Press Releases

Oct 05: Executive Director Tracie D. Hall to Depart from the American Library Association

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) announced today that Tracie D. Hall will resign from her role as executive director following nearly four transformative years at the Association. Her last day will be Friday, October 6.

During her tenure, Hall brought ALA greater public...

Oct 04: PLA seeks responses to 2023 Public Library Technology Survey

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has opened its annual survey and seeks responses to the 2023 Public Library Technology Survey. This unique national survey focuses on resources, infrastructure, training, staff,...

Oct 04: LibTech Insights, technology content channel from Choice, announces partnership with Gary Price

Middletown, CT - Choice is pleased to announce a new partnership with Gary Price, an information services industry expert. The new collaboration will bring specially curated and timely content to Choice’s newest vertical, LibTech Insights, which provides pragmatic instruction and...

Oct 03: Core Webinar Series: Transgender People in Libraries

CHICAGO—Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is pleased to present the two-part webinar series “Transgender People in Libraries” in November 2023. This series, led by a nonbinary trans librarian with over a decade of experience in the library field, offers guidance on gender identity...

Oct 03: Poudre River Public Library District Receives 2023 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award

CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced that the Poudre River Public Library District is the recipient of the 2023 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award. Established with funding from Simon &...

Oct 03: Run for ALA President-elect or Councilor-at-Large by petition

CHICAGO - ALA members may run for ALA office by petition for the position of ALA President-elect or ALA Councilor at Large. Individuals who are interested in running by petition or were not selected by the ALA Nominating Committee may run for office by filing an electronic petition. The ALA...

Sep 29: Core Webinar: The Search For Meaningful Work; Overcoming Low Morale, Quiet Quitting, and Dead End Jobs

CHICAGO—Core hosts the webinar “The Search For Meaningful Work: Overcoming Low Morale, Quiet Quitting, and Dead End Jobs” on October 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. CT. This presentation centers on creating a meaningful work life while also exploring how to break free from unfavorable elements. Low morale,...

Sep 28: Business Reference Experts Select Annual List of BRASS Best of the Best Business Web Recources

CHICAGO — The annual BRASS Best of the Best Business Web Resources Award list was announced today by the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS).

The 2023 Award recognizes four web-based resources that are highly relevant to...

Sep 27: Banned Books Week 2023: Programs, Day of Action, and Events Announced

CHICAGO — Libraries, schools, bookstores, and groups around the world will be calling attention to censorship – and ways to fight it – October 1 – 7, 2023. The American Library Association and Unite Against Book Bans will mark this year’s event with a slate of programs, a call to action on Let...

Sep 26: ALA welcomes FCC Chair Rosenworcel’s proposal to reinstate network neutrality rules

Washington, D.C. — Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced that reinstating net neutrality protections will be on the agenda for the full FCC meeting on October 19, 2023. According to a...

Sep 22: Understanding and leveraging your data

CHICAGO — Published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, “Halo Data: Understanding and Leveraging the Value in your Data” proposes a paradigm shift in methodology for organizations to properly appreciate and leverage the...

Sep 22: ALA names Marijke Visser as E-rate and digital equity policy fellow

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the American Library Association (ALA) announces the appointment of Marijke Visser as a policy fellow with the ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office. Visser will advise ALA on broadband and...

Sep 21: ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall Set to Receive the Freedom of Speech and Expression Award from the Roosevelt Institute

CHICAGO — Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the American Library Association (ALA), is set to receive the Roosevelt Institute’s Freedom of Speech and Expression Award at the...

Sep 20: LeVar Burton to lead 2023 Banned Books Week as honorary chair

NEW YORK CITY — Beloved reading advocate, writer, and television and film star LeVar Burton will lead this year’s Banned Books Week, which takes place October 1–7, 2023. Burton is the first actor to serve as honorary chair of Banned Books Week, an annual weeklong event that highlights the value...

Sep 19: American Library Association Releases Preliminary Data on 2023 Book Challenges

New data shows record surge of challenges in public libraries

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has released new preliminary data documenting the continued rise in attempts to censor books and materials in public,...

Sep 19: Core Webinar: Dropping the Other I-Word; Local Library of Congress Subject Heading Replacements

CHICAGO–Join Core for the webinar “Dropping the Other I-Word: Local Library of Congress Subject Heading Replacements” on November 1, 2023, at 1 p.m. CT. This webinar will highlight the Western North Carolina Library Network (WNCLN)’s project to locally replace unethical or problematic subject...

Sep 18: ALA Committee on Library Advocacy releases Advocacy Action Plan Workbook

Washington, D.C. – The Public Policy and Advocacy Office (PPA) is pleased to announce the release of the updated ALA Advocacy Action Plan Workbook, which...

Sep 18: Nadia Orozco-Sahi Awarded 2023 Core Career LIFT Award

Nadia Orozco-Sahi has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Career LIFT Award, sponsored by OCLC and Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. They are the Library Services Coordinator at the University of New Mexico.

Core is dedicated to cultivating and amplifying the collective...

Sep 18: The College Student’s Research Companion

CHICAGO — Most college students are novice researchers for whom Google is the first resort. But the sort of information usually found this way often lacks substance and is of questionable authority. Academic librarians and instructors can save students from fruitless, random web searching with...

Sep 18: ALA introduces new LibGuide on how to explore and use Library of Congress Digital Collections in library programming

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) has released a new LibGuide designed to help library workers use Library of Congress (LOC) Digital Collections in programming and educational opportunities.

Available now on the...

Sep 15: ALA 2024 Scholarship Application Now Open

If you need financial help to get through your graduate program, you should know that scholarship funds are now available. The American Library Association (ALA) has more than $300,000 available to students who are studying in library science or school...

Sep 15: 2024 Jason Reynolds / Simon & Schuster Travel Grant Application Now Open

The American Library Association is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2024 Jason Reynolds / Simon & Schuster Travel Grant.

The grant will cover the expenses of five (5) Black/African American youth or teen services librarians or school...

Sep 14: ALA condemns threats of violence to Chicago-area libraries

CHICAGO - In response to the recent threats of violence to Chicago-area public libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Board released the following statement:

The American Library Association (ALA) vehemently condemns the violence, threats of violence...

Sep 14: Using brand behavior to elevate the school library

CHICAGO —Branding isn't just for celebrities and corporations. Published by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and ALA Editions, “Elevating the School Library: Building Positive Perceptions through Brand Behavior” by Susan D....

Sep 14: Carnegie-Whitney Grant awards up to $5,000 for guides to library resources

The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5,000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. Funded projects have ranged...

Sep 13: New textbook elucidates the basic concepts of information law

CHICAGO — Serving as both an accessible introduction for LIS students and a go-to reference for current practitioners, “Foundations of Information Law,” published by ALA Neal-Schuman, is designed to empower readers to understand, rather than be...

Sep 13: New from ACRL - “Practicing Privacy Literacy in Academic Libraries”

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of “Practicing Privacy Literacy in Academic Libraries: Theories, Methods, and...

Sep 12: Nic Stone to Keynote AASL National Conference General Session

CHICAGO – Acclaimed author, Nic Stone, will keynote the Saturday general session during the 2023 AASL National Conference.  Stone’s appearance is made possible by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Full conference information and programming can be found at...

Sep 11: ALA to distribute up to $3.6 million in grants as part of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) invites applications from small and rural libraries for the second round of funding of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant.

Library workers may apply online for grant funding from...