Selfie of Matthew throwing a peace sign in front of a mug saying Libraries work because we dk
From a fellow librarian, trustee, and patron, sending solidarity to library workers across the world on National Library Workers Day
Libraries work because we do ✊️
National Library Workers Day: Libraries Work Because We Do. April 21, 2026. ALA-APA logo
It's National Library Workers Day, our favorite day of #NationalLibraryWeek where we celebrate the hardworking, dedicated professionals who power possibility in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning.
Thank you, library workers - libraries work because YOU do! #NLWD26
“In 2025, book bans were not sparked by concerned parents, and they were not the result of local grassroots efforts. They were part of a well-funded, politically-driven campaign.” - Sarah Lamdan, Executive Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.
https://bit.ly/4tQcFqG
RIGHT TO READ DAY. April 20, 2026. Everywhere. FOR YOUR FREEDOM TO READ. FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION. FOR UNDERSTANDING OUR PAST. FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. FOR OUR LIBRARIES. Logos for Unite Against Book Bans and ALA150 American Library Association
From Jan. 2025 - March 2026, 100+ pro-censorship bills were introduced in state legislatures. At least 40 bills would penalize libraries and library workers with lawsuits, fines, or even jail time for protecting people’s the right to read.
This #RightToReadDay, take action: https://bit.ly/43D9Dtw
Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025. Composite of 11 close-up crops of various book covers. Text at bottom: "Protect the freedom to read" ala.org/bbooks. American Library Association
The list of 2025's most challenged books was release this morning as part of ALA's State of America's Libraries Report.
Of the 4,235 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2025, these were the top 11 most frequently targeted for censorship: https://bit.ly/3TE4cHi
#NationalLibraryWeek
The State of AMERICA’S LIBRARIES: a Snapshot of 2025. FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS. FOR THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR COMMUNITIES. FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR ALL. FOR THE FREEDOM TO READ. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO POWER POSSIBILITY. FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING. FOR OUR LIBRARIES. ALA150 American Library Association
From threats to (and victories for) intellectual freedom, to increasing services for incarcerated people, to a whirlwind of legislative and legal battles, 2025 proved pivotal for our nation's libraries.
Read more in our State of America's Libraries Report: A Snapshot of 2025: https://bit.ly/3ORpvpE
Photo of several puzzle piece with various hand-drawn designs on them. I Love Libraries logo. Text over photo reads: "Find Your Joy and Return to It Often: Why Libraries Matter More than Ever. Sam Helmick, 2025-2026 ALA President" ALA150 American Library Association
"So this week, I encourage you to engage with your library in person or online. Wander the stacks. Attend a program. Ask for a recommendation. Let yourself be surprised." - ALA President Sam Helmick
Read Sam's full piece: https://bit.ly/4cQ4Qvf
📸 Tomahawk (WI) Public Library
#NationalLibraryWeek
Collection of black and white photos. From left to right: Top row: a librarian hold up a book to a group of excited children, a librarian helps a researcher at a card catalog, a woman holds a sign for the Victory Book Campaign; Bottom row: a librarian provides bedside service to a man in a hospital bed, families check out Pratt Library's horse-drawn book wagon, and a librarian reads a book surrounded by a group of children. Text below photos reads: "Give to ALA's 150th Anniversary Campaign during National Library Week and your donation will be matched 2:1!" ALA150.org. ALA150 American Library Association
When you give to ALA's 150th Anniversary Campaign during #NationalLibraryWeek between now and 4/25, your donation will be matched 2:1, thanks to a matching gift challenge from the Steve and Loree Potash Foundation. Your $15 becomes $45 this week only!
Donate: https://bit.ly/4dRIkmR
A colorful illustration of the front of a library with a librarian at the door waving to members of the community outside. A banner over the library reads "FIND YOUR JOY!" Logos for American Library Association and Library Champions in top right. Text below the illustration reads "Celebrate NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK, April 19-25, 2026"
It's #NationalLibraryWeek! Take time to discover what brings you joy at your library: browse the shelves, join a book club, attend a program, or get started on your next creative project in a makerspace.
Be sure to visit your library or ilovelibraries.org and celebrate your library all week long!
From The New York Times: ALA and AFSCME prevail in federal lawsuit, protecting federal agency responsible for library funding: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/arts/library-...
