Press Releases

Oct 13: AASL survey results show lagging economy hit high poverty schools the hardest
CHICAGO – According to the results from the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) 2010 School Libraries Count! survey, the educational resources of students in high poverty schools have been most affected by last year's economic downturn. Overall survey results show that school...
Oct 12: Free Frontline Advocacy webinar to teach library staff how to promote the value of libraries everyday

CHICAGO – Learn how to empower all levels of library staff to become better advocates for their libraries and themselves by joining American Library Association (ALA) 2009-2010 President Camila Alire for a free “Frontline Advocacy” webinar from 1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. CST on Friday, Oct....

Oct 12: Celebrate cultural heritage @ your library

CHICAGO - October marks the conclusion of both Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) and the beginning of Polish Heritage Month. Public libraries are among the first American institutions immigrants turn to for help in learning how to read, write and speak English.

The American...

Oct 12: Office for Information Technology Policy names new directors

Washington, D.C. – The ALA Washington Office today announces two staff appointments in the Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP).

Larra Clark will serve as the new director of the Program on Networks and Associate Director of the Program on America’s Libraries for the 21st...

Oct 12: AASL awards season opens with more than $50,000 in opportunities
CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) prestigious awards program will offer more than $50,000 in awards in 2011 to AASL members. AASL's 10 awards recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include research,...
Oct 12: ALSC, YALSA launch new youth literacy program with grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation

CHICAGO - The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded $210,000 to two divisions of the American Library Association. The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Services Association (YALSA) will receive funding to support Everyone Reads @ the Library, a new...

Oct 12: ALA, AASL joins Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media in support of first-annual National STEM Video Game Challenge

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association for School Librarians (AASL) are joining the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media, in partnership with sponsors AMD Foundation, Entertainment Software Association and Microsoft, to support the...

Oct 12: ProgrammingLibrarian.org debuts new look, added features
CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office has debuted an updated look and enhanced features for its website, ProgrammingLibrarian.org. Designed for librarians who...
Oct 12: Learn to lead a productive discussion

Midwinter Institute introduces essentials of discussion facilitation 

CHICAGO – The art of discussion facilitation will be the topic of a day-and-a-half institute presented by the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, held Jan. 6 and...

Oct 11: Resources on how to fight bullying, volunteer opportunities for teens and Toni Morrison's thoughts on libraries featured on @ your library.org website

CHICAGO - An article about the scourge of bullying and how you can fight it, volunteer  opportunities for teens at libraries and video featuring  Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, author of “ Beloved,”  are featured at  www.atyourlibrary...

Oct 11: Loleta D. Fyan grant call for proposals
CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s Office for Research and Statistics is now accepting applications for the Loleta D. Fyan Grant. Loleta D. Fyan, ALA president from 1951-1952, believed that every individual, regardless of residence, is equally entitled to high quality...
Oct 11: Carroll Preston Baber research grant call for proposals
CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s Office for Research and Statistics is now accepting applications for the Carroll Preston Baber Research Grant. The grant is given to one or more librarians or library educators who will conduct innovative research that could lead to an...
Oct 08: Nominations sought for prestigious research award

CHICAGO - Nominations are invited for the 2011 Frederick G. Kilgour Award for Research in Library and Information Technology, sponsored by OCLC, Inc. and the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The deadline for nominations...

Oct 06: GLBTRT compiles “Speaking OUT Against Bullying” resources

CHICAGO - In response to recent tragic events involving GLBTQ teens, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) has compiled “Speaking OUT Against Bullying,” a list of resources for kids in trouble and the people who care about them...

Oct 06: OITP seeks cutting-edge technology practices for 2010

Washington, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) is  once again soliciting nominations for best library practices using cutting-edge technology.

Last year, OITP’s America’s Libraries for the 21st Century Subcommittee...

Oct 06: ALTAFF survey for Friends groups extended to Oct. 29

PHILADELPHIA – ALTAFF is conducting a survey for Friends groups at http://altaff.countingopinions.com through Oct. 29, 2010.

All Friends groups - including groups that are already Friends Group Affiliates - who complete the survey...

Oct 06: 3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant available

CHICAGO -Members of ALA's New Members Round Table (NMRT) can apply to receive a grant, sponsored by 3M Library Systems, which will cover expenses to attend the ALA Annual Conference, June 23 – 28, 2011 in New Orleans.

Want to read about the ALA experiences of last year's winners? Take a...

Oct 05: Marc Chagall’s America Windows, family literacy program, New York Comic Con, new blog post from Likely Stories featured on @ your library.org website

CHICAGO —The reinstallation of Marc Chagall’s magnificent America Windows at the Art Institute of Chicago, a national  family literacy program that reaches out to low income families, the New York Comic Con Convention and a post from the Likely Stories blog are featured at...

Oct 05: Consulting Toolkit workshop expected to sell out again at 2011 Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO—The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) will again offer the full-day workshop “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant” at the upcoming 2011 Midwinter Meeting...

Oct 04: American Library Association responds to New York Times article on privatization
CHICAGO –   On Sept. 26, 2010, The New York Times published an article entitled “Anger as a Private Company Takes Over Libraries.” The article focused on ...
Oct 04: ALA Offers Recognition Awards and Grants

CHICAGO – Nominate yourself, colleagues or your library for the 2010 American Library Association (ALA) Recognition Awards and Grants. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline for awards is Dec. 1.

For general information about these and other ALA awards, visit...

Oct 04: Mark your calendars for Money Smart Week @ your library, April 2-9, 2011

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) has joined in a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make "Money Smart Week @ your library," held April 2-9, 2011, a national initiative....

Oct 04: ALA JobLIST Placement Center to present webinar

"Take Your Job Search Campaign Up a Level: What to do When You’re Still Not Getting That Job You Want (And Need!)" scheduled for Oct. 20, 2010

CHICAGO - If you’re one week, one month, three months or even longer into your job search without any end in sight, you may be...

Oct 04: Library MVPs announced

CHICAGO - This year’s top library MVP is the one at Maplewood Junior / Senior High School of Guys Mills, Pa. The library brought in nearly 400 entries for this year’s Step Up to the Plate @ your library program, which it tied into its Reading is Fundamental program.

For submitting the...

Oct 04: Advanced registration for YALSA’s YA lit symposium ends Oct. 8

CHICAGO — Librarians, educators, authors and fans of young adult literature won’t want to miss the biennial Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, at the Albuquerque (N.M.) Marriott, hosted by the Young Adult...

Oct 04: Cataloging correctly for kids

CHICAGO—ALA Editions, the publishing imprint of the American Library Association, announces the release of the fifth edition of Cataloging...

Oct 01: Call for proposals for AASL National Conference

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is seeking proposals for concurrent sessions at its 2011 National Conference & Exhibition. The deadline for proposals is Monday, Nov. 1. More information is available at...

Oct 01: AASL announces registration deadline extension

CHICAGO – The deadline for advanced registration pricing for the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) 2010 Fall Forum has been extended to Oct. 21. IN FOCUS: The Essentials of 21st-Century Learning will be held Nov. 5-6 in Portland, Ore. Registration...

Oct 01: YALSA names 2010 Great Ideas contest winners

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, has chosen the winners for its annual Great Ideas contest:

  • Elizabeth Burns, New Jersey State Library Talking...
Oct 01: YALSA seeks member comments on new evaluation tool

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, invites its members to comment on the draft of its teen services evaluation tool (PDF) at...