John Fuduric, owner of The Cleveland Brewery, who used library resources to print unique beer taps for his business.

Library Advocacy Video Premieres at PLA

April 6, 2016

The video featured John Fuduric, owner of The Cleveland Brewery, who used the local library’s 3D printer to create custom keg tap handles, and helped demonstrate how libraries assist local entrepreneurs in unusual ways. “Policy makers, community decision makers, and funders do not always recognize the expanded roles and capabilities of libraries nor recognize the extent … Continue reading Library Advocacy Video Premieres at PLA


ALA President Sari Feldman stopped by the photo booth in the ALA Lounge at Midwinter to show her support of the Libraries Transform campaign. Photo: Cognotes

Libraries Transform

March 1, 2016

The notion of telling and retelling the library story is at the heart of Libraries Transform, the American Library Association’s (ALA) new public awareness campaign. Libraries Transform is meant to give voice to the library profession, providing one clear, energizing message that showcases the transformative nature of libraries, elevating the critical role that libraries of … Continue reading Libraries Transform


Libraries Transform

Libraries Transform in a Community College

March 1, 2016

In fact, as higher education changes, as administrators redesign the educational process, as faculty refocus pedagogy, as educational vendors repurpose content, and as students and community users change how and when they learn, the community college library finds itself identifying and marketing what it already has to meet needs as well as what it redesigned … Continue reading Libraries Transform in a Community College




Sari Feldman

How to Create Impact

March 1, 2016

Although each priority has an individual implementation plan, it is at the intersection of our three strategic directions where we achieve the greatest impact. The National Library Card Sign-Up Month is one example of how the three priorities of the ALA strategic plan come together. Library Card Sign-Up Month events and campaigns add value to … Continue reading How to Create Impact


ALA President Sari Feldman presents Sen. Cory Booker a Libraries Transform t-shirt.

Cory Booker Headlines President’s Program

January 11, 2016

Introduced by ALA President Sari Feldman and Trevor Dawes and Martin Garnar of the Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which cosponsored the event, Booker was on hand to talk about themes from his forthcoming book United (Penguin Random House, February 2016), including ideas for coming together, improving our country’s access to information and … Continue reading Cory Booker Headlines President’s Program


Tiziana Dearing speaking alongside Chrismaldi Vasquez, Vetto Casado, and Miguel Figueroa.

Social Innovation and Library Transformation

January 11, 2016

Dearing, Boston College professor of social work and codirector of the Center for Social Innovation, focused her talk on defining the differences between social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise; illustrating cases of social innovation; and creating connections with social innovation and the work of libraries. She also invited audience members to participate in the … Continue reading Social Innovation and Library Transformation


2015 Year in Review

2015: Year in Review

January 4, 2016

  Librarian of Congress Moves On James H. Billington (left) retired as Librarian of Congress after 28 years. During his tenure, LC launched the National Digital Library and National Book Festival, among other accomplishments. Billington’s decision came after the Government Accountability Office issued a report identifying weaknesses in LC’s information technology planning.       … Continue reading 2015: Year in Review


Sari Feldman

Libraries Transform

January 4, 2016

The good news is that the Center for the Future of Libraries is providing guidance around the most challenging changes for library professionals. Trends such as the sharing economy and Big Data are worthy of discussion for libraries of all kinds. The sharing economy has given rise to unexpected collections: People are turning to their … Continue reading Libraries Transform


ALA President Sari Feldman (right) talks with fourth- and fifth-graders in the Thomson Elementary School library classroom.

Seeing How Libraries Transform
Across D.C.

October 30, 2015

Concurrent to the tour, Libraries Transform street team members went around D.C. to bring the message of the transformative impact of libraries to the public. American Libraries followed the Libraries Transform street team and tour, and here’s what we saw. 8:25 a.m. – Dupont Circle The Libraries Transform street team had an enticing proposition for … Continue reading Seeing How Libraries Transform
Across D.C.


Keith Michael Fiels

Support School Libraries!

September 4, 2015

In some communities, we see that testing pressures and budget decisions have led to the elimination of school libraries and school  ­librarians. In some districts, we see that school libraries are seen as a “frill”—nice to have but not essential to student learning. Yet school libraries and school librarians are among the most effective and efficient … Continue reading Support School Libraries!