State of the industry Clarivate, which in recent years has subsumed the technology products of Ex Libris and Innovative, further strengthened its place as the industry leader. Clarivate has embraced AI across its businesses, including with the 2024 release of its Academic AI Platform, supporting a strategy to harness these technologies while delivering reliable content. … Continue reading 2026 Library Systems Briefing
1917–1919 World War I and Library War Service a. Knowledge Wins (1918) b. Books Wanted (1918) c. “Hey Fellows!” (1918) 1920–1939 ALA’s 50th anniversary and early promotional posters d. Hospital Library Service (1925) e. Public Libraries: An American Contribution to Civilization (1926) f. 50 Years: The University of the People (1926) g. Library Work: The … Continue reading Posters of Progress
As ICE has raided homes, businesses, and public facilities in communities across the country, public libraries are grappling with how to prepare staff, protect patrons, respond to incidents, and develop resources for in-the-moment de-escalation and long-term recovery. In February, the Public Library Association (PLA) convened a webinar called “Responding to ICE at the Library: Real … Continue reading Encountering ICE
A good approach is to look at the most high-impact changes you can make early in the process to improve accessibility for users, even if the entire site is not fully accessible. The following sections outline several changes that can have a significant impact without requiring the wholesale redesign of a website. Structural elements Structuring … Continue reading Getting Started with Web Accessibility
Prior to 2023, each chapter onboarded incoming chapter leaders individually, supplemented by ALA advocacy training focused on topics, not roles. But in response to rising attacks on libraries—including censorship of library materials, defunding efforts, and disinformation campaigns about the profession—ALA shifted its approach and began a new pilot program to provide intensive training to all … Continue reading A Crash Course in Advocacy
What investments should I choose (e.g., stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds)? Which financial services company fits my needs (e.g., Charles Schwab, Fidelity, TIAA, Vanguard)? How much will I take out of my account each year as a distribution? That last decision is significant, because it affects how long the money will last and continue … Continue reading Making Sense of Endowment Distributions
After the threats to federal library funding in the past year, the fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills signed by President Trump on February 3 included an increase in federal funding for libraries. Less than a year ago, an executive order threatened to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only source … Continue reading Federal Funding for Libraries Prevails
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, signed into law on February 8, expanded the definition of essential communications services to include telecommunications and high-speed internet. It established the E-Rate program, which provides schools and libraries with discounts on internet and other telecommunications services and the equipment they need to use them. Today, virtually all public libraries … Continue reading 30 Years of E-Rate
Uncertainty may be the most notable overarching theme of federal policy in the past year. Legal challenges and other acts of resistance by librarians have prevented, overturned, or at least delayed some of the administration’s most notable attacks on libraries from taking effect. In other cases, policy changes have been announced that may affect libraries … Continue reading One Year of the Trump Administration
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
A good approach is to look at the most high-impact changes you can make early in the process to improve accessibility for users, even if the entire site is not fully accessible. The following sections outline several changes that can have a significant impact without requiring the wholesale redesign of a website. Structural elements Structuring … Continue reading Preparing for New Web Accessibility Requirements
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
