7m
The Public Library Association released its 2025 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey report on June 23. First conducted in 2022, the survey examines how libraries respond to diverse needs through programs, services, partnerships, and facilities. The 2025 results highlight how libraries have adapted to changing needs while continuing to build on core community services. The survey found that public libraries are increasingly offering food security support services, health and wellness programs, and spaces for cooling or warming centers during extreme temperatures. A free July 23 webinar will discuss the results.
Public Library Association, June 23
3h
ALA’s governing Council considered a wide range of business at its three meetings during Annual, including hearing the Association’s Structural Deficit Closure Plan as part of ALA Treasurer Larry Neal’s financial report. Other notable business included approval of guidance for the use of artificial intelligence in libraries, adoption of the Librarians’ and Library Workers’ Bill of Rights, a moratorium on new committees, and a resolution honoring ALA staff in honor of the Association’s 150th anniversary. See our reports on Council I, Council II, and Council III, and review all Council documents.
AL: The Scoop, June 27–29
20h
ALA leaders discussed the current state of intellectual freedom, where it’s headed, and how to connect it to our other freedoms and to democracy in the Closing General Session of ALA’s Annual Conference. The session provided a capstone to a full slate of educational sessions, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, age discrimination, career preparation for teens, strategies for recommending games, addressing harassing reference callers, and Pokémon clubs. See our full coverage of Annual sessions.
AL: The Scoop, June 26–29
1d
“You cannot make rational decisions in your own self-interest about what’s the right democratic choice for you if you don’t know what’s real,” declared MSNOW host Rachel Maddow at the Opening General Session of the 2026 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. “When you lose access to knowledge, you can’t make decisions as a citizen or voter.” Other featured speakers included former First Lady Jill Biden, civil rights scholar Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, authors Lois Lowry and Min Jin Lee, and comedian Melissa Villaseñor.
AL: The Scoop, June 26–29
1d
On June 25, ALA and partners in the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) launched an advocacy campaign after the Federal Communications Commission voted to advance a proposal that asks whether the E-Rate program should be terminated or limited to only rural areas. The E-Rate program has provided affordable broadband to schools and libraries for nearly 30 years. SHLB and ALA will also host a free webinar on July 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern to break down the proposal and walk stakeholders through how to make their voices heard.
ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, June 25; AL: The Scoop, June 16
5d
Adaeze Uche writes: “Even if you’ve never written one yourself, you’ve probably seen a formula that stretches so far across Excel’s formula bar that you don’t even bother trying to make sense of it. With so many moving parts, it’s easy to lose track of what the formula is actually supposed to achieve. I’ve found LET to be the best fix for this. It’s an Excel function borrowed from programming that makes complex formulas significantly easier to read, write, and maintain, and it hasn’t failed me yet.”
MakeUseOf, June 22
6d
Christin Monroe, Cameron Pilato, and Ari Weinshenker write: “Have you ever had a student fail to submit a research assignment—even though you’re fairly certain they spent a great deal of time working on it? Have you worked with a student who asks what feels like too many questions, or none at all? Have you seen students dramatically undershoot—or overshoot—the expectations for an assignment? Too often, these moments are interpreted as signs of low motivation, poor time management, or disengagement. But our shared experience suggests something else: Many students aren’t underthinking their academic work. They’re overthinking it.”
Info Literal, June 17
