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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.

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ALA in the News

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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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Last Chance to Register: Developing the Best Survey Tips from Consultations Feb. 9 Core Webinar

Join us on Tuesday, February 9, at 1 pm CT for our upcoming webinar, "Developing the Best Survey Tips from Consultations." This webinar will provide the necessary tools to successfully assess the needs of your library patrons. Surveys are popular...

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Last Chance to Register for the January 18 Fundamentals of Digital Library Projects Course from Core

The Fundamentals of Digital Library Projects course introduces students to the breadth of considerations, standards and skills needed to successfully launch and manage a digital library program. It provides an opportunity for hands-on activities to...

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Understand and Improve Library Broadband Challenges in this Core Webinar on April 6, 2021

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, and Futures, will present the webinar, "Understand and Improve Library Broadband Challenges." Tuesday, April 6, 2021, from 1:00 -2:00 pm, Central Time. Rural and tribal libraries across the US helped create the Towards...

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Announcing the 2021 Core Fundamentals Web Course Schedule

Core is pleased to announce the release of the 2021 Core Fundamentals Web Course schedule . This series of related online courses covers basic topics that enhance your library technical services skills. The Fundamentals Web Courses focuses on the...

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Learn the Fundamentals of Cataloging with this Jan. 11 web course from Core

Last chance to register for the Fundamentals of Cataloging web course that starts next week on January 11, 2021! This six-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices. It covers: Principles underlying cataloging...

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Last Chance to Register for the Jan. 12 Core webinar and learn how to use MatchMARC

This webinar will show users how to leverage the free Google Sheets Add-on called MatchMARC to retrieve OCLC records based on user criteria. Advantages of using MatchMARC over OCLC’s Connexion will be highlighted. Examples of workflows made possible by...

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New Core Web Course Explores Fundamentals of Digital Library Projects

Core is pleased to announce the release of a new web course on the introduction to fundamental concepts of digital library projects. This course was developed by Jennifer Roper, Director, Digital Strategies and the University of Virginia Library in...

ALA releases free practitioners' guide, webinar series on adult media literacy education

CHICAGO — Imagine that you are working at the reference desk when a patron comes to you with a question. They cite a “fact” that has been widely debunked, mentioning an article from a publication that you know to be untrustworthy. What can you, as a...

New PLA initiative helps public libraries prepare communities for in-demand jobs

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) and Microsoft are teaming up to promote tools for libraries to support job seekers in growth careers. Since 2018, PLA and Microsoft have been collaborating to help libraries, often in rural communities...

ALA decries latest FCC failure on net neutrality

WASHINGTON, DC — On Tuesday, October 27, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) majority approved an order responding to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's remand in Mozilla v. FCC. The court ordered the FCC to address...

America’s libraries honored by FCC with inaugural DOER award

WASHINGTON, DC - Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Geoffrey Starks has named “America’s libraries” as an honoree of the inaugural Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition (DOER) Program. Commissioner Starks established the award in 2020 “to...

Red, blue, grey, black logo: Libraries ready to code, an initiative of the American Library Association

Libraries Ready to Code Opens Call for Applications: Virtual Learning and Enhancement Grants

Today, the American Library Association (ALA) opened applications for Virtual Learning and Enhancement Grants of $1,000 available for 90 school, tribal, public, and academic libraries. In response to increased demand for technical skills to lead and...

book cover for "Information Law: Compliance for Librarians, Information Professionals and Knowledge Managers"

Compliance with information law

CHICAGO — The issue of information law compliance is more crucial now than ever with the new, more stringent adoption of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) provisions across the EU and internationally. It’s not just about what data you handle...

Public Library Association, National Network of Libraries of Medicine continue partnership with new digital literacy, citizen science tools

CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA), National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) and the All of Us Research Program (All of Us) are working together to support health literacy by promoting the importance of digital literacy in health and...

The Public Library Association and Microsoft announce initiative to help expand internet access in rural communities during COVID-19 crisis

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) and Microsoft Corp. announced a new initiative today to increase access to technology in rural communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Microsoft will provide funding to help public libraries in rural...