Inside ALA Archives | American Libraries Magazine

ALA Presidential Candidate Andrea Jamison Withdraws from Ballot

March 7, 2025

The full statement reads as follows: Andrea Jamison, assistant professor of school librarianship at Illinois State University in Normal, has withdrawn her candidacy for ALA president-elect and Intellectual Freedom Round Table director-at-large. Her name will be removed from the election ballot, which will be sent to ALA members on Monday, March 10. Two candidates remain … Continue reading ALA Presidential Candidate Andrea Jamison Withdraws from Ballot →

Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Lindsay Cronk

March 3, 2025

I seek the office of president to help us meet this moment and shape a future worthy of ALA’s legacy, its promise, and above all, the library workers who make it all possible. Libraries aren’t just essential—they’re transformational. Whether we’re safeguarding intellectual freedom, ensuring equitable access, or improving financial sustainability, the challenges we face require … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Lindsay Cronk →

Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Andrea Jamison

March 3, 2025

Now more than ever, ALA needs radical leadership—a president who will engage in meaningful dialogue with allies and critics alike, to emphasize how equitable library services and social justice are not anti-American. Andrew Carnegie once stated, “There is not such a cradle of democracy on earth as the free public library, this republic of letters, … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Andrea Jamison →

Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Maria McCauley

March 3, 2025

We are living in a time of uncertainty: We have seen significant censorship attempts, librarians targeted, and adverse library legislation, while social and economic inequities persist. We have also seen remarkable services and programs created, curated, and offered by gifted library workers and partners across the US and internationally. We are community connectors, teachers, guides, … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Maria McCauley →

Meet the Candidate for ALA Treasurer: Larry Neal

March 3, 2025

The talent and hard work of our member leaders and the ALA staff of our 14 offices, eight divisions, and 19 round tables are critically important to delivering high-quality professional development, advocacy, publications, collaborations, accreditation, grants, and networking opportunities that our 48,000 members need and expect. Together our work is essential to protect the freedom to … Continue reading Meet the Candidate for ALA Treasurer: Larry Neal →

Rising to the Occasion

By Leslie Burger | March 3, 2025

ALA, as an organization, has survived and thrived for nearly 150 years—through wars, economic downturns, changing political environments, and pandemics. With each of these challenges, we rose to the occasion with strong leadership, consistent messaging, and a membership base that devoted its efforts to sharing stories about the important work of all libraries and how … Continue reading Rising to the Occasion →

ALA Announces Support for Libraries Affected by Los Angeles Wildfires

January 13, 2025

The full statement reads as follows: The American Library Association (ALA) extends our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected by and to those who have lost everything during the Los Angeles area fires. We know that the Los Angeles Public Library’s Palisades Branch Library was destroyed, and we await word on others that … Continue reading ALA Announces Support for Libraries Affected by Los Angeles Wildfires →

Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association

Our Winter Count

By Cindy Hohl | January 2, 2025

My hope for the future is that we live in peace among all that is living. I believe in the power of the human spirit, and I offer humble observance to those who left us this past year, the many loved ones who have walked on to another journey. May their journeys be honored by … Continue reading Our Winter Count →

Moving Forward on Finances

By Peter Hepburn | January 2, 2025

For one, I’m proud of finishing the work started under my predecessor, Maggie Farrell, on the financial piece of the American Library Association (ALA) Operating Agreement, which governs the relationship between ALA and its membership divisions. I’m also pleased with the progress made in improving communication within the Association on finances. I am not, however, … Continue reading Moving Forward on Finances →

Headshots of candidates for 2026-27 ALA president candidates

Cronk, Jamison, McCauley Seek 2026–2027 ALA Presidency

December 9, 2024

The ALA Nominating Committee also announced on November 12 the 21 nominated candidates who are running for a total of 12 at-large seats on ALA Council for the 2025–2028 term. The presidential candidates announcement reads as follows: Lindsay Cronk, dean of libraries at Tulane University in New Orleans; Andrea Jamison, assistant professor of school librarianship … Continue reading Cronk, Jamison, McCauley Seek 2026–2027 ALA Presidency →

11 Questions: Bill Ladewski

November 19, 2024

Ladewski answered our 11 Questions to reintroduce himself to the ALA community. Coffee, tea, other? Coffee, one cup of hot coffee in the morning. What’s the first website or app you check in the morning? Weather app. On weekends, probably YouTube. Best career advice you’ve ever received? I’ve received a lot of good advice from … Continue reading 11 Questions: Bill Ladewski →

