Public Programs Office

ALA releases findings from NILPPA, a national study of library public programming

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has released a report outlining the findings of an intensive research study that explored the characteristics, audiences, outcomes and value of U.S. library programming, as well as the competencies required to succeed in the field.

Wyoming (Ohio) Middle School wins ALA’s 2019 Jaffarian Award for poverty and philanthropy program

The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its 2019 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award to Wyoming (Ohio) Middle School for their Poverty and Philanthropy class. 

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

Public and academic libraries invited to join ‘Americans and the Holocaust’ traveling exhibition tour

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) and the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office invite libraries to apply to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. 

Explore PBS documentary 'American Creed' with the filmmaker and get a free DVD at 2019 ALA Annual Conference

What does it mean to be American? What holds us together in turbulent times?

In the PBS documentary American Creed, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different points of view to explore the idea of a unifying American creed. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deep divides.

Libraries invited to apply for Great Stories Club grants on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation

CHICAGO — Library workers are invited to apply for the American Library Association’s Great Stories Club series on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT), a thematic reading and discussion program that engages underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.

ALA reaches fundraising goal to support community engagement work in libraries

The American Library Association (ALA) has reached a significant fundraising goal for its Cultural Communities Fund that will support the work of community engagement in libraries.

ALA, Harwood Institute announce 2019 Public Innovators Lab for Libraries training in Atlanta

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) and The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation announce a 2.5-day training opportunity to help libraries lead positive change in their communities.

Learn how your library can fight fake news at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference

Think you can spot fake news? Think again.

In a 2018 report, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office found that news consumers think they have stronger media literacy skills than they actually do. Libraries can help bring their skills in line with their confidence.

ALA, FINRA Foundation announce 50 public libraries to host Thinking Money for Kids traveling exhibition

For FINRA Foundation inquiries, please contact Media Relations Director Angelita Williams at 202-728-8988 or Angelita.Williams@finra.org.

CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, D.C. — To kick off April as Financial Literacy Month, the American Library Association (ALA), in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, today announced 50 U.S. public libraries selected to be part of a national tour of the traveling exhibition Thinking Money for Kids.

Reboot your book club with the help of ALA’s Public Programs Office

CHICAGO — Is your book club feeling stale or uninspired? Has attendance dropped, or are you struggling to keep your patrons engaged? What you need is a reboot. “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists,” published by ALA Editions in cooperation with ALA’s Public Programs Office profiles dozens of successful book clubs across the country.