American Library Association

ALA President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada to host Native Hawaiian teacher, cultural practitioner, and author Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu at the ALA President's Program

CHICAGO – The American Library Association has announced that ALA President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada will host award-winning filmmaker and author Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition ALA President’s Program, June 22-27, 2023 in Chicago. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

#1 Bestselling author, poet, and advocate Amanda Gorman and award-winning artist Christian Robinson to close ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago

CHICAGO – The American Library Association today announced that presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Christian Robinson will close the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27, 2023, in Chicago. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Bestselling children’s book authors Cara Mentzel and Idina Menzel, and acclaimed Maysoon Zayid presenting at the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition

CHICAGO – The American Library Association announced that best-selling children’s book authors Cara Mentzel and Idina Menzel, and actress, writer, and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid will present at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27, 2023, in Chicago.  Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

ALA, AASL praise library legislation to expand access for students nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the American Library Association (ALA) and its division, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), welcomed the bicameral introduction of the Right to Read Act by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-03).

ALA welcomes Prison Libraries Act of 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association praised the Prison Libraries Act, introduced today by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO-5th), along with co-leads Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18th) and Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH-11th), and 25 cosponsors. The bill would establish a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide library services to incarcerated individuals to advance reintegration efforts, reduce recidivism and increase educational opportunities.  

ALA Launches Policy Corps Cadre for Proactive Advocacy on Book Banning

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Policy & Advocacy (PPA) Office, in partnership with ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, announce a new initiative for proactive advocacy to combat book banning and censorship in America’s libraries.

ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition Preliminary Program showcases education programs, exhibitors, and other conference highlights

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) has launched the Preliminary Program, listing agenda items that will take place at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, June 22-27, 2023. Prospective and registered attendees can view President & Chair programs, ticketed events, exhibitors and the Library Marketplace floor plan, and 175+ education programs covering a range of content areas. Featured speakers, Governance meetings, and News You Can Use sessions will be added soon.

Acclaimed authors Nikki Grimes, Rick Riordan, Mark Oshiro, and award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney announced as featured speakers at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition

CHICAGO – The American Library Association today announced that celebrated children’s book author and poet Nikki Grimes and award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney will present at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27, 2023, in Chicago.  Also joining the speaker roster, New York Times bestselling author Rick Riordan and acclaimed author Mark Oshiro. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

ALA launches FY 2024 #FundLibraries campaign under tight deadline to gain House support

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) kicked off the annual #FundLibraries campaign on March 13, 2023, calling on library advocates in every congressional district to contact their representative and ask them to support libraries by cosigning Dear Appropriator letters to fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. The LSTA letter, circulated by U.S. Reps.