Public Library Association (PLA)

ALA accepting applications for Library Census Equity Fund mini-grants

WASHINGTON — The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting online applications for Library Census Equity Fund mini-grants. ALA will provide 25 libraries with $2,000 mini-grants to bolster their service to hard-to-count communities and help achieve a complete count in the 2020 Census.

ALA turns to Congress as Macmillan ignores public call to reverse library e-book embargo

WASHINGTON—Today Macmillan Publishers begins to limit access to e-books through America’s libraries by instituting an eight-week embargo on library e-book purchases. Despite robust public demand to reverse the policy, the publisher is moving ahead with its plan to limit sales to public libraries. Regardless the size of the library – from large library systems in Washington State and rural libraries in Rhode Island to entire statewide consortiums of small libraries such as in Wisconsin – Macmillan will sell only one copy of a new e-book title for the first two months after release.

ALA to host free webinar, release tip sheet on preparing for 2020 Census

Free webinar and new ALA resource highlights funding opportunities for libraries in preparation for 2020 Census 

Today, the American Library Association (ALA) announced a free webinar for library staff, “Preparing Your Library for the 2020 Census,” to be held on November 14, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ALA responds to Macmillan letter

Hours before the American Library Association (ALA), the Public Library Association and allies were to deliver more than 160,000 petition signatures opposing the planned November 1 embargo on library eBook purchases (and two months after the campaign began), Macmillan Publishers CEO John Sargent directly addressed librarians for the first time.

ALA delivers #eBooksForAll Petition, with 160,000+ Signatures, to Macmillan Publishers

Library leaders, publishers meet to discuss growing opposition to library e-book embargo as Congress undertakes inquiry

NEW YORK – Today American Library Association (ALA) leaders, members and supporters delivered a petition with nearly 160,000 signatures to Macmillan Publishers CEO John Sargent, urging him to reverse the new policy that will limit libraries’ access to e-books. Signed by readers, authors, library staff and patrons from all 50 states, the #eBooksForAll petition demands that library access to e-books not be delayed or denied. 

ALA opens registration for free webinar: Connecting Your Community to 2020 Census jobs

WASHINGTON - The American Library Association (ALA) is hosting a free webinar for library staff, “Connecting Your Community to 2020 Census Jobs,” to be held on November 6, 2019, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time.  

Over 100,000 readers nationwide join #eBooksForAll campaign against planned embargo

Thousands more adding their names to petition daily

CHICAGO – In just one month, the American Library Association’s (ALA) #eBooksForAll campaign has garnered more than 100,000 signatures from readers, authors, library staff and patrons from all 50 states to condemn Macmillan Publishers’ plan to restrict library access to eBooks.

PLA adds fourth location to slate of regional EDISJ symposia

CHICAGO – In response to demand from the public library field, the Public Library Association (PLA) is bringing its regional symposium on equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice (EDISJ) to a fourth location in 2019. Social Justice and Public Libraries: Equity Starts with Us will now be offered in Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 9-10, 2019. The earlier symposia in Denver, Colo. and Charleston, S.C., were extremely well-received, and the Chicago, Ill.