PLA is here for you throughout your career, offering endless opportunities to grow professionally and make an impact in the library field. Check out the PLA Member Journey Roadmap to learn how.
Click the image to the right to view a full-sized PDF.
In addition to the numerous benefits provided by your ALA membership, PLA personal membership connects you to a wealth of resources specifically for public libraries, including:
Discounts
Members receive discounts on professional development offerings including online education, events, and products.
- A 40% discount on PLA webinars
- A 10–50% discount on professional development events like PLA Conference and PLA preconferences at ALA Annual Conferences
- A 10% discount on ALA and PLA products in the online ALA Store
Publications & Resources
Members receive a free subscription to Public Libraries magazine and exclusive access to our members-only newsletter and PLA Member Library.
- A free subscription to Public Libraries, the official print journal of PLA (a $65 value). Published six times a year, each issue includes peer-written and peer-reviewed feature articles and columns on professional trends and best practices in the public library field
- Biweekly delivery of PLA Insider, the members-only email newsletter filled with industry news, professional development opportunities, member highlights, job listings, grants and scholarships, and more!
- Access to PLA's Learning Tapas, which include quick, self-paced videos and corresponding guidebooks designed to provide a "taste" or introduction to topics such as Effective Networking Skills or Finding a Mentor or a Coach (login required*)
- Access to archived issues of E-News, Public Libraries, and other PLA publications in the PLA Member Library on ALA Connect (login required*)
Networking & Leadership Development
Members are connected to a community of nearly 10,000 public library professionals where they can share skills and develop new ones through leadership training, networking, and volunteer opportunities.
- Volunteer opportunities with PLA committees and advisory groups that work on critical issues for the association and profession, such as technology, legislation and advocacy, leadership development, intellectual freedom, conferences, and more
- Publishing opportunities in Public Libraries and on Public Libraries Online, or through developing a unique professional publication
- Exclusive access to the PLA Member Community and PLA interest groups on ALA Connect (login required*) where members engage with public library people who share the same interests
- Annual calls for conference program proposals
Advocacy
Members support our commitment to move the profession forward and represent the interests of public libraries everywhere.
*You will be asked to login to confirm your current PLA personal membership. If you’ve forgotten your login information, you'll be able to retrieve your username/password or create a login if you don't have one from the "Login" page.
How To Join
There are three convenient ways to join PLA/ALA.
- Join securely online.
- Print and fill out a membership form and fax or mail it in.
- Call the ALA Member Relations & Services Center at 1-800-545-2433.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding membership dues or becoming a member, please contact the ALA Member Relations & Services Center at customerservice@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433. Customer service representatives are available to assist you Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central.