Tell your Senators to #FundLibraries in next year's budget: ala.org/showup
School libraries are the heart of learning đź’™ a place where every student belongs, every question is welcome, and every story matters. Celebrate your school librarian this April! #SchoolLibraryMonth
- Amanda Kordeliski, AASL President
#AASLslm #AASL
Show us your LIBRARY JOY for your chance to win $150! ilovelibraries.org/joy. National Library Week, April 19-25, 2026. ALA150 American Library Association
Show us what brings you #LibraryJoy with your original creative work: a drawing, painting, poem, essay, photo, video, song, comic panel—you get the idea. Submit your original piece by the end of #NationalLibraryWeek (4/25) for a chance to win a $150 VISA gift card!
Submit at ilovelibraries.org/joy
Black and white photo of Carrie Robinson, a Black woman wearing a scarf and glasses. Text reads "Hidden Figures of ALA: Carrie Robinson". ALA150 American Library Association
In 1969, Carrie Coleman Robinson, a Black school librarian in Alabama, brought a landmark case to the U.S. District Court against the state's Department of Education—one that reveals much about the Jim Crow South and librarianship in the civil rights era. #ALA150
Read more: https://bit.ly/4tPI0db
Book cover titled "Compact Copyright: Quick Answers to Common Questions" by Sara R. Benson, 2nd Edition. The design features four colorful abstract sections with overlapping circular copyright symbols.
Now shipping: Newly revised to reflect copyright’s ever-changing landscape, this acclaimed guide offers to-the-point guidance for dozens of situations, alongside discussion questions that will encourage learning and reflection for current practitioners and LIS students alike. https://bit.ly/4tAy1rW
CSK Book Awards John Steptoe New Talent 2026 Virtual Author Event April 27, 2026 5:00 - 6:00pm CDT
Join us for a special virtual event celebrating the life and legacy of Coretta Scott King and the future of children’s literature.
Register now: https://bit.ly/4egcsbw
A colorful poster celebrates National Library Week, April 19-25. It features an illustration of a vibrant library scene with people enjoying various activities. The phrase "Find Your Joy!" is prominently displayed. The logos of the ALA (American Library Association) and Library Champions appear at the top.
✨ Bring library joy to your walls with the official National Library Week 2026 poster!
This vibrant poster features art by Lorraine Nam, illustrator of the new children’s book "I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy" by Mychal Threets. https://bit.ly/488zQnu
Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association, #FundLibraries
We have ONE WEEK left to tell the Senate to #FundLibraries in next year's federal budget. Are you ready to take action? Call your Senators TODAY and remind them how important libraries are to your community - and how important it is that they provide robust federal funding: ala.org/showup
Photo of a woman and two children reading a book. Text below reads: "It’s Not Just Book Clubs Anymore: A Brief History of ALA’s Public Programs Office. 'Up until the 1980s and 1990s, children’s programming was the norm in libraries, while adult programming was a rarity. But adult programming, in particular, offers libraries a way to reflect and support communities, and serve a mission of lifelong learning. It can bring library collections to life and offers ways for individuals to explore ideas together.'" ALA150 American Library Association
From ambitious traveling exhibits to grant opportunities, the impact of ALA's Public Programs Office has been transformative for libraries. Read about its history and how it as helped reimagine what library programming can be over the last 34 years: https://bit.ly/47O36Qz
Image: Photo of Featured Speaker Kimberlé Crenshaw Photo Credit: Annabel Clark Register Today and SAVE with early rates! ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition June 25-29, 2026 Chicago FOR OUR LIBRARIES. FOR 150 YEARS MORE. American Library Association | ALAAnnual.org
✨ Kimberlé Crenshaw—the legal mind behind Critical Race Theory—will join us at #ALAAC26! She’ll reflect on the ideas and experiences that shaped her career and preview her new book, "Backtalker: An American Memoir."
Register with the best rates possible by April 24th. https://bit.ly/4qJALBq
ALA Prevails in Federal Lawsuit to Preserve IMLS. ALA 150, American Library Association.
ALA and our co-plaintiff AFSCME have signed a binding settlement agreement with the federal government, keeping the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) intact. This marks the conclusion of ALA's lawsuit - and victory for library supporters. The settlement follows the dismissal earlier this week of the appeal in a separate, related case. But the fight isn't over.
"When the administration began shuttering IMLS last year, it set off a chain reaction. Libraries across the country started cutting hours, staff and services people rely on - after school programs, support for jobseekers and connection for older adults. This settlement protects life-changing library services for communities across the country. ALA will continue to defend every American's freedom to read and learn.” - ALA President Sam Helmick
MORE NEWS: ALA & our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social have prevailed in our lawsuit to preserve the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)!
