Public Policy and Advocacy Office Archives | American Libraries Magazine

ALA, AFSCME File Lawsuit against Trump Administration

April 8, 2025

The full statement reads as follows: ALA, the largest library association in the world, and AFSCME, the largest union representing museum and library workers, are challenging the Trump administration’s gutting of IMLS—a nonpartisan and independent agency dedicated to supporting and funding libraries and museums and the crucial community services they provide in every state across the country. The … Continue reading ALA, AFSCME File Lawsuit against Trump Administration →

White House Attacks Libraries

By Alan S. Inouye | March 19, 2025

Underneath the Trump administration’s bureaucratic language is the clear intent to take away states’ funding to support their libraries. The president cannot fully eliminate IMLS without congressional approval, but his order takes every possible step in that direction. The order calls for the elimination of IMLS, by limiting budget requests from the agency to only the … Continue reading White House Attacks Libraries →

Outlook on Federal Funding Threats to Libraries

By Larra Clark | February 26, 2025

The following is what library workers need to know—and what they can do to stand up and speak out for needed resources. Federal budget battles The previous Congress’s failure to pass FY2025 spending bills that were due October 1, 2024, resulted in a temporary funding measure that extended federal spending at FY2024 levels through March … Continue reading Outlook on Federal Funding Threats to Libraries →

Elect to Protect Democracy

By Jessica Jones Capparell | June 18, 2024

In mere months, we’ll head to the ballot for a critical presidential election. It’s essential that every voter’s voice be heard as we elect our most powerful representatives. Yet, the past few years have seen a slew of antivoter laws that make it harder for people to cast ballots and for voting rights organizations to … Continue reading Elect to Protect Democracy →

Advocates and lawmakers met during the American Library Association’s (ALA) legislative fly-in, held March 5–7 in Washington, D.C. From left: Jason Homer, executive director of Worcester (Mass.) Public Library; Maria McCauley, director of Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library; US Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.); and Gavin Baker, deputy director for public policy and government relations in ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office.

Advocates Rally to Fund Libraries

By Kevin Maher | June 14, 2024

This year, the campaign for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal budget kicked off April 15 and concluded May 10. During that time, members of Congress signed “Dear Appropriator” letters requesting increased funding for specific library programs. Advocates sent more than 20,000 messages to their elected officials—a figure up 11% from last year—in a single … Continue reading Advocates Rally to Fund Libraries →

Geeta Halley (left), assistant director Round Rock (Tex.) Public Library and Jennifer Byrnes director of Rochester (N.Y.) Public Library's Business Insight Center, at the "Fostering Economic Opportunity and Advancement with Innovative Programming" session at ALA's 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.

Handling Business

By Megan Bennett | June 24, 2023

“The more that they came to the desk, the more I realized, once they took the books off the shelves and left, what happens after that?” said Halley, assistant director of Round Rock (Tex.) Public Library (RRPL). “How do they grow forward and expand their businesses?” Halley and others spoke about libraries supporting entrepreneurs at … Continue reading Handling Business →

Pictured: Erin MacFarlane wearing an orange jacket and has yellow hair speaks into microphone as Becky Calzada, wearing glasses with dark hair and a yellow shirt, listens

Louder Together

By Sanhita SinhaRoy | June 24, 2023

With the unprecedented number of book challenges in the United States this past year, “the rubber meets the road on advocacy when we’re working at the local and community levels,” said moderator Kent Oliver, retired Nashville (Tenn.) Public Library director and senior policy fellow in ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office. Oliver and a panel … Continue reading Louder Together →

Erin MacFarlane, customer experience administrator for the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Library District (right) speaks with US Rep. Raúl Grijalva during ALA's 2023 fly-in at Capitol Hill.

ALA Launches FY2024 #FundLibraries Campaign

By Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada | March 14, 2023

This year, there is a remarkably brief window for action: the deadline for signatures is March 20. The Library Services and Technology Act (LTSA) letter, circulated by US Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), urges House of Representatives appropriators to provide $232 million for LSTA to fund a wide range of essential library … Continue reading ALA Launches FY2024 #FundLibraries Campaign →

One Voice

By Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada | January 3, 2023

One of our greatest strengths is the simple and singular tool of using our united voice. When we unite our voices: We have the volume and power of a choir to amplify messages and make positive changes. Our message is informed by our unique and varied life experiences, our ancestors, and the goals we have … Continue reading One Voice →

Graphic: Letters of the Law with Mary Minow

What Does My Library Need to Know about Ebook Laws?

