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March 15, 2025
ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services
An executive order issued by the Trump administration on Friday night, March 14, calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries.
February 10, 2025
American Library Association launches public supporter program
The American Library Association launched a new supporter program on February 10, 2025, inviting the public to join the fight to protect libraries and library professionals at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.
January 26, 2025
ALA to U. S. Department of Education: Book bans are real
The American Library Association responds to the Department of Education's dismissal of complaints about censorship and discrimination: the "effort to terminate protections... advances the demonstrably false claim that book bans are not real."
January 22, 2025
New ALA Initiative Asks Advocates to “Show Up for Our Libraries”
Today the American Library Association (ALA) launched Show Up for Our Libraries, a campaign to harness the collective power of library advocates to influence elected leaders and policymakers.
January 13, 2025
American Library Association extends support to libraries affected by Los Angeles wildfires
The American Library Association extends our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected by and to those who have lost everything during the Los Angeles area fires.
December 10, 2024
PLA provides funding to more than 100 public libraries as part of $2.7 million effort to boost digital literacy
The Public Library Association (PLA) has selected more than 139 public libraries across 42 states to host digital literacy workshops, powered by a generous $2.7 million contribution from AT&T.
ALA in the News
Censorship reports show a mixed picture on U.S. book challenges
In observance of Banned Books Week, the American Library Association and PEN America released reports on book censorship across the country.
New from ACRL - 'Predatory Publishing and Global Scholarly Communications'
CHICAGO — The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of " Predatory Publishing and Global Scholarly Communications" by Monica Berger, book number 81 in the Publications in Librarianship series. This thorough book...
New from ACRL - 'Digital Humanities in the Library, Second Edition'
CHICAGO —The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of “ Digital Humanities in the Library, Second Edition,” edited by Arianne Hartsell-Gundy, Laura R. Braunstein, and Liorah Golomb, offering ideas and strategies...
An updated guide to street lit and urban fiction
CHICAGO — Addressing with unflinching grit the concerns and problems of city living and survival in the United States, street lit encompasses some of the most in-demand titles in American public libraries’ collections. The thoroughly revised second...
Newly updated handbook of library architecture
The second edition of “The Practical Handbook of Library Architecture,” published by ALA Editions, covers everything from planning completely new library buildings to small remodeling projects. Library directors, board members, and planning professionals will want this newly updated resource close at hand before, during, and after any library construction project. With a dash of humor, authors Fred Schlipf, Joe Huberty, and John A. Moorman point out many common dysfunctional ideas that have managed to permeate library buildings, using them to guide readers towards adhering to functional essentials of library design at every step in the process.
New e-book spotlights free and low-cost library programming
There’s no need to spend hours trying to come up with creative programming ideas—bestselling library activity guru Ellyssa Kroski has already done all the hard work for you! Largely drawn from contributions by library workers across the country, “The Big Sourcebook of Free and Low-Cost Library Programming: 300+ Resources, Ideas, and Tools,” published by ALA Editions, is a cornucopia of ideas for inspiring countless fun and engaging programs at your library. Best of all, these exciting low cost/no-cost library programs can be implemented using only free resources.
How does librarianship help people to be free? How is library capacity and expertise used to increase freedom, justice, and community? “Liberatory Librarianship: Stories of Community, Connection, and Justice,” published by ALA Editions in collaboration with Core, unpacks these questions, and many others, to reveal ways that library workers and their institutions are applying skills, knowledge, abilities, professional ethics, and personal commitment to practice liberatory librarianship.
New from ACRL - “Universal Design for Learning in Academic Libraries: Theory into Practice”
The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of “Universal Design for Learning in Academic Libraries: Theory into Practice,” edited by Danielle Skaggs and Rachel M. McMullin. It includes lesson plans and strategies for the wide range of instructional activities that occur in academic libraries, including in-person, online, synchronous, asynchronous, and research help, as well as different types of academic library work such as access services and leadership.
Michelle Demeter Appointed College & Research Libraries Editor
ACRL announces the appointment of Michelle Demeter, head of instruction and undergraduate services at New York University, to the post of editor for College & Research Libraries (C&RL). Demeter will serve as editor-designate for the journal beginning July 1, 2024, and begin an initial three-year term as editor on July 1, 2025.
Introduction to Documentation Studies
What do a composer, a writer, a painter, a historian, a political activist, and a social agency office have in common? They all create documents to communicate and inform the world, making documentation a necessity for any human interaction in society. Published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, “Introduction to Documentation Studies” outlines the historical background of, and the theoretical foundation for a complementary approach to documentation issues and processes.
New 'Field Guides' column from policy experts to explore key library issues
The American Library Association (ALA) announced a new column in American Libraries magazine, “Field Guides,” featuring experts in policy areas ranging from artificial intelligence and copyright to digital access and equity. The new column will provide ALA members, library advocates, and library professionals in all settings with insights into the policy issues facing the field today – and tomorrow.
Library services and healthcare knowledge in the UK
Published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, “Introduction to Healthcare Knowledge and Library Services” explores the range of roles in this important area of practice, from "traditional" librarian roles to those that break new ground, from clinical, embedded, and outreach librarians to knowledge management workers. Edited by Geoff Walton, Frances Johnson, David Stewart, Gil Young, and Holly Case-Wyatt, this collection provides a comprehensive, practitioner-focused introduction to all aspects of knowledge and library work in the UK health sector. Starting with an overview of NHS England and how knowledge and library work sits within it, the book addresses such critical areas as services supporting evidence-based practice, the developing area of health information literacy, collaborative working, demonstrating impact, and value and research discovery.
CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of “ Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library: Designing Spaces, Policies, and Services” by Kelsey Keyes and Ellie Dworak, a guide to engaging with and...
New from ACRL - “Empathy by Design: Empathy-Driven Marketing for Libraries”
CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of “ Empathy by Design: Empathy-Driven Marketing for Libraries” by Sabine Jean Dantus, offering step-by-step strategies for understanding why people visit the...
ALA Store at ALA’s 2024 LibLearnX in Baltimore
Conveniently located in the LLX Marketplace, the ALA Store will offer a variety of posters, bookmarks, clothing, gift books, and more. Store hours are: Saturday, January 20: 9:30am – 4:00pm Sunday, January 21: 10:00am – 4:00pm Monday, January 22: 9:30am –...
Building representative community archives
CHICAGO — Libraries and archives are grappling with the problems created by collection practices of the past, many of which document those in power while bypassing alternate perspectives and stories. “ Building Representative Community Archives: Inclusive...
