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April 9, 2026

ALA and AFSCME Prevail in Fight to Protect Libraries and Museums Nationwide

On April 9, 2026, the American Library Association (ALA) – the largest library association in the world – and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) – the nation’s largest union of cultural workers – reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that protects the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ensures the agency will continue carrying out its congressionally mandated work.

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New wave of bills targeting libraries is ‘a threat to our democracy,’ American Library Association warns

The association, founded in 1876, condemned legislation that would threaten librarians and other educators with criminal prosecution for possessing “obscene” material.
 

 

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‘The Collectors: Stories’ wins 2024 Printz Award

BALTIMORE — “The Collectors: Stories,” edited by A.S. King, written by the author and nine others and published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has won the 2024 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The award was...

Pedro Martín and Ari Tison win Pura Belpré Awards

BALTIMORE — Pedro Martín, illustrator and author of “Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir,” and Ari Tison, author of “Saints of the Household,” are the 2024 recipients of the Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award, Children’s Author Award and Young Adult Author Award...

Neal Shusterman wins 2024 Edwards Award for 'The Arc of the Scythe: Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll,' 'Bruiser,' 'Challenger Deep,' 'Everlost,' 'Full Tilt,' 'The Schwa Was Here' and 'Unwind'

BALTIMORE — Neal Shusterman is the recipient of the 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring his significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for “The Arc of the Scythe: Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll,” “Bruiser,” “Challenger Deep,”...

‘Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed’ wins 2024 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award

BALTIMORE — “Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed,” written by Dashka Slater, has been named the 2024 winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award, the first national...

Young Adult Library Services Association announces 2024 Alex Awards

BALTIMORE — The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has selected 10 adult books with special appeal to teen readers to receive the 2024 Alex Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Margaret A...

‘Rez Ball’ wins 2024 William C. Morris Award

BALTIMORE — “Rez Ball,” written by Byron Graves, has been named the 2024 winner of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, which honors a book published by a first-time author. The book is published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The...

ALA announces new YALSA Executive Director

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) welcomes Candice Mack as the new Executive Director for the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. She brings to ALA and YALSA years of experience not only with teen services...

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Colleen Seisser begins term as YALSA president for 2023-2024

CHICAGO — Colleen Seisser began her term as president of the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) in July 2023 and will remain active on the board for one year as past- president in 2024. “I am both honored and humbled to step into the role of...

Sheila Michaels named YALSA’s 2023 MAE Award winner

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has awarded Sheila Michaels, Library Media Specialist at Nixa High School in Nixa Missouri, its’ 2023 Margaret A. Edwards (MAE) Award for Best Literature Program for Teens for her Program...

YALSA Names New Editor for Quarterly Journal, YALS

CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) has appointed Joni Bodart, editor of Young Adult Library Services (YALS). She will serve a twelve-month contract from February 1, 2023...

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Yvette Garcia Elected 2024-2025 YALSA President

CHICAGO — Yvette Garcia, Assistant Director, Sulzer Regional Library, at the Chicago Public Library, has been elected as YALSA’s 2024 division president-elect. Garcia will begin her three-year term as president-elect in July of 2023, becoming president...

Jessica Lorentz Smith receives YALSA’s Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has named Jessica Lorentz Smith, teacher librarian from Bend Senior High School, Bend, Oregon as the recipient of this year's Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant, which aims to recognize a...

Adriana M. García, Claribel A. Ortega y Vincent Tirado ganan premios Pura Belpré

NUEVA ORLEANS — Adriana M. García, ilustradora de “Where Wonder Grows”; Claribel A. Ortega, autora de “Frizzy”; y Vincent Tirado, autore de “Burn Down, Rise Up” fueron seleccionados como ganadores de la edición 2023 de los Premios Pura Belpré al artista...

Adriana M. Garcia, Claribel A. Ortega, Vincent Tirado win Pura Belpré Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Adriana M. Garcia, illustrator of “Where Wonder Grows,” Claribel A. Ortega, author of “Frizzy”, and Vincent Tirado, author of “Burn Down, Rise Up” are the 2023 recipients of the Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award, Children's Author Award...

2023 Odyssey Awards for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Children and Young Adults announced

NEW ORLEANS — Taryn Beato for Simon & Schuster Audio, producer of the audiobook “Stuntboy, in the Meantime,” has won the 2023 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Children. Melissa Ellard for Weston Woods Studios and Scholastic Audio...