By Kyle K. Courtney and Mary Minow | May 17, 2022

Our online column Letters of the Law explores a wide range of legal issues that arise in libraries, with the help of a pair of leading authorities: Mary Minow, a librarian who became a lawyer; and Tomas A. Lipinski, a lawyer who became a librarian. Together they have authored four books on the subject, including … Continue reading What Does My Library Need to Know about Ebook Laws? →

Funding Closes Below Expectations for Libraries

By Kathi Kromer | March 24, 2022

Why was this disappointing for libraries? The final budget agreement between the administration and US House and Senate leadership unfortunately resulted in funding significantly below levels originally proposed by Congress. (See ALA’s FY2022 federal funding for libraries chart.) This was the case not only for many library programs but for most other domestic programs as … Continue reading Funding Closes Below Expectations for Libraries →

The 411 on Funding

By Lara Ewen | March 1, 2022

The pandemic threw the issue of unequal access to technology into sharp relief. Multiple funding bills have been proposed in the past few years—many with similar names—to alleviate this imbalance. However, staying on top of which bills have passed, what funding is available for libraries, and how librarians can get that funding can be a … Continue reading The 411 on Funding →

Latest Library Links

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Ada EZach Knippen writes: “In honor of National Library Week, teachers and staff [at Ada (Ohio) Exempted Village Schools] cooperated on a fun event for their students. Teachers volunteered to be a ‘Masked Reader’ and picked a book to read in their mask, and just like the show The Masked Singer, their voices were modified so the students couldn’t easily guess them. ‘I’ve heard kids of all ages, I’m saying kindergarten through 12th grade, who have just been chattering this week about the videos that they saw and guessing who they were,’ said District Librarian Chanda Smith.”

WLIO-TV (Lima, Ohio), Apr. 10
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Robin Camille Davis writes: “Are you the only person thinking about user experience (UX) at your library? Most libraries don’t have a whole team dedicated to UX, so you’re not alone, even if it feels like it! This post offers practical tips, moral support, and bite-sized UX wins for solo UX advocates trying to make change from within. When you’re flying solo, it’s all too easy to underestimate the amount of time, mental energy, and emotional labor that it may take to conduct just one study. So start small.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, Apr. 14
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“Elton John’s monumental album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, the original cast recording of Broadway’s Hamilton, and Microsoft’s reboot chime have been selected as some of the defining sounds of history and culture that will join the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. On April 9, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden named 25 recordings as audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage. The recordings selected for the National Recording Registry this year bring the number of titles on the registry to 675.”

Library of Congress, Apr. 9
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“Due to continued challenges in accessing federal funding, the Maine State Library will temporarily close and reorganize its operations. This decision follows layoff notices issued this week to 13 employees whose positions are funded through a program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Washington, DC. The library tentatively plans to reopen to the public on April 28. IMLS support accounts for approximately 30% of the library’s annual budget, and the 13 affected employees represent about 30% of its staff. Should access to federal funding be reinstated, the layoffs may be reversed.”

Maine State Library, Apr. 10
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Brittany Allen writes: “The American Academy of Poets launched National Poetry Month in 1996. Reviving a recent tradition, the fine minds at Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG) are celebrating the sonnet in style this spring. Every weekday this entire month, you can call the FSG Poetry Hotline (385-DIAL-FSG) and hear an FSG author read a poem, right into your personal ear.” For recommendations of poetry books, see lists from NCW Libraries in Washington; Utah State University; Canton (Mich.) Public Library; Boston Public Library; or St. Joe County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana.

Literary Hub, Apr. 1; NCW Libraries, Apr. 9; Utah State University, Apr. 7; Canton (Mich.) Public Library, Jan. 8; Boston Public Library; St. Joe County (South Bend, Ind.) Public Library, Apr. 10
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Phil Morehart writes: “The Secret Life of Librarians has been nominated for a Webby Award. Produced by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the online series explores the unexpected stories of librarians across the country. The 10 recipients of the American Library Association’s 2024 I Love My Librarian Award are at the series’ heart, with each penning a short piece encapsulating their work, and more importantly, why they do it. These are the stories of the unsung heroes whose work impacts lives both inside the library and outside its walls. Award voting is open until April 17.”

I Love Libraries, Apr. 14
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Ella Creamer writes: “Requests to remove books from library shelves are on the rise in the UK, as the influence of pressure groups behind book bans in the US crosses the Atlantic, according to those working in the sector. Most of the UK challenges appear to come from individuals or small groups, unlike in the US, where 72% of demands to censor books last year were brought forward by organized groups, according to the American Library Association earlier this week. However, evidence suggests that the work of US action groups is reaching UK libraries too.”

The Guardian, Apr. 14, Apr. 8

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