Public Library Association (PLA)

Together with AT&T, PLA launches new DigitalLearn courses; announces new incentive program for library digital literacy workshops

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) announced the availability of new and updated digital literacy courses and training materials developed as part of its collaboration with AT&T to bring digital literacy training to families.

Sonia Alcántara-Antoine named PLA 2023-2024 president

CHICAGO — Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) announced the results of its 2022 Election. Voting was available March 14 through April 6, and open to all PLA members in good standing.

6,000 attend first in-person PLA national conference since pandemic

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association national conference ended Friday, March 25, 2022, after more than 6,000 library professionals and gathered together in person and virtually to attend sessions on shaping the future of public library service in a post-pandemic world.  

Portland to host largest national library conference since the pandemic

(CHICAGO) In the wake of the pandemic and calls for social justice, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host its national conference in Portland, Oregon, from March 23 to 25, 2022. More than 4,000 attendees will attend the in-person event at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., which will offer more than 100 programs focused on inspiring and developing the future of U.S. public library services.

PLA 2022 to generate an estimated $4.4 million in revenue for City of Portland

CHICAGO - The Public Library Association (PLA) national conference is the largest in-person association conference to return to Portland since the beginning of the pandemic. The event will bring more than 4,000 attendees to the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., from March 23 – 25. Library professionals will attend more than 100 programs focused on shaping the future of U.S. public library service. 

ALA stands with Ukrainian library community

CHICAGO — The American Library Association and its divisions support our Ukrainian colleagues and will work with the global library community to answer the appeal from the Ukrainian Library Association to provide accurate information as a means to support democracy and freedom of expression.

PLA responds to growing intellectual freedom challenges with virtual townhall

CHICAGO — As libraries continue confronting unprecedented attacks on the freedom to read, the Public Library Association (PLA) will offer a virtual townhall event, Facing the Challenge: Intellectual Freedom in Libraries, on Friday, March 4, from 1–2 p.m. Central time.

PLA announces additional 2022 conference speakers, Intellectual Freedom Forum programming

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) is pleased to announce newly confirmed speakers for exciting events taking place at the PLA 2022 Conference, March 23—25 in Portland, Ore. In addition to Big Ideas and Author Lunch speakers, PLA has added an Intellectual Freedom Forum in response to coordinated attempts at book banning currently sweeping the nation.

PLA announces 2022 conference scholarship winners

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has awarded thirty (30) scholarships for public library professionals and students to attend the PLA 2022 Conference, taking place March 23–25 in Portland, Ore. As part of PLA’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in the library profession, scholarships were distributed among three categories: Early-career Library Staff Scholarships, Non-Salaried or Unemployed Library Staff Scholarships, and Library School Student Scholarships.