American Library Association

ALA Conference Services accepting LibLearnX education program proposals

CHICAGO — ALA Conference Services will begin accepting program proposals on July 8, 2022, for 2023 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LLX), taking place in New Orleans, L.A. on January 27-30, 2023. Please use this Submission Site

For guide use, you can use this Submission Site GuideSubmission Guide Video.

Nominate a stellar librarian for the national I Love My Librarian Award

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) invites library users nationwide to nominate their favorite librarians for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college or university libraries. Nominations are accepted online now through Sept. 30, 2022.

ALA Annual Conference Advisory

WASHINGTON, DC -- American Library Association (ALA) members and staff are continuing to monitor the situation related to today’s Supreme Court decision. While we grapple with the implications of this decision, our immediate priority is the safety of those attending the 2022 Annual Conference and Exhibits in Washington, D.C. Currently, protests are concentrated at the Supreme Court. Should the situation change, we will inform members. We encourage conference attendees to check social media for traffic and other updates to the shuttle schedule and programming as appropriate.   

IMLS and FCC Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Help Close Digital Divide

WASHINGTON, DC -- The American Library Association (ALA) has issued the below statement on the memorandum of understanding between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), announced on June 24, 2022:

ALA President Patricia “Patty” Wong said, “We are pleased by today’s move by the FCC to recognize the role libraries play in bringing digital equity to communities across the country. The closer the connection between the FCC and IMLS, the closer America comes to closing learning gaps.

Authors Jason Reynolds, Nancy Pearl join high schoolers to Unite Against Book Bans at world’s biggest library event in Washington, D.C., June 25

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Award-winning young adult author Jason Reynolds, Book Lust author Nancy Pearl and American Library Association (ALA) intellectual freedom advocate Deborah Caldwell-Stone will join Bell Multicultural High School (Washington, D.C.) students to make the case for defending the right to read—and the joy in claiming that right. The discussion will take place at the largest library event in the world, the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibitions, held in Washington, D.C., June 24-27. 

Library, author, bookseller groups condemn legal action attempting to censor books in Virginia

The American Library Association (ALA) joined with Virginia librarians and booksellers, publishers and civil liberties organizations to issue a statement on June 1 condemning a Virginia political candidate’s legal action that seeks to halt distribution of two well-received books in Virginia. Based on the unfounded claim that the books might be "obscene for unrestricted viewing by minors,” such legal actions threaten Virginians’ freedom to read, according to the coalition’s members.

More than 25 organizations join forces with the American Library Association to Unite Against Book Bans

Campaign urges decisionmakers to oppose book bans, protect the freedom to read 

The American Library Association (ALA) and a coalition of more than 25 groups are banding together to empower individuals and communities to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read. Organizations including the American Federation of Teachers and the Authors Guild have joined the association’s Unite Against Book Bans campaign to raise awareness about the recent rise in book challenges in public libraries and schools. 

ALA Announces 2022 L. Ray Patterson Award Winner James G. Neal

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Library Association (ALA) Public Policy and Advocacy Office today named James G. “Jim” Neal, university librarian emeritus of Columbia University, winner of the 2022 L. Ray Patterson Copyright Award.  

New ALA endowment honoring Satia Marshall Orange to benefit Spectrum Scholarship Program

CHICAGO – From 1997 to 2009, Satia Marshall Orange guided what is now the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), working on behalf of underserved populations and promoting diversity within the field of librarianship.

Now, on the occasion of her 80th birthday, her work is being honored with the establishment of the Satia Marshall Orange Spectrum Scholarship Endowment Fund.