Registration is now open for the highly anticipated PLA 2026 Conference, April 1–3, in Minneapolis Minnesota!

Learn to build inclusive lending systems with tools for home, education, science, and more, to reflect your communities.

Join this free virtual forum to get to know the candidates standing for president in the upcoming PLA election.

Free and available exclusively to ALA individual members! Learn how different communities are approaching staff training and handling interactions when ICE enters a public library.

Get program guidance and ways to expand career resources so your library can empower patrons to achieve their career goals.

Reference Interview is a comprehensive six-week asynchronous course focusing on the methods of evaluating reference services, behaviorial aspects of reference service.

This session will explore concrete examples, including the implementation of multilingual signage; the creation of accessible restrooms with adult changing tables; the design and use of inclusive furniture; and the provision of lactation rooms, sensory and quiet spaces. Learn how new access to spaces created opportunities for policy and practice change as well.

February 2026 Learning Live

The presenters have developed a toolkit, the Viewfinder toolkit, to help libraries and archives implement AI in alignment with professional values. This hands-on session introduces the toolkit and guides participants through its use.

Teams are an increasingly important workplace construct, allowing libraries to tap into staff potential to tackle complex work in our current, dynamic library environment.

"Who Manages, Who Leads Part Two" is a four-week program for managers and leaders to learn advanced theory and practice in leadership, succession, and mentorship, benefiting both experienced and newly hired leaders.

"Who Manages, Who Leads Part Two" is a four-week program for managers and leaders to learn advanced theory and practice in leadership, succession, and mentorship, benefiting both experienced and newly hired leaders.

Documenting the cultural heritage and unique experiences of your community members provides a more inclusive archival record. This presentation covers the steps needed to establish relationships and work with community members through participatory archives. This presentation will provide an overview of the basic structure of how to conduct oral histories and working with communities.

The presentation will give an overview of the work of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Task Group on AI for Cataloging and Metadata activities, with particular focus on the Guiding Principles, the Best Practices, and the Community of Practice.

. In the area of cataloging and metadata, one frequently cited potential use for AI (particularly Large Language Models (LLMs)) is constructing summaries and abstracts of information resources.

Leading a library in today’s complex landscape presents unique challenges, including political dynamics, budget constraints, and the lingering effects of the pandemic on mental health. In their efforts to create safe and healthy environments for their teams, library leaders often find themselves stretched thin and in need of strategies to enhance their own well-being. This raises an important question: how can they prioritize self-care while supporting others?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to streamline metadata workflows and increase the capacity of cataloging operations. Interest in the promise of AI has accelerated since the release of ChatGPT in 2022. Metadata practitioners have conducted many case studies using AI processes, such as machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP).

Description: Over the past two years, the Collection Services department of our library faced numerous staff impacts including retirements, staff shortages, hiring freezes and potential budget cuts. To maintain access to library materials for our nearly 60,000 students, faculty and staff the department engaged in a collaborative approach.

This webinar will explore the intricacies, limitations, and possibilities for change in providing meaningful and compassionate mental health support within information spaces.

Ready for the next phase of your career but worried you missed the moment to transition? Scared to make a change? Struggling to retain your staff? Unsure how to create opportunities for career advancement in your organization? It's never too late!