American Libraries magazine

Advocacy Unites Us | American Libraries Magazine The American Library Association exists because of a shared desire for a professional community and coordinated advocacy.

"Our work is inseparable from our advocacy, and it is our professional responsibility to make advocacy a regular and powerful part of our daily lives." Read ALA Executive Director Dan Montgomery's new column. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/03/02/advocacy-unites-us/

5 Library Wins Worth Celebrating | American Libraries Magazine American Libraries highlights five recent victories for libraries, library workers, and their communities.

Bad-news fatigue is real for library workers and advocates, but there are also examples of voters, courts, and candidates across the country affirming the profession. Read "5 Library Wins Worth Celebrating." https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/03/02/5-library-wins-worth-celebrating/

Good for Business | American Libraries Magazine No matter the physical size or budget, every library can play a role in supporting small businesses and promoting local economic vitality.

ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social's new column explores how libraries help to build local businesses. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/03/02/good-for-business/

Mychal Threets spreading library joy

Need some library joy? Read our interview with Reading Rainbow host and National Library Week honorary chair @mychal3ts.bsky.social. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/03/02/newsmaker-mychal-threets/

American Library Association employees forming union with AFSCME Joining the wave of union organizing among cultural workers, employees of the primarily Chicago-based American Library Association (ALA) announced they are forming their union with AFSCME Council 31.T...

In an open letter released today, ALA employees announced the formation of a union with @afscme31.bsky.social. If certified, the union will represent more than 100 ALA workers. https://afscme31.org/news/american-library-association-employees-forming-union-afscme

American Libraries American Libraries - March/April 2026

Our March/April issue is live on our website—featuring Newsmaker Mychal Threets, recent library wins, airport libraries, and tips for congressional advocacy. Read the full issue at bit.ly/AL-MA26issue or by article at bit.ly/AL-MA26stories.

Library Design Showcase submissions open

Our annual Library Design Showcase celebrates new and newly renovated libraries of all types and sizes. We're accepting submissions for the 2026 showcase through May 1. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/submissions-open-for-library-design-showcase-2/

A team of women, with a sign identifying them as "The Monkeypuzzlers," work together assembling a jigsaw puzzle.

In "Racing the Clock," libraries share the fun and excitement of hosting speed puzzling competition programs. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/racing-the-clock/

Here Are the Winners of the 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals | American Libraries Magazine "A Guardian and a Thief" and "Things in Nature Merely Grow" have won the 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

The 2026 Carnegie Medals honored @meghamaj.bsky.social and Yiyun Li for excellence in fiction and nonfiction. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/here-are-the-winners-of-the-2026-andrew-carnegie-medals/

From the Executive Director by Dan Montgomery

ICYMI: ALA Executive Director Dan Montgomery's column outlines the ALA Forward initiative to ensure ALA's financial stability, foster membership growth, and bolster advocacy. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/reinvigorating-ala/

Every year, @ala-united.bsky.social brings together trustees, foundation and Friends members, and those who work with them for a virtual conference to discuss the library advocacy landscape. Read our report at https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/unlocking-possibilities/

2026 Youth Media Award Winners | American Libraries Magazine 2026 Youth Media Award winners announced—including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery, and Printz awards.

ICYMI: The Youth Media Awards recognize the best in children's and young adult literature. See all of this year's winners. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/2026-youth-media-award-winners/

Your Library Story | American Libraries Magazine When we tell our stories, we remind the world that libraries are living testaments to human curiosity and care.

"When we tell our stories, we remind the world that libraries are not just buildings or budgets. They are living testaments to human curiosity and care." Read more from ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/your-library-story/

Zora Neale Hurston

Did you know: In 1997, the Library of Congress discovered 10 plays, mostly unpublished, by Zora Neale Hurston. Find more statistics about Black History collections and literature in this month's By the Numbers column. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/by-the-numbers-black-history/

Brian Selznick

"If you’re trying to control people through fear and ignorance, then yes, books are the enemy. That’s why authoritarian regimes burn them." Read more from Brian Selznick in our Newsmaker interview. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/newsmaker-brian-selznick/

Moving Beyond the Acronym | American Libraries Magazine An excerpt from the virtual panel “Affirmative Action and the Future of DEI," presented by Choice.

Read our recap of a Choice panel on how executive orders have threatened diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how those changes are affecting academic librarians and information scholars. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/moving-beyond-the-acronym/

Bold Changes | American Libraries Magazine Work is under way to address ALA’s challenges, using the ALA Forward initiative to help guide us toward financial stability.

"ALA has engaged in programmatic and internal operational studies, known collectively as ALA Forward," to address ALA's financial situation, reports ALA Treasurer Larry Neal in his new column. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/bold-changes/

Considering AI | American Libraries Magazine These four recent books about AI offer important criticisms, background information, and critical strategies for librarians.

In this issue's Librarian's Library column, Reanna Esmail reviews four books examining #artificialintelligence in the library world. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/considering-ai/

Broadband funding, Baker & Taylor, intellectual freedom, and federal issues were some of the most important library stories of 2025. Read our recap of the biggest library news. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/2025-year-in-review/

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AL Live--Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you're embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are consider...

Coming today, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. Eastern: Join the FREE AL Live webinar, “Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the right LIS program." Register: bit.ly/4pFB13R. Sponsored by Old Dominion University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

By the Numbers: Black History | American Libraries Magazine Statistics about Black history collections, Black authors, and Black literature.

Did you know: Morehouse College's Martin Luther King Jr. Collection contains more than 13,000 items, including early drafts of the "I Have a Dream" speech. Learn more in this issue's "By the Numbers" column: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/by-the-numbers-black-history/

Bookend: Once Upon a Time | American Libraries Magazine The Storytelling Resource Place holds books, recordings, costumes, and other items related to the storytelling performance tradition.

"Much like libraries safeguard written knowledge, we safeguard the living traditions of oral storytelling." Discover the Storytelling Research Place at https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/12/12/bookend-once-upon-a-time/

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AL Live--Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you're embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are consider...

Join us for the next AL Live webinar, “Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the right LIS program" February 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register FREE at bit.ly/4pFB13R. Sponsored by Old Dominion University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

Preparing for New Web Accessibility Requirements | American Libraries Magazine Getting started with web accessibility improvements can feel over­whelming. But even incremental improvements have real benefits.

Small steps can help make significant improvements to website accessibility. Learn more: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/12/17/preparing-for-new-web-accessibility-requirements/

Bookend: Up Her Sleeve | American Libraries Magazine Northport–East Northport (N.Y.) Public Library commemorated Library Card Sign-Up Month with a display of 1,200 cards from around the world.

Learn how a librarian at Northport-East Northport Public Library collected and displayed more than 1,200 library cards from around the world. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/24/bookend-up-her-sleeve/

Submissions Open for Library Design Showcase | American Libraries Magazine American Libraries is accepting submissions for the 2026 Library Design Showcase in the September/October issue.

American Libraries is seeking submissions for our 2026 Library Design Showcase. Share your fabulous new or newly renovated library facility! https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/submissions-open-for-library-design-showcase-2/

Bold Changes | American Libraries Magazine Work is under way to address ALA’s challenges, using the ALA Forward initiative to help guide us toward financial stability.

ALA Treasurer Larry Neal's column provides an update on efforts to address ALA's financial situation. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/bold-changes/

💻 Join ALA for the Recharging in Challenging Times Virtual Event! 💬 One day, 9 education sessions across 3 tracks, 2 keynote speakers, and facilitator-led conversations—all built around the priorities you helped us identify. Register today! https://www.ala.org/virtual-event #ALAVirtual26

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AL Live--Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you're embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are consider...

Join us for the next AL Live webinar, “Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the right LIS program" February 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register FREE at bit.ly/4pFB13R. Sponsored by Old Dominion University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

Librarian's Library by Reanna Esmail

As #artificialintelligence has made its way into library work, these four recent publications offer important criticisms, background information, and critical strategies for librarians to address this growing technology. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/considering-ai/