Get tools, resources, and merchandise to celebrate this year’s “Find Your Joy” theme with Honorary Chair Mychal Threets!

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Join us in Chicago, June 25–29, for the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition as we celebrate 150 years of ALA and shape the future of libraries together.

Since 1876, the American Library Association has worked to expand access to information and strengthen communities through libraries. In 2026, we celebrate 150 years and look ahead to what libraries will make possible in the future.

Meet the 2026 honorees who are exceptional librarians from academic, public, and school libraries who were nominated for their expertise, dedication, and profound impact on their communities.

Congress has begun preparation for next year's federal budget. Make sure libraries are supported by contacting your Senators before April 17.

Contact Your Senators 

150 Years Strong, The Official Anniversary Website (pictured: Invitation to early ALA convention, photo of early ALA members, and librarians at a rally holding sign that reads " Too many issues, not enough poster."

Celebrating ALA's 150th Anniversary

Explore the ALA 150 website, your starting point for uncovering the legacy we’re celebrating and the future we’re shaping. Discover stories, milestones, and perspectives from across 150 years, along with rarely seen images from the ALA Archives.

 

Check out the anniversary website

American Libraries March-April issue

Read the Latest Issue of American Libraries

Read the March/April 2026 issue of American Libraries, featuring an interview with Mychal Threets, host of the new Reading Rainbow reboot and this year’s National Library Week honorary chair. Plus, articles on library wins worth celebrating, turning political representatives into library champions, airport libraries, and more.

 

Read the March/April issue

Get Involved

ALA is the largest membership association in the library industry. It's a community of people working together to ensure that libraries remain vital centers of literacy, access, and opportunity.

By giving to ALA, you are helping us improve library and information services and the profession of librarianship to ensure access to information for all.

Fight Censorship: Take Action Against Book Bans

ALA compiles data on book challenges from reports filed by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States.

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Book Résumés help librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, review committees, and elected officials.
 

Bookmark this link!

Your front line reports help ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom to stay on top of trends and supply library workers with resources to combat censorship. You can also help get the word out and encourage reporting of book censorship.

Report a challenge.

Upcoming eLearning Opportunities

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Underserved populations frequently do not have access to a library—or they may even be unaware that they have an information need. How can we as a profession effectively reach them? 

Visit the Graphics Gift Shop for all-new Vintage ALA items--t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, pencil pouches, stickers, and more!

Designed to support state curricula and teaching standards, this full-color book combines facsimiles of primary sources from the Library of Congress's unparalleled collections with teaching strategies and mroe resources.

Whether it's a hardcover or paperback, an audiobook, or eBook, it's all reading! Display this poster to celebrate and promote reading in a variety of formats.

Resource Quick Links

ALSC's Best of Children's Books, Recordings, and Digital Media

ALSC's Children's Notable lists highlight media for children 14 years of age and younger of especially commendable quality that demonstrate respect for young people’s intelligence and imagination; exhibit venturesome creativity; and reflect and encourage the interests of children and young adolescents in exemplary ways.

Learn more

5 students and teacher showing off their collages as part of the Great Stories Club

Programming Resources

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office empowers libraries to create vibrant hubs of learning and connection in communities of all types.

Learn more about the ALA Public Programs Office 

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ALA's Programming Librarian website is a place for library professionals to share, learn, and be inspired to present excellent programming for their communities. 

Browse the Programming Librarian website 

illustration for News, Press, and Media

News and Press Center

For more than 140 years, the American Library Association has been the trusted voice for all libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. 

Contact the ALA Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations team to learn more about ALA positions and actions and get comprehensive insights into key issues facing libraries nationwide.

Visit the News and Press Center

ALA Connect logo featuring speech bubbles and the tagline "Engage. Learn. Grow."

ALA Connect

Discussion boards and shared libraries provide collaboration tools connecting more than 50,000 library professionals with a wide variety of interests and specialization is the place to share ideas and make new connections with library workers across the globe.

Complete your profile and grow your online professional network at ALA Connect!