News and Press Center
Featured News
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.
Visual literacy as a tool for learning
CHICAGO — The burgeoning field of visual literacy can be universally understood across a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, regardless of traditional literacy levels. A key tool for navigating digital devices, there is often an antipathy surrounding...
An introduction to data science
CHICAGO — An accessible primer to a potentially complex field, “ Practical Data Science for Information Professionals,” published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, provides readers with an overview of data science and a framework...
An updated playbook for chief data officers
CHICAGO — The new second edition of “ The Chief Data Officer's Playbook,” published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, offers new insights into the role of the CDO and the data environment. Written by Caroline Carruthers and Peter...
Celebrate the joy of reading with Miss Piggy and Kermit READ® poster tees
CHICAGO – Apparel and accessories company Out of Print is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) on the debut of its Disney Miss Piggy and Kermit Muppets READ® tees. The T-shirt will feature a vintage image of Miss Piggy and Kermit...
Murray-Rust's seven action steps for reinventing the library
CHICAGO — After a career of more than 40 years, Catherine Murray-Rust, former Dean of Libraries at Georgia Tech and a self-proclaimed library disrupter, sees our profession’s central challenge as simply this: how to turn the library outward in order to...
RSC publishes glossary for RDA
CHICAGO — The four-year RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign Project included a major expansion of the standard to align RDA: Resource Description and Access with the IFLA Library Reference Model, which is the conceptual basis of RDA. This expansion...
YALSA announces 2021 William C. Morris finalists
CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), selected five books as finalists for the 202 1 William C. Morris Award, which honors the year’s best books written for young adults by a...
Baby Yoda stars in new READ® poster and bookmark from the American Library Association
CHICAGO – Star Wars fans, book lovers, and collectors from around the universe can use their powers to help libraries this holiday season. The Child (a.k.a. Grogu or Baby Yoda), the breakout star of Disney+'s hit series The Mandalorian, is featured in...
