Public Information Office

Mission | Breaking News | Events | ALA Staff Resources | Oversight Groups | PIO Staff

Reporters: Please visit the Media/Press Center.  

   
Mission 

The Public Information Offices manages the public awareness efforts of the Association through the Campaign for America's Libraries, delivering key messages to external audiences about the value of libraries and librarians. PIO also communicates ALA's key messages through media relations and crisis communications, and offers public relations counsel and editorial services. Tools are also developed and shared with librarians to help advance ALA’s 2015 Key Action Areas. Works with Public Awareness Committee.

   
Libraries in the News

Molly Raphael inteviewed on The Huffington Post

Chicago Tribune: You can get that at the library?

Free entertainment, for life (CNN Opinion)

"Improving literacy through school libraries," op-ed by best-selling author Pam Muñoz Ryan

Job-seekers, entrepreneurs continue to turn to their local library for help: State of America's Libraries Report 2011

Best-selling Author Scott Turow Writes About the Value of Libraries and the Threats They Face

The Washington Post: Technological and economic shifts have only made libraries more valuable (Commentary by Roberta Stevens)

Chicago Tribune: Future etched in city libraries

Seattle Times: Public libraries: enablers of Americans' dreams

Newsweek: Closing the Books?

PBS News Hour: Conversation (with Camila Alire) The State of America's Libraries

Libraries fading as school budget crisis deepens

Marketplace From American Public Media: Libraries adapt to help unemployed

See the Newbery, Caldecott winners on the "Today Show"

USA Today: Internet attracts job seekers to libraries

   
Events 

National Library Week

ALA Youth Media Awards

National Library Card Sign-up Month

Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros

   
ALA Staff resources 

1. New ALA News guidelines
2. PIO Editorial Services
3. 62 ways to improve your press releases
4. Videos from 2009 ALA Communications Training Seminar

Oversight Groups 

Activities of the Public Information Office are overseen by the ALA Public Awareness Committee and its three subcommittees - the Campaign for America's Libraries Subcommittee, the Public Relations Assembly and the National Library Week Subcommittee. These groups meet twice a year, during ALA's Annual Conferences in June-July, and Midwinter Meetings, usually held in January.

The next meetings will occur during the 2011 Midwinter Meeting in San Diego (Jan. 7-11) and the 2011 Annual Conference in New Orleans, La., (June 23–28). Exact dates, times and locations will be posted as they become available.

Public Awareness Committee

Campaign for America's Libraries Subcommittee

Public Relations Assembly

National Library Week Subcommittee

I Love My Librarian Award Committee

Resources

• Quotable Facts About America's Libraries
• ALA Press Kits

PIO Staff 

Mark R. Gould
Director
(312) 280-5042
mgould@ala.org

Megan Humphrey
Manager
The Campaign for America’s Libraries
(312) 280-4020
mhumphrey@ala.org

Megan McFarlane
Coordinator
The Campaign for America’s Libraries
(312) 280-2148
mmcfarlane@ala.org

Macey Morales
Manager
PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-4393
mmorales@ala.org

Jennifer Petersen
Public Relations Coordinator
PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-5043
jpetersen@ala.org

Steve Zalusky
Manager of Communications
(312) 280-1546
szalusky@ala.org

Position Vacant
Administrative Assistant