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

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

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

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!

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

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association, #FundLibraries

We only have THREE DAYS left to tell Congress to #FundLibraries!

We need EVERY library advocate to call their Senators.

Take action and tell your Senators how important library funding is for your community. Urge them to #FundLibraries today: ala.org/showup

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

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association.

It's not too late to make your voice heard for library funding!

We need EVERY library advocate to tell their Senators how critical libraries are for your communities.

Take action and call your Senators TODAY. Urge 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...

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

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!

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

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

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

ICYMI: ALA filed a brief in defense of the constitutionality of the #ERate program. The plaintiffs in this case have tried again and again to tear down an essential program that funds broadband in libraries and schools. But ALA is showing up #ForOurLibraries in defense of the program.

Learn more ⤵️

POTUS Proposes Elimination of Federal Library Funding. The President again requested that Congress eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. We've seen this before, and we're not going away. Fund Libraries, ALA 150, American Library Association.

"We are not surprised that the White House FY27 budget zeroes out funding for IMLS and IAL. The president’s intentions for IMLS were clear last year with the executive order to dismantle IMLS and cut off its funding [...] ALA members have a solid track record of defeating the president’s threats, but we do not underestimate the lengths to which he will go to undercut support for America’s libraries. ALA is working to make sure decisionmakers continue to hear from library advocates.” - ALA President Sam Helmick

NEW: The President once again called to eliminate federal library funding in his federal budget proposal. We have been here before. And when we make our voices heard, we can overcome this again.

Tell your Senators to reject the cuts & #FundLibraries in next year's federal budget: ala.org/showup

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association.

See ALA's full statement: www.ala.org/news/2026/04...

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association.

The Senate is making important decisions about next year's federal budget. Have you contacted your Senators to #FundLibraries yet?

Take action now and tell your Senators why library funding is so critical to your community - and to communities nationwide: ala.org/showup #ForOurLibraries

Spring sale announcement with "Save 30% on everything thru April 4" written in bold letters. Decorative flowers illustrated at the bottom. Website "librarygiftshop.org" is displayed.

A pink T-shirt featuring an illustration of a library with "Celebrate National Library Week" text. Below is a matching sticker with the same design. In the corner, there are three stylized flowers. The URL "librarygiftshop.org" is at the bottom.

A light blue T-shirt with "Protect Public Libraries" written on it. Next to it, a colorful book stack graphic with "Libraries Strengthen Democracy." Below, a pouch reads "Libraries Are For Everyone." The website "librarygiftshop.org" is at the bottom. Simple floral illustrations are on the left.

Spring sale at the Library Gift Shop. Save 30% on everything through April 4!
Find the perfect gift for the library lover in your life.
https://www.librarygiftshop.org/

📚💙
#PLA2026
#NationalLibraryWeek

Jane Fonda posing with ALA's Lisa Varga.

Billy Porter posing with ALA's Lisa Varga

We also got the opportunity to say hi to Jane Fonda - whose father was an original organizer of the Committee - as well as actor Billy Porter!

Don't miss the chance to see Billy Porter yourself at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in Chicago!

Learn more and register: 2026.alaannual.org #ALAAC26

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez posing with ALA's Lisa Varga in a restaurant after an event in support of free expression.

Our team was proud to join the Committee for the First Amendment at the Kennedy Center to protect free expression & intellectual freedom.

We were thrilled to see library champion & FCC Commissioner @agomezfcc.bsky.social stand w/ us! We look forward to continuing this important work together.

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, #FundLibraries

Library advocates are making their voices heard in the Senate: have you contacted your Senators yet?

Urge your Senators to #FundLibraries in next year's federal budget and support communities nationwide! Make your voice heard and show up #ForOurLibraries.

Take action: ala.org/showup

Here's a description: A poster titled "Rain or Shine, Library Workers Will Lead the Way for 150 Years More," celebrating 150 years of the American Library Association (ALA). It mentions collaborations with K-12 teachers, LIS, STEM, social science, and humanities professors, students, data scientists, advocates, and library lover communities. The ALA Editions logo and a note about their Spring/Summer 2026 catalog are included.

Lead with courage, compassion, and clarity using the professional resources in the new ALA Editions digital catalog: https://bit.ly/4sG6nJJ

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association. #FundLibraries

NEW: Letters in support of library funding in the House are now CLOSED. It's time to make some noise in the Senate!

Tell your Senators to sign on to #FundLibraries in next year's federal budget. Your voice can make a difference: We need every advocate to speak out!

Take action: ala.org/showup

Democracy is everyone's business. Reader Voter Ready, American Library Association.

Looking for ways to mark the nation's founding at your library?

ALA has a new resource for that: www.ala.org/sites/defaul... #ReaderVoterReady

Writing the Story: Collaboration and Local Voice to Mark America's 250th. Friday, April 3, 1145-1245, PLA Conference 2026. Lisa Varga, ALA; Joseph Thompson, Carroll Co. Public Library; Jesse Simons, Mesa Public Library; Kate Coyne, Indianapolis Public Library. Public Library Association.

Attending PLA Conference? Check out the Public Libraries Magazine conference preview and join PPA's Lisa Varga and panelists as they explore how libraries are working with community partners to mark the nation's 250th birthday!

Read the conference preview issue: www.ala.org/pla/resource...

Have you taken action yet to #FundLibraries?

Use our tools at ala.org/showup to email and call your House Rep and urge them to include library funding in next year's federal budget! #ForOurLibraries

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to invest in libraries. ALA 150, American Library Association. #FundLibraries

We're almost out of time to tell the House of Representative to #FundLibraries in next year's federal budget! If you haven't taken action, now's the moment: email or call your House Rep TODAY: ala.org/showup