On October 6, 1876, 103 librarians gathered in Philadelphia to create a new association for librarians: the American Library Association (ALA). For 150 years later, ALA has endured to help shape the library profession and American history—and the country is celebrating today, from proclamations to podcasts.
It’s Banned Books Week! The observation also coincides with the American Library Association’s (ALA) 150th anniversary on October 6. To mark the occasion, ALA has released a list of the 150 most challenged books documented from 1990 through 2025. The list spans contemporary titles such as “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe and literary classics such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.
Have you ever wanted to own an iconic American Library Association (ALA) READ® poster? Now’s your chance. ALA has partnered with the world’s largest collections auctioneer to auction a selection of rare READ® posters, offering supporters, collectors, and library fans a chance to own a piece of library history.
This Memorial Day, as the U.S. remembers those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, we’re reflecting on how the American Library Association (ALA) responded during World War I. As tragedy and despair spread across the world during those wartime years, ALA worked to brighten the spirits of wounded soldiers by providing them with books and reading materials.
2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the American Library Association. It’s a milestone that invites everyone across the country to imagine the libraries of tomorrow, to advocate fiercely for open access to knowledge, and to invest in the infrastructure, both digital and human, that makes libraries a foundation of thriving communities.
Throughout his life of activism and public service, Reverend Jesse Jackson consistently championed libraries as centers of knowledge where individuals and communities can learn about their past, present, and future.
In a special episode of our “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with library historian and author Wayne Wiegand about the beginnings of the American Library Association as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.
2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the American Library Association (ALA). To kick off the year’s festivities, ALA President Sam Helmick has penned a thoughtful piece on ALA’s anniversary and the year ahead for the Association, ALA members, and library and book lovers everywhere.