Our binding settlement agreement with the Dept. of Justice protects the agency and its congressionally mandated work. More: www.ala.org/news/2026/04...
Tell your Senators to #FundLibraries TODAY: ala.org/showup
Feeling déjà vu? Earlier this week the Trump Administration withdrew its appeal in a related but *separate* case.
But it's not over. The President is still asking Congress to eliminate federal library funding in next year's budget.
Call your Senators and tell them to #FundLibraries: ala.org/showup
ALA Prevails in Federal Lawsuit to Preserve IMLS. ALA 150, American Library Association.
ALA and our co-plaintiff AFSCME have signed a binding settlement agreement with the federal government, keeping the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) intact. This marks the conclusion of ALA's lawsuit - and victory for library supporters. The settlement follows the dismissal earlier this week of the appeal in a separate, related case. But the fight isn't over.
"When the administration began shuttering IMLS last year, it set off a chain reaction. Libraries across the country started cutting hours, staff and services people rely on - after school programs, support for jobseekers and connection for older adults. This settlement protects life-changing library services for communities across the country. ALA will continue to defend every American's freedom to read and learn.” - ALA President Sam Helmick
MORE NEWS: ALA & our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social have prevailed in our lawsuit to preserve the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)!
Our binding settlement agreement with the Dept. of Justice protects the agency and its congressionally mandated work. More: www.ala.org/news/2026/04...
Photo of a small white building with a sign over the door that reads "Lee Public Library." Text below reads "ALA awards $3.5 million in library accessibility funding to 300 small and rural libraries." ALA150 American Library Association
ALA announces the final round of recipients of its Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant, which helps small and rural libraries increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. https://bit.ly/3Q7XBWH
ALA Public Policy & Advocacy staff, friends of ALA, and ALA President-Elect Dr. Maria McCauley pose together for a group photo in a dining room.
Our team was thrilled to welcome ALA Pres.-Elect @mariamccauley.bsky.social to DC for training & information about ALA's advocacy programs
Thank you so much for joining us here in Washington, Dr. McCauley - we can't wait to get to work
Don't miss Dr. McCauley's inauguration at #ALAAC26 in Chicago!
Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. #FundLibraries. ALA 150, American Library Association.
But the President is still asking Congress to eliminate library funding in the next federal budget. Call your Senators TODAY to urge them to #FundLibraries: ala.org/showup
Libraries WIN (again) in federal court. Show Up for Our Libraries, ALA 150 American Library Association.
Government stops fighting reinstatement of IMLS in federal court. The Trump Administration dropped its appeal of an earlier ruling which required the reinstatement of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Following the earlier ruling, IMLS previously restored all canceled grants and research and staff have returned to work. This is an important win for libraries. But President Trump is still asking Congress to end funding for IMLS. Call your Senators and tell them to protect library funding. Head to ala.org/showup and take action TODAY.
"Libraries can move forward with confidence that IMLS funding will be available to sustain the vital services communities rely on. However, we cannot forget that President Trump is still asking Congress to end funding for IMLS. That decision is partly in the hands of constituents. Library supporters must call on Congress to protect the future of IMLS." - ALA President Sam Helmick
NEWS: The Trump Administration has DROPPED its appeal of an earlier federal court ruling that reinstated the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)!
This is an enormous win for libraries nationwide.
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2026/04... #FundLibraries #ForOurLibraries
Photo of Tamika Barnes, a Black woman wearing a bright red cardigan. Text over photo reads "Tamika Barnes wins 2027-2028 ALA Presidency" ALA150 American Library Association
ALA election results are in!
Congratulations to 2026-2027 President-Elect Tamika Barnes and to all of our newly elected leaders. Thank you to all the great candidates who stood for election this year and all the members who voted.
Read the announcement: https://bit.ly/48y7RxM
“These librarians are people who power possibility in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning. Their leadership, creativity, and innovation strengthen the communities they serve, and we are proud to honor them.” - ALA President Sam Helmick
https://bit.ly/4sPFseR
I Love My Librarian Award 2026. Composite of ten photos of librarians. Logos for Carnegie Corporation of New York, American Library Association, and the New York Public Library
ALA is thrilled to announce the 2026 recipients of the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to these 10 outstanding librarians - people who power possibility in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning.
Meet the 2026 honorees here: https://bit.ly/3HcHvEy
Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association.
See ALA's full statement: www.ala.org/news/2026/04...