ALA Editions

CHICAGO — As a core value of librarianship, sustainability is not an end point but a mindset, a lens through which operational and outreach decisions can be made. And it extends beyond an awareness of the roles that libraries can play in educating and advocating for a sustainable future. As “Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact,” published by ALA Editions, demonstrates, sustainability can also encompass engaging with communities in discussions about resilience, regeneration, and social justice.

CHICAGO — The library is a vital information hub and resource provider every single day, and that’s doubly true when calamity strikes. In fact, libraries’ designation as “essential community functions” during disasters is now encoded in U.S. law. Engaging as a partner in planning and preparedness will build much-needed community support should disaster strike, and even a basic plan will also save library workers time and stress later on.

CHICAGO — Well-designed signage is clear, direct, and reduces confusion and frustration among library users and library workers alike—and also complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), bolstering accessibility. “Library Signage and Wayfinding Design: Communicating Effectively with Your Users,” published by ALA Editions, demonstrates how user experience (UX) design principles can assist libraries in creating positive, welcoming signage that communicates effectively and efficiently.

CHICAGO — Published by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and ALA Editions, Julie Stivers’s book “Include” brings together a chorus of school librarians, scholars, and students representing a wide range of races, ethnicities, experiences, and identities. Part of a six-volume series on the Shared Foundations in AASL’s National School Library Standards, this guide offers: