Public Library Association (PLA)

10 librarians receive coveted I Love My Librarian Award for life-changing public service

CHICAGO – Today the American Library Association (ALA) announced 10 winners of the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. Recipients are dynamic librarians from academic, public and school libraries who were nominated by patrons nationwide for their profound impact on the lives of families, students, teachers and information seekers in their communities. 

Speakers announced for PLA 2020 Conference General Sessions

CHICAGO — Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) has secured an outstanding slate of inspiring and entertaining speakers for the PLA 2020 Conference, taking place Feb. 25-29, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Offered biennially, the PLA Conference is the premier event for public library professionals, drawing thousands of librarians, library support staff, trustees, friends and library vendors from across the country and around the world.

PLA publishes space-planning guide for libraries

CHICAGO – Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) announced the release of a new publication intended to help library professionals to successfully analyze, plan and evaluate library spaces.

PLA December webinar to highlight non-traditional approaches to library programming

CHICAGO –The Public Library Association (PLA) is hosting a webinar in December featuring non-traditional approaches to public library programming. PLA's webinar, Outside-the-Box Programs, will take place Thursday, Dec. 12, from 1–2 p.m. Central Time. Content will focus on methods for reinvigorating classic library programs by creatively integrating technology while highlighting existing library services.

Columbus, Ohio selected as site of PLA 2024 Conference

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) is proud to announce Columbus, Ohio, as the host city for the PLA 2024 Conference. The PLA Conference typically draws between 8,000 and 10,000 attendees, and the Columbus event will be held Apr. 3–6, 2024, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The City of Columbus conforms to all PLA Conference site-selection policies and meets or surpasses all hotel and exhibit space requirements.

Free December webinar will highlight Short Story Dispenser project

CHICAGO – Next month, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host a free webinar featuring the pilot participants in its Fostering Creative Community Connections (FCCC) initiative. PLA launched FCCC in 2017 to strengthen a culture of literacy and reading, while increasing public awareness and use of library programs and services, by bringing stories to unexpected places. With funding from the John S. and James L.

New publications detail public library responses to the opioid crisis

CHICAGO —The Public Library Association (PLA) and OCLC have released two new publications that demonstrate how public libraries are responding to the opioid crisis in their communities.

New course on health insurance enrollment added to PLA’s DigitalLearn website

CHICAGO — In coordination with Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment for 2020, which runs Nov. 1–Dec. 15, 2019, in states that use the Federal Marketplace Platform, the Public Library Association (PLA) has released a new online tutorial to help consumers sign up for health insurance.

Libraries Ready to Code Opens Call for Applications: Hour of Code Mini-Grants

In advance of Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), an annual event to get students excited about coding, ALA is opening a call for applications for $300 mini-grants to