, the current role of the library, and its library workers, has become wide-ranging. In order to provide aid and transformation in our respective communities, the library field faces a sizeable challenge...

Feb 06: How to sustain an ongoing, self-directed career growth plan

CHICAGO — If the proverbial career ladder feels more like a treadmill, it’s time for a different approach. Besides, who wants to climb a ladder anyway? Wouldn’t you rather learn how to explore, grow, and gain new skills that will lead you to new opportunities? “...

Feb 06: New workshop: Transferring Your Skills as a Librarian to Any Profession

CHICAGO—ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces an exciting new workshop in collaboration with the Music Library Association, Transferring Your Skills as a Librarian to Any Profession...

Feb 05: John Price Wilkin wins 2019 Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award

CHICAGO — John Price Wilkin, Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been named the 2019 winner of the Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award. Wilkin will receive a cash award and citation during an ALCTS event...

Feb 05: New session: Liven Up Baby and Toddler Storytimes with Sign Language Workshop

CHICAGO—ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces a new session of our popular workshop, Liven Up Baby and Toddler Storytimes with Sign Language with Kathy MacMillan. This workshop will...

Feb 04: K-8 school libraries invited to apply for $5,000 award recognizing outstanding programming

CHICAGO — School libraries are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through eighth grade, the American Library Association (ALA) announced.

Nominations for the 2019 Sara Jaffarian...

Feb 04: YALSA names 2019 Writing Award winners

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), named the winners of its 2019 YALSA Writing Award with members winning in four categories...

Feb 01: Share Your Best Practice at AASL National Conference

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is now accepting proposals for the best practice showcase to be held Sat., Nov. 16, during the 2019 AASL National Conference & Exhibition. More information on presentation requirements can be found at...

Feb 01: Registration Opens for AASL National Conference

CHICAGO – Registration is now open for the 2019 American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference & Exhibition. The conference, taking place Nov. 14-16, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky, will bring together school librarians, administrators, authors, and exhibitors for in-...

Feb 01: Newbery Award Winning Author Matt de la Peña to Headline AASL President’s Program

CHICAGO – Award-winning author Matt de la Peña will headline the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) President’s Program taking place at 9:30 a.m. on Sat., June 22, as part of the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. 

Matt de la Peña is the New York Times ...

Feb 01: 2019 Amelia Bloomer List presents top ten feminist books for young readers

SEATTLE – The Amelia Bloomer Project, a subgroup of the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table’s...

Jan 31: ALA Executive Board releases statement regarding incident at Council Forum

The ALA Executive Board has released the following statement regarding a recent incident during Council Forum at the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Seattle.

"We should not – and do not – accept harassment, bullying or discrimination of any kind in our profession or the work of...

Jan 30: Kaetrena Davis Kendrick named 2019 ACRL Academic/ Research Librarian of the Year

CHICAGO — Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, associate librarian at the University of South Carolina-Lancaster Medford Library, is the 2019 Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Academic/...

Jan 30: 2019 Over the Rainbow List released, over 100 fiction and non-fiction titles

SEATTLE - The Over the Rainbow Booklist Committee of the American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) considered 469 books this year, 284 fiction and 185 nonfiction titles. After careful reading,...

Jan 30: 2019 Rainbow Book List bibliography announced

SEATTLE - The 2019 Rainbow Book List, a project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association (ALA), was announced at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting...

Jan 30: 2019 Barbara Gittings Literature Award and Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award of the Stonewall Book Awards Announced

SEATTLE - Two of the 2019 Stonewall Book Awards were announced Sunday, Jan. 27th by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association (ALA), during the...

Jan 30: LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists

Chicago -- The LITA Committee Recognizing Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction presents the 2019 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists. The lists are composed of notable children’...

Jan 28: M.T. Anderson wins 2019 Edwards Award for “Feed,” “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party,” “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves”

SEATTLE - M.T. Anderson is the recipient of the 2019 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring his significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for “Feed;” “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party;” and “The Astonishing Life of Octavian...

Jan 28: New session—Writing for Your Library Website: Tips for Improving Your Content Workshop

CHICAGO—ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces a new session of our popular workshop, Writing for Your Library Website: Tips for Improving Your Content with Rebecca...

Jan 28: ALA Council approves new Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation Through Adversity

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Council, at a Sunday session during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits, approved the new Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation Through Adversity.

The...

Jan 28: ALA, Grow with Google kick off economic opportunity initiative in public libraries nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the American Library Association (ALA) and Google launched a national tour of libraries as part of the Grow with Google initiative. The...

Jan 28: Meg Medina, Sophie Blackall win Newbery, Caldecott Medals

SEATTLE  — Meg Medina, author of “Merci Suárez Changes Gears,” and Sophie Blackall, illustrator of “Hello Lighthouse,” are the 2019 winners of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, the most prestigious awards in children’s literature.

Medina and Blackall were among the award...

Jan 28: Walter Dean Myers wins 2019 Children’s Literature Legacy Award

SEATTLE – Walter Dean Myers is the winner of the 2019 Children’s Literature Legacy Award honoring an author or illustrator, published in the United States, whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. His numerous works include “Fast Sam, Cool Clyde,...