ALA kicks off sesquicentennial celebration | American Libraries Magazine

Protestors hold up pro-library signs in a screencap from ALA's 150th anniversary video ALA has officially launched its 150th anniversary year, marking a century and a half of empowering library professionals, advancing access to knowledge and protecting the freedom to read. The association will celebrate year-round in 2026 with key flagship events, kicking off with the 2026 Youth Media Awards, honoring outstanding books, videos and materials for children and teens, on January 26 at the Hilton Chicago. ALA President Sam Helmick marked the anniversary with an essay at ala150.org, and ALA has produced a new anniversary video.

ALA Communications and Media Relations Office, Jan. 8; ALA150.org, Jan. 5; YouTube, Jan. 8

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ALA Council has elected Lesliediana Jones, director of the Arthur Neef Law Library at Wayne State University Library Systems and assistant professor at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, and Shauntee Burns-Simpson, director of youth and family services at the District of Columbia Public Library, to serve on the ALA Executive Board. Elected board members will begin a three-year term in July 2026 and conclude in June 2029. The ALA Executive Board provides the strategic and fiduciary oversight of the Association.

ALA Communications and Media Relations Office, Feb. 3
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Brett Bonfield writes: “As my colleagues and I offer guidance on the ALA’s more than $60 million in investments, some of the questions that arise are the same ones you may consider when managing a personal retirement account. How much to take out of the account each year as a distribution is significant, because it affects how long the money will last and continue to grow, and it’s the one I will discuss in this column.”

American Libraries Online, Feb. 9
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Rosie Newmark writes: “Hands flew, timers ticked, and tensions ran high. In 33 minutes and 23 seconds, team Piece Out triumphed in the inaugural speed puzzling tournament at Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) in southeastern Washington last January. Speed puzzling, or the practice of assembling a jigsaw puzzle as fast as possible, has become an unlikely hit at public libraries. What began as a social media curiosity and niche hobby has turned into a low-cost way to engage patrons of all ages—especially during colder months.

American Libraries Trend, Jan./Feb.
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Lisa Varga writes: “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 of federal funding dedicated to libraries. Thanks to advocates, IMLS still exists today, and Congress just passed a $1.4 million increase for library programs run by IMLS through the Library Services and Technology Act

American Libraries Online, Feb. 6
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Amelia Bryne and Megan Janicki write: “The 30th anniversary of the E-Rate program is a time to both celebrate what it has achieved for libraries and focus our work to preserve its future. About 73% of all public libraries and more than 96% of public schools in the United States receive E-Rate discounts on internet and telecommunications services and equipment, totaling more than $2 billion per year. But the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund, which includes E-Rate and three other communications programs, is facing challenges, in part because of how it is funded.

American Libraries Online, Feb. 6
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Brett Zongker and Deb Fiscella write: “The 2025 National Film Registry has been announced, showcasing a group of 25 films spanning 118 years and including fan favorites such as The Thing, Clueless, The Big Chill, and The Incredibles. The Library of Congress’s annual addition to the list of films to be preserved for their cinematic and cultural heritage starts with the 1896 silent film, The Tramp and the Dog, and stretches to the 2014 Wes Anderson picture The Grand Budapest Hotel. Since Congress established the registry in 1988, 925 films have been added.”

Library of Congress, Jan. 29
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Tony Phillips writes: “In today’s fast-paced world, where everyone seems to be in a rush, displaying data in a way that can be easily interpreted and analyzed—such as in a heat map—is essential. Excel lets you automatically color-code figures to demonstrate their relationship with one another, using darker colors for higher numbers and lighter colors for lower numbers, for example. This means you can see trends and anomalies at a glance.”

How-To Geek, Feb. 2

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