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ALA President Cindy Hohl (right) speaking at the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose event on October 8.

White House Recognizes Library Efforts to Combat Opioid Crisis

The Biden-Harris administration announced October 8 the participants of the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose, a nationwide call-to-action for organizations to increase training on and access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone. The American Library Association (ALA) is one of more than 250 organizations and businesses that have made voluntary commitments to the challenge.

White House Recognizes Library Efforts to Combat Opioid Crisis Read More »

PLA tech survey cover art

New Survey Looks at Evolving Tech Trends in Libraries

This week, the Public Library Association published its 2023 Public Library Technology Survey report which looks at emerging trends around technology, patron resources, infrastructure, digital literacy, and staffing in U.S. public libraries. This data is vital to understanding how libraries serve as hubs of knowledge and innovation and evolve to meet community needs.

The report addresses questions such as: How are library professionals advancing digital equity in their communities? What types of technology devices do libraries loan to patrons, and are more or fewer libraries offering these items compared to 2020? What are the primary challenges libraries face in providing technology resources and services?

New Survey Looks at Evolving Tech Trends in Libraries Read More »

Lexington County (S.C.) Public Library board member training, November 2019

Get Involved! Become a Library Trustee

Want to get involved in your library at a higher level? Consider becoming a library trustee. Library trustees are powerful advocates for libraries. Through the coordination, hard work, and determination of trustees, new libraries have been built, budgets have been restored and increased, and new respect has been generated for the powerful role libraries play in communities and on campuses.

Get Involved! Become a Library Trustee Read More »

Open access week feature image

Who You Gonna Call? Libraries and Open Access Are Busting Misinformation Ghosts

Within the walls of the library, or more often now, behind the authentication screen, is expertly researched and peer-reviewed scholarly literature that can help anyone make important decisions about their health or habits or inform their understanding of complex social problems. Unless you have a university login, however, you may not be able to access that scholarship or use it to improve your personal and professional life. Even those fortunate enough to have institutional access can’t get everything, not even at the richest universities.

Who You Gonna Call? Libraries and Open Access Are Busting Misinformation Ghosts Read More »

2023 Book Challenge infographic

New Data Shows Record Surge of Book Challenges in Public Libraries

On September 20, the American Library Association (ALA) released new preliminary data that documents the continued rise in attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during the first eight months in 2023. The data shows that, between January 1 and August 31, 2023, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom reported 695 attempts to censor library materials and services and documented challenges to 1,915 unique titles. The number of unique titles challenged has increased by 20% from the same reporting period in 2022, the year in which the highest number of book challenges occurred since ALA began compiling this data more than 20 years ago.

New Data Shows Record Surge of Book Challenges in Public Libraries Read More »

Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library

ALA Condemns Violence at U.S. Libraries

On September 12, libraries in Chicago and neighboring Aurora, Addison, and Evanston, Illinois, received bomb threats. After investigations, no explosive devices were found at the libraries, but some of the facilities were evacuated and remained closed for the day.

The threats are part of an increase in violence targeted at libraries and librarians across the U.S.  The American Library Association has released a statement condeming the actions.

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The State of America's Libraries 2023

Adaptation and Innovation in a Time of Censorship: The State of America’s Libraries 2023

Today, the American Library Association (ALA) kicked off National Library Week with the release of the State of America’s Libraries Report, which tells the story of how libraries are innovating and adapting to improve the well-being of their communities in the midst of censorship challenges. It also includes the highly anticipated list of the most challenged books

Adaptation and Innovation in a Time of Censorship: The State of America’s Libraries 2023 Read More »

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