Book Club Central Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles

Anatomy of a Miracle Is New Book Club Central Pick

March 13, 2018

In a starred review, Booklist calls Anatomy of a Miracle “vibrant, bustling, and humorous…. A nuanced and endlessly entertaining exploration of the age-old debate between faith and reason.” Kirkus Reviews writes, “Miles possesses a rare and admirable command of structure and style, shifting smoothly from Afghan patrol tactics to Catholic doctrine to neurological science; his sentences are thick … Continue reading Anatomy of a Miracle Is New Book Club Central Pick


2017 Year in Review

January 2, 2018

Saving Federal Funding Thanks to extensive grassroots efforts by ALA members, in September the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an increase of $4 million in funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, all of which would go to the formula-based Grants to States program. The bill also included increased funding in FY2018 for a … Continue reading 2017 Year in Review


Dewey Decibel Episode 21

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Looking Back at Books

December 29, 2017

First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with author Stephanie Powell Watts in a conversation taped right after her book No One Is Coming to Save Us was announced by Sarah Jessica Parker as the first selection in ALA’s Book Club Central. Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Looking Back at Books



Cover of Exit West by Mohsin Hamid and Book Club Central logo

New Pick for Book Club Central

October 11, 2017

The selection helps kick off the 12th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 15–21, an initiative of United for Libraries. The celebration recognizes the advocacy and fundraising efforts of Friends groups across the country. Parker is an honorary lifetime board member of United for Libraries, a division of ALA. United for Libraries President Steve … Continue reading New Pick for Book Club Central


The crowd reacts to Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Closing General Session. Photo: Cognotes

2017 Annual Conference Wrap-Up

July 19, 2017

Teens and tots At the Opening General Session, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani kicked things off with a few startling statistics: Last year, the United States graduated 40,000 computer science majors for 500,000 open jobs. Only one in four American high schools offer computer science as part of the curriculum. And today, only 18% … Continue reading 2017 Annual Conference Wrap-Up


Sarah Jessica Parker Unveils ALA’s Book Club Central

June 26, 2017

“No one could leave the house without something to read,” Parker fondly recalled that rule of her mother’s before a packed auditorium at the President’s Program of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June 24. Growing up, Parker and her seven siblings were constantly shuttled to the Clifton branch of … Continue reading Sarah Jessica Parker Unveils ALA’s Book Club Central




Julie B. Todaro

At the Heart of Our Work

June 1, 2017

I continue to be honored to represent our profession in our ongoing and successful challenge to federal funding issues. And we continue to communicate and educate stakeholders about our work, its value, and the very need for our existence. Many libraries face similar challenges more regularly, and I have a newfound appreciation and respect for … Continue reading At the Heart of Our Work