Public Awareness
Dr. Brandy McNeil Appointed to Fill Director-At-Large Vacancy on PLA Board
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CHICAGO — Last week, the Public Library Association (PLA) Board of Directors appointed Dr. Brandy McNeil to the Director-at-Large position in her return to the PLA board. Dr. McNeil will complete the 2023-2024 term of Candice Mack, who vacated the...
¾«¶«´«Ã½appoints Leslie Burger as Interim Executive Director
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CHICAGO – The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Executive Board has selected Leslie Burger as ALA’s interim executive director. Her first day is November 15, 2023. Burger brings years of experience as a leader in our field, from her service as president of the...
¾«¶«´«Ã½unveils shortlist for 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction
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CHICAGO —Today, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) announced the six books shortlisted for the esteemed Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, awarded for the previous year’s best fiction and nonfiction books written for...
¾«¶«´«Ã½announces new YALSA Executive Director
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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) welcomes Candice Mack as the new Executive Director for the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. She brings to ¾«¶«´«Ã½and YALSA years of experience not only with teen services...
GameRT seeks nominations of amazing games for its new Platinum Play Awards list!
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CHICAGO — The Games & Gaming Round Table (GameRT) of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the new Platinum Play Awards as part of its celebration of International Gaming Month. These new awards will...
Social Responsibilities Round Table seeks nominations for the 2024 Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice & Equality
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CHICAGO - The Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ is happy to announce that nominations for the 2024 Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice & Equality are now open. Herb Biblo was a...
¾«¶«´«Ã½ and Sustainable Libraries Initiative to join forces on climate action strategy for libraries
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CHICAGO – The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is pleased to announce a partnership with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) to create a strategic plan for library professionals to address climate change. The SLI’s mission is to empower library...
¾«¶«´«Ã½ President Emily Drabinski Named to the Prestigious Out100 2023 List
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CHICAGO – The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is proud to share that ¾«¶«´«Ã½President Emily Drabinski has been named to the Out100 2023 list, joining a distinguished group of LGBTQIA+ individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions, impact and...
¾«¶«´«Ã½ announces leadership changes in Core
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CHICAGO – The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is pleased to announce that Julie Reese, with full support of the board of directors of Core, has been named executive director of Core, a division of ALA. Reese began serving as interim executive director...
¾«¶«´«Ã½donates $3,500 to assist Vermont libraries damaged by floods, encourages more donations
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CHICAGO - Catastrophic flooding back in July impacted the state of Vermont, including many libraries. 17 public libraries suffered damage to their buildings and loss of resources. Thanks to support from ¾«¶«´«Ã½members and other library supporters around the...
The New York Public Library and the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ invite library systems and teens to join new campaign
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NYPL and ¾«¶«´«Ã½Toolkits for Libraries and Teens Now Available Oct. 12— The New York Public Library (NYPL) and the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) on Wednesday announced they are increasing access to NYPL’s “Books for All” anti-censorship campaign with...
¾«¶«´«Ã½ to Receive Barbara Bush National Literacy Honors Award from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) will receive the 2023 Barbara Bush National Literacy Honors Award at this year’s National Celebration of Reading, hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. The biennial event on Wednesday...
Executive Director Tracie D. Hall to Depart from the ¾«¶«´«Ã½
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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) announced today that Tracie D. Hall will resign from her role as executive director following nearly four transformative years at the Association. Her last day will be Friday, October 6. During her tenure...
¾«¶«´«Ã½Announces Staff Transitions in the Associate Executive Director Role
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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) announced today key changes to its leadership team as the new fiscal year begins. Interim Senior Associate Executive Director Mary Mackay will retire from ¾«¶«´«Ã½on Friday, September 1, after nearly 18 years...
Twelve libraries recognized in American Libraries’ 2023 Library Design Showcase
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CHICAGO — Twelve new and renovated libraries, and their architects, have been recognized in American Libraries’ 2023 Library Design Showcase, which appears in the magazine’s September/October issue, available online today. Now in its 35th year, the...
¾«¶«´«Ã½and AASL Respond to Houston Independent School District’s Decision to Eliminate 28 School Libraries and Respective School Librarians in Houston
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CHICAGO — On Monday, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) sent the following letter to the superintendent and school board members of the Houston Independent School District and the Texas...
Nominate a stellar librarian for the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award
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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) invites library users nationwide to nominate their favorite librarians for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians...
2023 John Cotton Dana Awards Announced
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The 2023 John Cotton Dana (JCD) Award winners, recognized for their strategic communications efforts, have been selected. The John Cotton Dana Awards provide up to eight grants for libraries that demonstrate outstanding library public relations. The award...
¾«¶«´«Ã½ to host Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27 in Chicago
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Featured speakers include Judy Blume, Amanda Gorman, Christian Robinson and other high-profile authors and advocates CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) will host its 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition June 22-27 at McCormick Place in...
PLA programs and events at the 2023 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference
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CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) will host more than 20 programs, two preconferences, and a President’s Coffee Catch-up during the 2023 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference & Exhibition, at the McCormick Place Convention Center and surrounding hotels in...