Yesterday, the Carnegie Corporation unveiled The Secret Life of Librarians, a new online series that explores the unexpected stories of librarians across the country and their contributions as civic heroes who are improving lives and bringing communities together. And the 10 recipients of the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award are at the series’ heart.
The Secret Life of Librarians Read More »
2023 was a tumultuous year for libraries. Book bans dominated headlines as well as city council and school board meetings, threatening the access of information to readers of all ages and the livelihoods and safety of library workers across the country. Despite these upheavals, libraries soldiered on to provide critical services to their communities—and developed truly innovative programs along the way. This National Library Outreach Day, we survey some standouts.
Libraries Reaching Out: A Year of Innovation Read More »
Celebrated each year on the Tuesday of National Library Week, National Library Workers Day is an opportunity to recognize the hard-working, dedicated, and often-underpaid library professionals who keep our libraries thriving, especially during these challenging times. Please take a moment to appreciate the library worker in your life today!
Library Workers Are Shining Stars Read More »
It’s the first day of spring: What better time to clean, declutter, and refresh one’s home, workplace, and life. Libraries are no exception. Did you know that librarians regularly remove books from libraries every year? It’s called “weeding,” and it’s an essential task for a successful, thriving library. Laura Mendez, principal librarian at Carlsbad (Calif.) City Library, explains.
Spring Cleaning at Your Library Read More »
A librarian in Massachusetts is using library books to help domestic violence victims. Molly Riportella, head of adult services librarian at Westwood (Mass.) Public Library, started BiblioUnderground in 2020 to get burner phones and other resources to people struggling to get out of violent relationships.
Librarian Hides Phones in Books to Help People Escape Domestic Violence Read More »
The I Love My Librarian Award ceremony will take place during the LibLearnX welcome reception at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 19. If you can’t join us in person for the ceremony, you can stream it live on ALA’s Youtube channel! The red-carpet ceremony is a joyous, happy, and often emotional affair, featuring speeches from all of the award winners, library and ALA leaders, and more. Dubbed “The Oscars for the Library World,” it’s one of our favorite events of the year.
Join Us for the Annual I Love My Librarian Ceremony Read More »
Schools with a strong school library program—and a certified school librarian—ensure their students have the best chance to succeed. But in too many schools, school library budgets and school librarian positions are being cut. This puts our children’s education and workforce readiness at peril.
School Libraries Are Essential Read More »
Throughout the month of September, we invited authors and library lovers to share a cherished library moment or tell us what they value most about their library using the hashtag #HowILibrary. Thank you to everyone who participated. There have been some wonderful responses: Mo Willems, Lily Williams, Kelly Yang, and Meg Medina, to name a few.
This story really touched our hearts, so we’re reprinting it with the kind consent of author Jenna Lee-Yun.
Jenna Lee-Yun: How I Library Read More »
It’s finally September, which means summer is waning and fall is approaching. It also means only a few weeks remain to submit your nomination for the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award! While ten librarians will be awarded, more than 1,000 nominations are received for the award every year, so submitting a strong nomination is key to making your librarian stand out among the crowd.
I Love My Librarian Award: What Makes a Strong Nomination? Read More »
Neil Gaiman wears many hats: novelist, journalist, comic book writer, screenwriter, television producer, musician. And he’s a fierce supporter of libraries. The author of American Gods, Neverwhere, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, The Sandman, Coraline, and so many more has had a lifelong love affair with reading. (He’s even featured in a brand-new Celebrity READ poster from ALA Graphics!) And he credits librarians for fostering his curiosity about books and learning at a young age.
Gaiman spoke with I Love Libraries recently about libraries, his literary influences, book banning in the U.S., movies, and more.
“I will always be on the side of the libraries”: A Conversation with Neil Gaiman Read More »
