Public Programs Office

IMLS funds $500,000 research project to study the value of U.S. library programming

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has received $498,805 in funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to conduct a foundational three-year research project into library programming, the second phase in ALA’s National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA).

ALA invites libraries to apply for Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage humanities discussion project

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) announced a new grant for libraries designed to spark conversations about American history and culture through an examination of the women’s suffrage movement.

Through Let’s Talk About It (LTAI): Women’s Suffrage, participants will read a series of books curated by humanities scholars and discuss the people and events from this often under-taught part of U.S. history.

ALA seeks feedback from the library field on library programming learning objectives

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) seeks feedback from the library field on “Skills for 21st-Century Librarians: Learning Objectives for Library Programming,” a document marking the Association’s next steps toward the creation of a programming curriculum for library workers and students.

ALA receives National Endowment for the Humanities grant to support Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has been granted $249,999 by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom to implement the Let’s Talk About It (LTAI): Women’s Suffrage humanities discussion project.

The project corresponds to NEH’s “A More Perfect Union” special initiative to demonstrate the critical role the humanities have played in the United States.

Shawnee (Okla.) Middle School Wins ALA’s 2021 Jaffarian Award for Tulsa Race Massacre Program

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its 2021 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award to Shawnee (Okla.) Middle School for their program, The Tulsa Race Massacre: Assumptions Cause Conflict in Society.

The $5,000 Jaffarian Award, supported by ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund, recognizes excellence in humanities programming in libraries that serve grades K-8.

Public and tribal libraries invited to apply for the NASA@ My Library STEAM initiative

Public and tribal libraries are invited to apply for NASA@ My Library, a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education initiative that will increase and enhance STEAM learning opportunities for library patrons throughout the nation, including geographic areas and populations currently underrepresented in STEAM education.

Three libraries awarded ALA’s inaugural Peggy Barber Tribute Grant

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its inaugural Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, a programming grant named after the transformative ALA leader, to Harrison (N.Y.) Public Library, Montana Department of Corrections’ Library and West Liberty (Iowa) Library.

ALA announces recipients of $1 million in community engagement funding for small and rural libraries

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the recipients of nearly $1 million in funding for small and rural libraries, the second grant distribution as part of the association’s Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries initiative.

Albany (N.Y.) Public Library awarded ALA’s Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its second Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant to the Albany (N.Y.) Public Library for their Branching Out program, a community initiative that aims to uplift local Black voices in music and art.