Academic and school libraries More than 30,000 square feet Jen Library, Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design Design Firm and Photo: Savannah College of Art and Design Li Lu Law Library, Columbia University in New York City Design Firm: Perkins Eastman Photo: Andrew Rugge 30,000 square feet and less Confluence Library, Church of Christ … Continue reading 2026 ALA/IIDA Interior Design Awards
The high school’s effort to limit phone use on campus has received support from its educators, who say classroom engagement is on the rise, and mixed reviews from students, who dislike being cut off from their devices. But there’s been one unexpected outcome of the policy: More students are spending time in the library, where they’re … Continue reading Hold the Phone
School librarians work hard to turn their classroom—the library—into the well-loved hub and heart of the school. It’s a tall order, but they are up to the task. Certified school librarians are trained to provide equitable access, personalized learning opportunities, technology access, updated digital and print materials, and creative programming to motivate students and help … Continue reading Thank You, School Librarians
At the “Pokémon Club @ Your Library: Engaging Young Learners Through Play and Community” session, held June 26 at ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, TPCi representatives and librarians who offer the clubs in their libraries discussed the first nine months of the partnership—TPCi’s first of this kind—and what the clubs can offer … Continue reading Catch ’Em All
But in 2025, there were notable examples of voters, courts, and candidates across the country affirming the profession’s core values of intellectual freedom and inclusive access. Below we highlight five recent victories for libraries, library workers, and their communities. 1. California voters rein in city council overreach Huntington Beach, California, has become a flashpoint in … Continue reading 5 Library Wins Worth Celebrating
A complete list of the 2026 award winners follows. John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature: All the Blues in the Sky, written by Renée Watson, is the 2026 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing. Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: … Continue reading 2026 Youth Media Award Winners
I am a school librarian. My community supports the school library, and students are active library users. At the same time, rhetoric from that legislative session and in the years since have shown me that the public has limited knowledge about how we choose books and select programming to make the library a place students … Continue reading Walk with a Purpose
We are looking for examples of innovative library architecture that address patrons’ needs in unique and effective ways. We are especially interested in submissions from libraries that are approaching design with sustainability, accessibility, and smaller budgets in mind. Partial renovations, projects under $1 million, and school libraries are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, projects … Continue reading Submissions Open for Library Design Showcase
New Zealand Two locations of Thames-Coromandel District Libraries closed temporarily on November 19 because of concerns that play sand used in crafts at the library may have been contaminated with asbestos, Radio New Zealand reported. Multiple brands of play sand have been recalled, and investigations are ongoing, according to New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation, … Continue reading Global Reach: Anime Site Banned in Russia
I am a school librarian. My community supports the school library, and students are active library users. At the same time, rhetoric from the 2023 legislative session and in the years since have shown me that the public has limited knowledge about how we choose books and select programming to make the library a place … Continue reading Walk with a Purpose
Welcome to the 2025 Library Design Showcase, American Libraries’ annual celebration of new and renovated libraries throughout North America. Today’s libraries are places where people from diverse communities can connect, learn, and grow. The institutions featured in this year’s showcase embody the library’s role as a true third space while honoring local histories and cultures … Continue reading 2025 Library Design Showcase
The Librarians (2025) Director: Kim A. Snyder thelibrariansfilm.com Running time: 92 minutes About: The Librarians follows librarians in Florida and Texas as they work to protect children’s rights to access books from challenges like Texas’s Krause List, which targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQ+ stories and has triggered book bans across the … Continue reading The Stacks on Screen
