Child kneeling near a small structure on the ground made up of sticks, moss, rocks, and acorns.

The Gnome Depot

June 1, 2026

Bunker, children’s librarian at Centennial Park Library (CPL) in Greeley, Colorado, had that opportunity as she prepared for one of her most popular summer programs last year. She also set out twigs, moss, leaves, pine cones, acorns, rocks, grass, berries, and other items gathered from her own home and around the library grounds. Her workshop, … Continue reading The Gnome Depot


Sam Helmick

ALA at 150

May 1, 2026

Today, we stand at 150 years, a century and a half of voices lifted, stories shared, and doors opened. We celebrate not just survival but triumph. For libraries are not just buildings; they are the pulse of democracy, the heart of community, and the echo of our collective soul. Through wars and unrest, through the … Continue reading ALA at 150


National Park Service arrowhead

By the Numbers: National Parks

March 2, 2026

400 Approximate number of libraries operated by the National Park Service (NPS). 3.5 million Number of materials housed in the NPS History Collection at the Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) Center for Media Services. The collection includes art, documents, photos, sound recordings, uniforms, and other objects. 25 Number of parks represented in the Open Parks Network, a collaboration … Continue reading By the Numbers: National Parks


Sara Lee with Smokey Bear memorabilia at the National Agricultural Library

Bookend: The Original Happy Camper

September 2, 2025

That’s just one of many intriguing tidbits to be learned while visiting the Beltsville, Maryland–based archive, which traces Smokey’s 81-year-and-counting career as the Forest Service’s wildfire prevention mascot. Created in 1944, the now-iconic bear—named after “Smokey Joe” Martin, assistant chief of the New York City Fire Department—was originally depicted so realistically that he scared children, … Continue reading Bookend: The Original Happy Camper



An illustration of a person on a book bike pedaling in the direction of the library

The Sustainability Issue

March 3, 2025

That’s what science librarian René Tanner—one of the dozens of librarians and experts whose actions American Libraries highlights in our Sustainability Issue—tells us. At a time when climate change seems impervious to the realities of workplace budgets and staff bandwidth, Tanner’s words ring as a salve and an appeal. When our team began planning this … Continue reading The Sustainability Issue


Illustration of people using sustainability tools in a house, in a garage, and outside

Green Lending

March 3, 2025

These Library of Things collections allow carbon footprint–conscious locals to buy less, monitor their usage of natural resources, appreciate nature, and create a more sustainable environment. Most items are returned in their entirety, while others—like seeds and weather stripping—are intended for borrowers to keep what they need and return the rest. Click to open an … Continue reading Green Lending


Photo of the January 2025 Palisades fire

Sustaining for the Future

March 3, 2025

But providing access to technology, shelter, and information after extreme weather is only one way libraries are grappling with sustainability. Many are also guiding communities with information to address urgent and emerging ecological threats, such as air and water pollution, food insecurity, and diminishing natural resources, as well as economic, political, and social disruptions. Libraries … Continue reading Sustaining for the Future


Illustrated timeline, detailed in text below

Commitments to Conservation

March 3, 2025

1989 ALA creates the Task Force on the Environment, timed with Earth Day’s 20th anniversary in 1990. The task force is now part of the Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT). 1990 ALA introduces Environmental Issues to its Policy Manual, urging librarians and library governing boards to “collect and provide information [to patrons] on the condition of our … Continue reading Commitments to Conservation


Rebekkah Smith Aldrich headshot

From Anxiety to Action

March 3, 2025

This hope comes from the efforts to take action, both large and small, that I have seen among my colleagues locally and nationally over the past decade: American Library Association (ALA) members who started ALA’s Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT) in 2013; members of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), which launched the same year and partners … Continue reading From Anxiety to Action


Grid of images including a person picking up trash, a seed packet, vegetables, a bee and flower, and a yoga mat and blocks

27 Sustainability Ideas to Implement Right Now

March 3, 2025

Organize a swap. Sul Ross State University Library in Alpine, Texas, hosted a clothing exchange for students, while Bring Your Own Plant is a popular, low-cost event at Lancaster (Wis.) Public Library. Facilitate food security. Charleston County (S.C.) Public Library installed community fridges stocked with fresh produce at three of its branches, while Summers County … Continue reading 27 Sustainability Ideas to Implement Right Now


A red brick building with a curved roof completely covered in solar panels

The Net-Zero Revolution

March 3, 2025

Thanks to a municipal bond and strong local support, however, in 2017 the library had the opportunity to construct a new building that was not only modern but also environmentally friendly. At the heart of the design is a rooftop with 700 solar panels, which elevated the project to net-zero energy status. That means the … Continue reading The Net-Zero Revolution