Partnerships
Winners of National Short Fiction Contest announced
CHICAGO — Six outstanding writers are being recognized for their entries in the Public Library Association’s (PLA) National Short Fiction Contest. This fall, more than 600 writers across the U.S. entered the contest by submitting short stories on the...
National Short Fiction Contest enters judging phase
Public encouraged to vote in Readers’ Choice competition CHICAGO – The submissions are in, now it’s your turn to weigh in. This fall, the Public Library Association (PLA) launched a national short story writing contest, inviting writers across the U.S. to...
Public Library Association supports libraries in connecting consumers to health care coverage
CHICAGO – Today (Nov. 1, 2018*) marks the beginning of the six-week enrollment period for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Public Library Association (PLA) is providing support for public libraries to help their...
Public Library Association launches health insurance enrollment initiative
Will offer funding for public libraries to connect consumers to coverage CHICAGO – As part of its ongoing work to support the public library’s role in creating healthy communities, the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering new resources for...
Public Library Association joins with OCLC to help public libraries, partners respond to opioid epidemic
CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) announced today that it will collaborate with OCLC on new project to collect and share knowledge and resources to support public libraries and their community partners in addressing the opioid crisis. OCLC...
PLA to hold short-fiction writing contest this fall
National competition begins Sept. 25 CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association, is inviting writers to submit original works of short fiction for a National Writing Contest taking place this fall. Only...
New policy brief highlights state initiatives to promote family engagement in public libraries
BOSTON — State library leaders are promoting two-generation approaches to early learning and fostering environments in which children and the adults in their lives have equal opportunities to create knowledge and gain new skills together. The Global...
ALA president announces international relations resources
CHICAGO — American Library Association (ALA) President Loida Garcia-Febo today unveiled a variety of programs and tools to engage, retain and expand ALA’s international members. From free webinars to opportunities for engagement with librarians from...
PLA and LITA offer highly affordable workshop for women in tech
Scholarships available. Apply by May 17! CHICAGO -- Women in the technology field face numerous challenges in their day-to-day work. That’s why PLA is partnering with the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) to present AvramCamp, named in...
Public Library Association to offer diversity-focused youth internship program in 2018
Applications due March 25 CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) is now accepting applications from public libraries interested in participating in PLA's Inclusive Internship Initiative (III) for the summer of 2018. Last year, PLA piloted III, an...
Public and health sciences librarians to gather in May for collaborative symposium
Stipends available to cover public library workers’ attendance costs CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) is inviting public library workers to participate in an exclusive learning and networking opportunity focused on quality public health...
DC Public Library, Public Library Association announce Memory Lab Network Grant recipients
Federal Grant Supports Digital Preservation Programs at Libraries (Washington, D.C.) - People and families in seven communities moved one step closer to being able to digitize and preserve video tapes, photographs and other family keepsakes at their...
January Project Outcome webinar focuses on measuring outcomes from library partnerships
CHICAGO – This month, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host a webinar intended to help libraries plan for collaborative outcome measurement when working with partner organizations. This webinar, Working with Partners: How to Plan for...
PLA continues support of Emerging Leaders program through sponsorship of 2018 participants
CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA), a long-time supporter of the American Library Association's Emerging Leaders (EL) program, will sponsor the participation of two library professionals in the 2018 EL class. EL is a leadership development...
Public libraries sought for PLA/DC Public Library digital archiving project
CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA) and DC Public Library are seeking applications from public libraries interested in establishing robust digital preservation/archiving programs. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded...
New research finds Every Child Ready to Read curriculum leads to successful family engagement through libraries
CHICAGO – Libraries are taking a proactive approach toward engaging parents and caregivers in supporting the early literacy development of their children, and the Every Child Ready to Read® @ your library® (ECRR) Program is an excellent tool to ensure...
Booklist & AASL announce Schools in Need Giveaway Program
Scholastic Partners with ALA to Give School Librarians a Boost CHICAGO — Today, Booklist Publications and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announce an exciting initiative to provide expert book-and-media buying assistance to school...
PLA, Gail Borden Public Library team up to expand DigitalLearn.org training resources
CHICAGO — DigitalLearn.org, the Public Library Association’s (PLA) website designed to help consumers increase their digital literacy skills, now includes a robust suite of resources and tools for library staff and other educators to use when conducting...
Public libraries highlight cyber security awareness in October
CHICAGO – Earlier this month the credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed that they had suffered a cyber-attack that endangered the personal information of 143 million U.S. users. Even before the Equifax hack, 64 percent of Americans had been personally...
Partnership supports renewed 'From Awareness to Funding' advocacy study
Updated research report will identify the most effective ways to advocate for public library funding CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), the ALA Office for Library Advocacy and OCLC are...