Press Releases

Oct 01: ALA encouraged by E-rate momentum

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, the American Library Association (ALA) called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the fiber gap facing the majority of the nation’s 16,400 public libraries and the communities they serve. ALA President Courtney Young today released...

Oct 01: Registration, housing now open for 2015 Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits

CHICAGO — Registration and housing are now open for 2015 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits in Chicago, Jan. 30-Feb. 3. “The conversation starts here . . . ” every year at Midwinter Meeting, which offers the usual gold-standard networking, updates, exhibits, future-focused...

Oct 01: LIRT Accepting Applications for Librarian Recognition and Innovation in Instruction Awards

CHICAGO The American Library Association's Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) invites nominations for two awards to recognize excellence in information literacy and instruction. 

The LIRT Librarian...

Sep 30: United for Libraries’ Literary Landmark™ for Lynn Riggs rededicated

PHILADELPHIA —  United for Libraries’ Literary Landmark for Lynn Riggs was re-dedicated in partnership with Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO) on Sept. 5 in Claremore, Okla.

Originally dedicated in 2003 and placed at the Claremore Public Library, the Literary...

Sep 30: American Dream Starts @ your library grant allows California library system to expand ESL classes

CHICAGO –  Through an American Dream Starts @ your library grant awarded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to the American Library Association, the Riverside County (Calif.) Library System has been able to expand ESL classes for adult learners.

In this countywide...

Sep 30: Deadline extended to Oct. 13 to apply for The American Dream Starts @ your library grant funding

Grants available to libraries to fund programs and resources for adult English language learners in Dollar General communities

CHICAGO – Monday, Oct. 13, is the new deadline for libraries to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to support programs aimed...

Sep 30: AASL member Elissa Malespina receives 2014 school librarian Bammy Award

CHICAGO – American Association of School Librarians (AASL) member Elissa Malespina was named the 2014 Bammy Award recipient in the school librarian category. Presented by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences International, the Bammy award is a cross-discipline award recognizing the...

Sep 30: ACRL 2015 preconferences announced

CHICAGO — Registration is now available for preconferences to be held prior to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) ACRL 2015 Conference, “Creating Sustainable Community,” in Portland, Ore. ...

Sep 30: ALA President Courtney Young selects 22 chapters to participate in career development facilitator training

CHICAGO — American Library Association (ALA) President Courtney Young will partner with ALA Chapters to provide training for a national cohort of 22 librarians from a cross section of libraries to become certified Career Development Facilitators (CDF).  President Young stated, "I...

Sep 30: Janes announces candidacy for 2016-17 ALA presidency

CHICAGO – Joseph Janes, associate professor and chair of the MLIS program at the University of Washington Information School, has filed as a petition candidate for the 2016-17 presidency of the American Library Association. 

Janes has been an ALA member since 1982.  He...

Sep 30: Get beyond deadlock with free 'Naming and Framing' webinars

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Center for Civic Life and the David Mathews Center for Civic Life will offer a free webinar series to help librarians lead their communities in dealing with challenging public issues.

The series — “Naming and Framing...

Sep 29: 2015 Building STEAM with Día mini-grants available

CHICAGO The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, is now accepting mini-grant applications from libraries interested in developing and implementing a Building STEAM with Día program.

...

Sep 29: ALA launches educational 3D printing policy campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the launch of “Progress in the Making,” (pdf) a new educational campaign that will...

Sep 26: Porcaro announces candidacy for 2016-17 ALA presidency

CHICAGO — JP Porcaro, Librarian for Acquisitions and Technological Discovery at the New Jersey City University Guarini Library, Jersey City, N.J., has filed as a petition candidate for the 2016-17 presidency of the American Library Association.

Porcaro has been an ALA member since...

Sep 26: YA author R.L. Stine to keynote closing session for YALSA’s 2014 Young Adult Literature Symposium

CHICAGO — R.L. Stine, author of the Fear Street series, will be the keynote speaker for the general closing session of the 2014 Young Adult Literature Symposium, announced the Young Adult Library Services...

Sep 26: LaRue, Todaro seek 2016-17 ALA presidency

CHICAGO — James LaRue, CEO of LaRue & Associates, Castle Rock, Colo., and Julie Todaro, Dean of Library Services at Austin (Texas) Community College, are the candidates for the 2016-17 presidency of the American Library Association (ALA).

LaRue has been an ALA member since...

Sep 26: ALA announces slate of council candidates

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) announces the following individuals as candidates for positions on the ALA Council.  These individuals were nominated by the Nominating Committee for the 2015 ALA Election:

Joann Absi, ...

Sep 24: It's here! Celebrate Banned Books Week!

CHICAGO — Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read, is here! From New York to Alaska, libraries, schools, bookstores and book-...

Sep 23: Quiz promotes Banned Books Week, Sept. 21-27

Which banned book are you?

CHICAGO — Take the new online “Which Banned Book Are You” quiz and find out which banned or challenged book best...

Sep 23: PLA Leadership Academy application deadline of Sept. 30 is almost here

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) will accept applications for the PLA Leadership Academy: Navigating Change · Building Community through Sept. 30. This special event, held March 23-27, 2015, in...

Sep 23: Six programs commended for support of school libraries

CHICAGO — Moving on recommendations made by its Affiliate Assembly, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) formally commended six programs based on the programs’ support of the school librarian profession. To be considered, programs must align with AASL’s...

Sep 23: Using extensible processing to reduce backlogs

CHICAGO — A 2010 OCLC report found that an Internet-accessible finding aid existed for only 44 percent of archival collections. Undescribed collections are essentially hidden from users, and much of the blame can be assigned to the strain of processing backlogs. Extensible processing...

Sep 23: AASL Fall Forum panel epitomizes district collaboration for blended learning

CHICAGO – An expert panel showcasing an exemplary school district collaboration to create a truly blended learning experience has been added to the AASL 2014 Fall Forum. Moderated by Fall Forum committee chair, Steven Yates, and featuring the AASL 2014 Distinguished School Administrator...

Sep 23: YALSA opens up 2015 summer reading and teen intern grant applications

CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has opened up the applications for its 2015 summer reading and teen intern grants.

Through...

Sep 22: LLAMA webinar provides tips for managing library instruction/outreach

CHICAGO — If you’re looking for fresh ideas about managing your library outreach and instruction program, then LLAMA has a webinar that can help.  The Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) will present “Tips for Managing a Library Instruction/Outreach...

Sep 22: PLA Midwinter Institute features Valerie J. Gross and strategies to redefine the public library

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) is offering a thought-provoking Institute at the 2015 ALA Midwinter Meeting. "Who We Are, What We Do, Why It Matters: Our Distinctive Purpose" will be presented by Valerie J....

Sep 22: Booklist chosen again for 2014 National Reading Group Month and Great Group Reads

CHICAGO — Booklist, the American Library Association’s premier review source for public libraries and...

Sep 22: Applications for ALA Trustee Citation due Jan. 15

PHILADELPHIA — United for Libraries is accepting applications for the ALA Trustee Citation through Jan. 15, 2015.

The ALA Trustee Citation, established in 1941 to recognize public library trustees for distinguished service to library development, symbolizes and honors the best...

Sep 22: Banks and Ford named 2014-2015 co-chairs of planned giving campaign

CHICAGO — Coming on board to lead the next phase of the 15 x 15 planned giving campaign are new co-chairs Robert Banks and Barbara Ford. In June 2012, ALA launched an ambitious campaign to raise $15 million in future support to the Association by Dec. 31, 2015.

As of Sept. 1, 2014,...