11 Questions: Amy Katzenberger

November 12, 2024

She answered our 11 Questions to introduce herself to ALA members. Coffee, tea, other? Coffee—Café Bustelo What’s the first website or app you check in the morning? Notifications first, including the Katzenberger GroupMe chat, referred to by my mother-in-law as The Groupon. Best career advice you’ve ever received? Make time for thinking. Credit to Peg … Continue reading 11 Questions: Amy Katzenberger →

Latest Library Links

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Jodi Fortino writes: “Some Lee’s Summit (Mo.) School District Board of Education members said they’ve heard from parents concerned about what content their children can access in school libraries. Starting this month, parents can place their student on a restricted checkout status. Parents can call their school’s librarian and list up to 20 titles that their student won’t be able to check out. School librarians said they received 89 formal reconsideration requests in the 2022–2023 school year, but none of them came from parents whose children had checked out a book.” No requests were received in the 2023–2024 school year.

KCUR-FM (Kansas City, Mo.), Mar. 10
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Jeffrey Brainard writes: “The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday told staff members it has canceled subscriptions carried by its National Agricultural Library as part of a drive by President Donald Trump’s administration (and its Department of Government Efficiency) to cut federal spending. The move appears to drop nearly 400 of the library’s roughly 2,000 journals, including many prominent in various agricultural subfields—but curiously none from the world’s three largest scientific publishers, all of which are for-profit. Most of the affected publishers are university or nonprofit scientific society presses. USDA staff members depicted the move as hasty, indiscriminate slashing.”

Science, Mar. 17
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Amanda Rogers and Dianndra Roberts write: “Neurodiversity is the natural variation in human neurological functioning. Approximately 15%–20% of the global population is neurodivergent. Organizations that do not actively include and support neurodivergent individuals risk missing out on exceptional talents and undermining employees’ ability to work to their full potential. Workplace practices that support diverse working styles can build a positive and supportive environment without enforcing neuronormativity. By fostering an inclusive environment that values different ways of thinking, organizations can drive innovation, enhance problem-solving, and improve overall team performance.”

The Scholarly Kitchen, Mar. 17
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Dawson Damico writes: “For nearly 80 years, Iberia Parish (La.) Library has offered services to the public. It is now on the verge of closing down if a reduced millage renewal is not passed in the March 29 election. Last year, the renewal failed to pass, making this year’s election vital for the future of the system. It will be at a reduced rate from six mills to 4.5 mills. All libraries in the system are [currently] operating off a reduced balance of $3.3 million. If [the millage is] not passed, Hills said the funds will be depleted by March 2026.”

KLFY-TV (Lafayette, La.), Mar. 12
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Ian Trawinski, Lisa Picker, and Andrea Berstler write: “Makerspaces are commonly expected to host a younger demographic, while libraries are thought of as a space mostly visited by older generations. [But at] Carroll County (Md.) Public Library’s Exploration Commons, we have found that our makerspace is enjoyed across all generations. In fact, we have found that the customers who most take advantage of the tools and programs supplied by Exploration Commons, in ways we had not anticipated, are seniors. Exploration Commons regularly hosts programs designed to help ease seniors into learning how to operate the equipment available in this makerspace.”

Information Technology and Libraries, Mar. 17
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Alan S. Inouye writes: “On the evening of March 14, President Trump launched an assault on libraries by signing an executive order titled Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy. The president cannot fully eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services without congressional approval, but his order takes every possible step in that direction. The good news is that there is a groundswell of opposition to Trump’s order. Since ALA’s March 15 statement, more than 55,000 messages have been recorded and sent to Congress members through ALA’s action center. In addition to grassroots advocacy, ALA is opposing the executive order in a number of ways.” ALA has published an FAQ to help library workers, advocates, and users understand the order.

AL: The Scoop, Mar. 19; ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Mar. 18
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Hannah Weinberg writes: “Since President Trump retook office on January 20, libraries and librarianship have been assaulted via executive orders and other actions. While the legality of many of these actions is still being decided by the courts, librarians, archivists, and other information professionals have been working through the confusion to preserve access to information. Below are several examples of the challenges libraries have faced over the past two months and the ways in which librarians and advocates have responded—and continue to respond.”

American Libraries Trend, Mar. 19

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