About American Libraries

American Libraries, the flagship magazine of the American Library Association, is published bimonthly, six times a year, with four quarterly digital supplements,  by the American Library Association. ISSN 0002-9769. Printed in the USA. Subscription price is included in ALA dues. The magazine is sent to some 65,000 individuals and organizations worldwide. ALA members receive American Libraries as a perquisite of membership.

Membership

Membership in ALA is open to any individual or organization interested in library service and library and information science and technology. For changes of address, contact the Membership Line at 800-545-2433, ext. 5108 or e-mail membership@ala.org.

Institutional subscriptions

American Libraries is also available to libraries and other institutions by paid subscription: $45 per year, U.S., Canada. Foreign: $60 per year. Single issues are $7.50, discounted 40% for five or more prepaid from ALA Accounts Receivable. Order online or fax orders to 312-944-7841 or e-mail to subscriptions@ala.org. To subscribe for one year, send the amount specified above to (or request invoicing from) American Libraries, Subscriptions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Include full address of recipient at the subscribing institution.

Indexing

American Libraries is available full-text from ProQuest, EBSCO Publishing, Knowledge Quest, LexisNexis, and Information Access. A full-text searchable database of issues from 2003 to the present is available online free through Ebrary. Toll-free hotline for membership, subscription, or order problems is 800-545-2433, ext. 4299.

Editorial Policy

As stated in ALA Policy Manual, section 10.2:

Because American Libraries is the official organ of the ALA, the editor has a particular responsibility to convey to the membership and other readers full and accurate information about the activities, purposes, and goals of the Association. In order to carry out this responsibility, the editor may have access to privileged information. The editor must assume an obligation to represent the best interests of the Association and its units fairly and as fully as possible within the scope of the journal and with due regard to the editor’s prerogatives in producing a balanced and readable publication.

ALA encourages publication in the news columns of American Libraries of news about all matters of import to libraries and librarians. The editor is guaranteed independence in gathering, reporting, and publishing news according to the principles of the Association’s policies on intellectual freedom.

Statements of official ALA positions on any matters shall be clearly identified as such when published in American Libraries. The editor must be free to analyze and interpret such matters as his or her judgment dictates, and such analysis and interpretation should appear over the editor’s signature.

News and views have their place in American Libraries, and every opportunity shall be assured for expression of diverse views when members believe such views run counter to their own, or when news is considered to be inaccurately or not fully reported. Signed interpretive comment shall be encouraged. Columns of American Libraries shall be kept scrupulously and faithfully open to all viewpoints of interest and concern to the library profession.

Staff contact information.