Public Policy and Advocacy (PPA)

ALA Releases Libraries Build Business Communications Toolkit for Library Workers

WASHINGTON, DC—Today the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Policy & Advocacy office (PPA), in partnership with Co/lab Capacity, released the Libraries Build Business Communications Toolkit.

ALA, AASL praise library legislation to expand access for students nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the American Library Association (ALA) and its division, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), welcomed the bicameral introduction of the Right to Read Act by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-03).

ALA welcomes Prison Libraries Act of 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association praised the Prison Libraries Act, introduced today by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO-5th), along with co-leads Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18th) and Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH-11th), and 25 cosponsors. The bill would establish a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide library services to incarcerated individuals to advance reintegration efforts, reduce recidivism and increase educational opportunities.  

ALA Launches Policy Corps Cadre for Proactive Advocacy on Book Banning

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Policy & Advocacy (PPA) Office, in partnership with ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, announce a new initiative for proactive advocacy to combat book banning and censorship in America’s libraries.

ALA launches FY 2024 #FundLibraries campaign under tight deadline to gain House support

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) kicked off the annual #FundLibraries campaign on March 13, 2023, calling on library advocates in every congressional district to contact their representative and ask them to support libraries by cosigning Dear Appropriator letters to fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. The LSTA letter, circulated by U.S. Reps.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office names Kent Oliver, Sara Benson senior policy advisors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) has tapped Sara R. Benson and Kent Oliver as senior policy fellows for the Public Policy and Advocacy office to strengthen the association’s involvement in policy discussions related to First Amendment freedoms and intellectual property.  

ALA offers webinars on new federal resources for sustainable library buildings

Free webinars will be offered on Feb. 1 and 2

Washington, D.C. -- The American Library Association (ALA) is offering two webinars for libraries about new federal resources for sustainable library buildings.

ALA applauds passage of FY 2023 federal budget, key increases in funding for libraries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) welcomed substantial increases in federal funding for libraries passed by Congress today as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming hours.

More than 50 Representatives urge support for library facilities in FY 2023 appropriations bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Fifty-four U.S. Representatives yesterday sent a letter urging the House to support federal funding to modernize library buildings nationwide.