Public Programs Office (PPO)

ALA receives nearly $300,000 federal humanities relief for pandemic-era library programming resources, program support

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the American Library Association (ALA) $278,000 in emergency relief funds to support humanities projects, including the creation of humanities content and resources for library workers in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The funding, awarded through the NEH Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will support the development of professional development materials to help libraries present virtual and socially distanced programming for their communities.

Milwaukee Public Library awarded ALA’s first Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

CHICAGO -- The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its first Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant to the Milwaukee (Wis.) Public Library for Deaf Storyslam, a free community event in which Deaf individuals of varying backgrounds share personal stories and experiences with the broader community.

ALA announces STEAM funding and exhibitions for rural libraries serving Latino populations

Public library workers in rural communities are invited to participate in a project that will bring culturally inclusive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programming and exhibitions to their patrons, especially often-underreached Latino populations.

ALA publishes free facilitation skills training materials for small and rural library workers

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has released a set of free professional development materials to help library workers in small and rural communities develop the facilitation skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century library.

New ALA program will help libraries address climate crisis

Educational pilot program launched by donation from private donors; matching gifts invited through April 22

A guide to financial literacy programs and tools from ALA’s Public Programs Office

CHICAGO — A survey from the American Psychological Association shows that money is a more frequent cause of worry than work, family, or health issues. Empowering people with the knowledge to make sound financial decisions is an important way to make a difference in your community, and many libraries across the country are doing just that.

ALA invites library workers to apply for new Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for a new annual grant to support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. 

The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant will provide $2,000 for a school, public, academic, tribal or special library to expand its community engagement efforts. Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. 

Looking to lead? ALA announces free facilitation skills training for small and rural library workers

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has announced a professional development opportunity — including funding to attend an in-person workshop at the 2020 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago — to help small and rural library workers develop the communication skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century library.

ALA announces Libraries Transforming Communities community engagement initiative for small and rural libraries

Community engagement — the process of working collaboratively with community members — provides a roadmap to creating sustainable, resilient organizations and communities. Small, rural libraries are nimble, responsive organizations that can work with their communities to create powerful community-led change. By working collaboratively with community members, libraries can create a roadmap to creating sustainable, resilient organizations.

50 libraries selected to host traveling exhibition from ALA and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

CHICAGO — The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association (ALA) have announced 50 libraries that will 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.