We’re still buzzing from National Library Week (NLW), which wrapped on Saturday, April 29. The awareness, advocacy, and love for libraries, librarians, and library workers that we saw throughout the country was outstanding. While it would be a near-impossible task for us to highlight every single way that libraries were championed during NLW 2023, one …
California Governor Pens Love Letter to Libraries Read More »
Today is Take Action for Libraries Day, an annual day of action during National Library Week! From Congress to local library boards, our elected officials need to hear from library supporters at all levels of government. This year, library advocates like you are joining together to tell Congress to protect the freedom to read and …
It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month (LCSUM)! Held each September, LCSUM is an annual reminder that library cards empower individuals and communities by providing free access to technology, multimedia content, educational programming, and much more. A library card opens up a world of learning for everyone and is one of the most cost-effective back-to-school supplies available. …
On April 4, the American Library Association (ALA) released the State of America’s Libraries Special Report: Pandemic Year Two, a snapshot of the library community’s resilience, determination, and innovation in unprecedented circumstances. The report, which comes out annually during National Library Week, highlights how US libraries navigated the second year of the pandemic, an upswing …
April 3-9 is National Library Week—a time for library lovers across the country to celebrate literacy, intellectual freedom, and equitable access to information. As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into its third year, libraries are proving to be more essential than ever, providing services and programs that have kept communities strong even while socially distancing. The …
Amid the recent upswing in efforts to ban books across the United States, a new national poll commissioned by the American Library Association (ALA) shows that seven in 10 voters oppose efforts to remove books from public libraries, including majorities of voters across party lines. According to the poll, large majorities of voters (71%) oppose …
This is a guest post by Kristin Pekoll, assistant director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. We often hear about book bans from the perspective of the banners, but these events affect whole communities, particularly library professionals on the receiving end of accusations and threats. I know because it happened to me …
What It Feels Like to Be a Librarian During an Attempt to Ban Books Read More »
There’s been a lot of debate on the Hill and in the media about what constitutes infrastructure. As the Biden Administration begins its push to pass a $2 trillion package designed to reshape and rebuild the economy – and the country – library supporters like Eric Klinenberg are asking: why aren’t libraries a part of this bill? Writing in …
Urgent Action is Needed to Support Libraries this Infrastructure Week Read More »
Libraries have always been cornerstones of their communities, and during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve transformed their services to connect people with the resources they need while maintaining social distancing. But while libraries are among our nation’s important institutions, many are woefully underfunded. New federal legislation would help fix that, providing much-needed upgrades to library …
It Only Takes Two Minutes to Help Build America’s Libraries Read More »
Searching for the perfect presents for the book lovers in your life? We’ve curated some of the coolest posters, accessories, activity books, and more for readers and librarians. The best part: the profits from all of these items support the American Library Association (ALA)’s efforts to promote equity and access to information for all. Your …
