Black Lives Matter ALA Chapters Condemn Systemic Racism

ALA Chapters Condemn Systemic Racism

In addition to the American Library Association's Executive Board's statement on racism, several ALA chapters have stated their dedication to...

Read their statements here
Corona Virus Resources for Chapters

COVID-19 Resources for Chapters

COVID-19 Resources for State Chapters. Includes resources federal and state resources. 

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ALA Connect

ALA Connect

ALA Connect is a place where members can engage with each other, and grow their networks by sharing their own expertise and more!

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Equal Access

2010

The Office of Literary and Outreach Services celebratef the first National Bookmobile Day in 2010. It is celebrated in conjunction with the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Service (ABOS), and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). National Bookmobile Day is an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities..

"National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday, April 17, 2013) celebrates our nation’s bookmobiles and the dedicated library professionals who provide this valuable and essential service to their communities every day.

National Bookmobile Day is an opportunity for bookmobiles fans to make their support known—through thanking bookmobile staff, writing a letter or e-mail to their libraries, or voicing their support to community leaders."  Read more and find additional resources for National Bookmobile Day here.

See images of bookmobiles from around the country on American Libraries's Pintrest board.

"There are few visions of library service that are more inspiring than that of  a bookmobile and its staff providing books to young children. The concept and reality of bookmobile service started in Hagerstown, Maryland in April, 1905 when Mary L. Titcomb, the Librarian of the Washington County Free Library, sent out the first book wagon in the United States from the library.  Titcomb had designed the book wagon which had space for 200 books on the outside of the wagon and storage space for more books on the inside.  The driver of the wagon which was pulled by two horses was the janitor for the library. This envelope was mailed from the Washington County Free Library just 10 months after the book wagon service was initiated. " Read more from the Library History Buff Bookmobile Tribute.

2011

The American Library Association (ALA) joined in a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make Money Smart Week® @ your library a national initiative, which was first held April 2-9, 2011. Celebrating its 12th year in 2013 (and its third as a national ALA initiative), the Money Smart Week® mission is to promote personal financial literacy. Libraries of all types in the Midwest have participated in Money Smart Week®, partnering with community groups, financial institutions, government agencies, educational organizations and other financial experts to help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances. ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago have launched a special section of the Money Smart Week® website devoted to libraries, with information on how to participate, as well as toolkits, resources and examples of programming for public, academic, school and special libraries.

"Money Smart Week began as a coordinated effort of the Money Smart Advisory Council, a diverse group of more than 40 Chicago-area organizations working together to promote personal financial literacy.

The Chicago Fed convened the Council's first meeting in July 2001, during which members agreed to share resources and ideas to achieve greater public awareness of the programs and services available in the city of Chicago.

The result was Money Smart Week 2002 — six days of focused presentations by community groups, financial institutions, government agencies, educational organizations, and financial experts, all designed to help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances." Read more from the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank

“ALA and libraries promote all types of literacy, and the past few years have highlighted the need for everyone to be financially literate,” said Roberta Stevens, [former] ALA President. “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make this a national initiative and encourage all libraries to mark their calendars now to celebrate and participate in Money Smart Week @ your library.”
 
“The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago looks forward to partnering with the American Library Association to bring financial education to consumers across America,” said Doug Tillett, the bank’s vice president in charge of public affairs. “Since the start of Money Smart Week almost 10 years ago, libraries have been instrumental in helping people learn to make informed decisions about managing their money.” Read More

"The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago began partnering with the American Library Association (ALA) in 2011 as part of Money Smart Week’s expansion. Member libraries are invited to participate during the scheduled week through state planning teams. If no state planning team exists they are encouraged to participate independently through Money Smart Week @ your library." Read more and see resources

2011

In an extension of the observance of Banned Books Week, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) designated Wednesday, September 28, 2011, as the first annual Banned Websites Awareness Day. By doing so, it's AASL's hope to bring attention to the overly aggressive filtering of educational and social websites used by students and educators.

"Usually the public thinks of censorship in relation to books, however there is a growing censorship issue in schools and school libraries – overly restrictive filtering of educational websites reaching far beyond the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Students, teachers, and school librarians in many schools are frustrated daily when they discover legitimate educational websites blocked by filtering software installed by their school.  

Filtering websites does the next generation of digital citizens a disservice.  Students must develop skills to evaluate information from all types of sources in multiple formats, including the Internet. Relying solely on filters does not teach young citizens how to be savvy searchers or how to evaluate the accuracy of information." Read more from AASL

“Many schools filter far beyond the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act, because they wish to protect students,” explains Carl Harvey, AASL president. “Students must develop skills to evaluate information from all types of sources in multiple formats, including the Internet. Relying solely on filters does not teach young citizens how to be savvy searchers or how to evaluate the accuracy of information.”

According to a recent study undertaken by a team of researchers from the University of Southern California and the University of California, Berkeley, and funded by the MacArthur Foundation, today’s learners are using online media not just as social tools, but are engaging in peer-based, self-directed learning. Through digital media, youths are discovering a degree of freedom and self-paced learning that they may not be finding in a traditional classroom setting." Read more from American Libraries