Articles

Catch up on the latest in library programming news.

Curious Kids Club: Full STEAM Ahead!

This library transformed a traditional summer reading program into the Curious Kids Club, a six-week, hands-on summer program with a science-camp feel that combined literacy with STEAM.

Stitched Stories: Where Quilting, Literacy, and Elders Meet

In the African American tradition, quilting is both practice and philosophy. Stitched Stories was built to put that inheritance directly into young people’s hands, pairing books with needle and thread.

Libraries as the Connective Tissue in Addressing the Digital Divide

Through ALA's Community Connect initiative, libraries in small towns have enhanced internet access for underserved populations, opening doors for patrons and increasing the visibility of libraries as key hubs in their communities.

Q&A: 3 Expert Librarians Share Their Summer Reading Décor Secrets

We asked three librarians with decades of combined experience planning large-scale summer reading décor to share their advice and go-to materials.

Mar 30, 2026

Getting Started with Program Evaluation

Real, meaningful evaluation isn’t just a survey you tack on at the end of a program. It’s an integral piece of your planning process, right from the start. Once you learn to recognize the elements of evaluation and use them with intentionality, you’ll be able to continually grow the impact of your programs and your ability to tell their story.

Mar 27, 2026

The Secret to Successful Program Promotion? Data.

Picture this: You work hard to plan an awesome program, but nobody shows up. You feel totally defeated, and you aren't sure what you could've done differently. The secret to success? Data.

Mar 25, 2026

Engagement and Advocacy Start with Community Mapping

Taking time to understand who you know — and who you don’t know — is a great way to begin your journey toward being a community-informed programming librarian.

Mar 24, 2026

The Current State of Library Programs for Older Adults

ALA has released a new landscape report to better understand the current state of library programming for older adults.

Mar 24, 2026

What to Focus on When Hosting In-Person Events

What should library staff pay attention to when hosting an in-person event? This video walks you through what to look out for.

Mar 20, 2026

What It Takes to Run a 17,000-Player Library Game

Playable at various community points, Ann Arbor District Library’s Summer Game is played by thousands of people of all ages and has become a community tradition.

Mar 20, 2026

Digital Pathways

This new free guide will help library workers to reduce disparities in healthcare access and foster active engagement in personal health management for adults.

Mar 19, 2026

Facilitating Meetings in Support of Your Cool New Program Idea

If you have a cool new idea for a program, chances are you have to “sell” your boss on the idea before you can move forward. All this work is likely to occur in meetings. Here's how to prepare.

Mar 17, 2026

Libraries as Leaders in Bridging Divides

The new free guide and eCourse will equip library workers with the tools needed to facilitate challenging conversations on divisive issues.

Mar 13, 2026

New Funding, Deeper Change: How First-Time LTC Grantees Are Making Accessibility Happen

Libraries of all types and sizes frequently rely on grant funding to supplement their budgets. Read about the significant strides first-time small and rural library grantees took toward catalyzing positive change within their communities.

Mar 12, 2026

9 Sources for Program Inspiration

With seemingly endless possibilities, how should you decide which programs to pursue? Tina Panik shares nine sources she uses to keep her calendar fresh and to meet the needs of her Connecticut community.

Feb 25, 2026

A Brief History of ALA’s Public Programs Office

For 34 years, the Public Programs Office encouraged libraries to think beyond the status quo—and gave them the resources to do just that.