News and Press Center

Stay updated on ALA's latest news, events, and initiatives in libraries nationwide. Your go-to source for library innovation and impact.

Featured News

View All
Navigate through visible news articles using tab, or use the previous and next buttons to view more articles. Press Enter or Space to interact with article details.
Show Up for Our Libraries

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.

Press Quick Links

ALA in the News

NBC News (logo)

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.
 

 

More media coverage

All News

GLBTRT to release new toolkit at PLA Conference

CHICAGO - The American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) will release a new toolkit at the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference to help Librarians better serve the GLBT population. Titled “Open to All...

ALA President, ALSC President, and GLBTRT Chair Urge North Carolina Governor to Repeal HB2

CHICAGO - Today American Library Association (ALA) President Sari Feldman, Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) President Andrew Medlar and ALA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) Chair Peter Coyl released a joint...

ALA President, GLBTRT Chair Urge Georgia Governor to Veto HB 757

CHICAGO - Today American Library Association President Sari Feldman and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) Chair Peter Coyl released a joint letter to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal urging him to veto House Bill 757. The bill is...

Committee on Professional Ethics Presents "No Room at the Library: The Ethics of Diversity"

Committee on Professional Ethics Presents "No Room at the Library: The Ethics of Diversity" at ALA's Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Sunday, June 26th, 1:00–2:30 p.m. In support of ALA’s multiyear campaign of Libraries Transform, we want to foster...

ALA task force seeks your input on economic implications of participating at ALA functions

CHICAGO — The ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion was created in the spring of 2014 by then ALA President Barbara Stripling. Before moving forward with programs, actions or recommendations, the members of the Task Force on Equity, Diversity...

2016 Rainbow Book list highlights quality GLBTQ books for children and teens

BOSTON – The 2016 Rainbow Book list, a project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association (ALA), was announced at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting held Jan. 8- Jan. 12 in Boston. The bibliography features...

McConnell and Baker receive ALA GLBTRT Award for Political Activism

CHICAGO — Michael McConnell and Jack Baker have been named the inaugural recipients of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) Award for Political Activism. The award will be presented on Monday...

GLBTRT Executive Board statement on the passing of Larry Romans

CHICAGO — The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) family, along with all of ALA, are saddened to learn of the death of Larry Romans, director at large of the GLBTRT on Thursday. His service to the Library community was vast; Larry...

GLBTRT selects the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota Libraries for the Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence

CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) today announced the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies at the University of Minnesota Libraries as...

2016 Stonewall Book Awards Announced

BOSTON – The 2016 Stonewall Book Awards were announced Monday, January 11 by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston. The Stonewall Book Awards...

'George' and 'The Porcupine of Truth' win 2016 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award

BOSTON – “George” by Alex Gino (Oakland, CA), published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and “The Porcupine of Truth” by Bill Konigsberg (Chandler, AZ), published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., are the 2016...

Learn about finding the right balance in controversial topics in children’s literature in upcoming IFRT/GLBTRT webinar

CHICAGO — Join the Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) for an upcoming webinar on how librarians can balance open access, accurate classification and ease of use for all families...

GLBTRT seeks nominees for first-ever Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) is accepting nominations for the inaugural Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community. The award, to be given for the first time this year, will honor recent library initiatives that...

American Library Association applauds marriage equality U.S. Supreme Court ruling

CHICAGO - Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in support of marriage equality, a decision that will provide same-sex couples within the library community and throughout the country the legal right to marry without restrictions and with the same...

Products hot off the press, special events at the ALA Store in San Francisco

Located just outside the Exhibits, the ALA Store at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference offers products that meet the widest range of your promotional and continuing education/professional development needs—as well as fun gift items. Make sure to carve out...