On June 11, Joey Wender, executive director of the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, published the following column in Benton Institute for Broadband and Society Digital Beat. It is reprinted here with permission. The FCC Is Asking Whether to End E-Rate Every school and library should answer On June 4, the Federal Communications … Continue reading A New Threat to E-Rate
The tone and content of this year’s slate of speakers, programs, and gatherings strike a balance between the retrospective and the speculative, as library workers and advocates stake out a brighter, stronger, and more inclusive and accessible future for libraries of all types. Other sessions will study the present moment, as technological advancements and cultural … Continue reading 2026 Annual Conference Preview
From healthy breakfasts to decadent splurges and feasts, these establishments will provide whatever you need to keep your energy up for a long day of learning or feed your soul afterward. No matter what you decide to try, you’ll learn that Chicago’s reputation as one of the world’s great food cities is well deserved for … Continue reading City of Big Appetites
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
It’s an overwhelming time to vet and license library resources. To cut through the noise, I’ve narrowed down my queries for vendors to five questions to better understand how a new AI tool might enhance my library’s user experience. 1. What content is your tool trained on? The future of generative AI models will heavily … Continue reading 5 Questions to Ask Your Vendors about AI
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
Born and raised in Kolkata, India, Majumdar studied social anthropology at Harvard, then earned a master’s in anthropology at Johns Hopkins. Her gripping second novel, A Guardian and a Thief, is set in a near-future Kolkata besieged by the ever-worsening climate crisis. It received this year’s Carnegie Medal, which will be presented to Majumdar on … Continue reading Newsmaker: Megha Majumdar
Though not a comprehensive timeline of library history, the milestones collected here demonstrate lasting impact and how libraries and the profession are intertwined with the American story itself—as repositories of memory, arenas of debate, and enduring instruments of democratic life. 1876–1889 On October 4, 1876, a group of 103 librarians and advocates assembled at the … Continue reading 55 Moments That Redefined Librarianship
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
Robert Wedgeworth Wedgeworth served as ALA’s first Black executive director (1972–1985). In virtually all my professional positions, I was the only Black person. I never had problems as a result, because almost everybody accepted that I had to be exceptional in order to be in the position I was in. Earlier, as an undergraduate in … Continue reading A Seat at the Table
The rabbit-warren days are over. Since ALA headquarters moved in 2020 to its present location at Chicago’s 225 North Michigan Avenue, Barbus has presided over a completely reimagined in-house library. Visitors step off the elevator to find a large, open, bright area that’s home to not only the office’s main reception desk but also row upon … Continue reading Bookend: A Library for Librarians
If a majority of the 101 eligible staff members out of 161 ALA employees vote to unionize, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will certify the new union. Votes will be counted May 27. In a March 2 open letter, 40 staff members announced their plans to unionize with the American Federation of State, County, … Continue reading ALA Workers Move to Unionize
