Articles

Catch up on the latest in library programming news.

Commemorating 250 Years: 12 Library Programs to Explore Local History During the United States Semiquincentennial

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Start preparing now with these 12 program ideas.

What Library Patrons Have to Say About Accessibility

Three library users with disabilities share what they've noticed and what they'd still like to see in their library's accessibility efforts.

Partnering for Accessibility in Small & Rural Libraries

Community partnerships can be instrumental for small and rural libraries. These libraries share how they benefit from working with partners on important accessibility projects.

Solving Accessibility Challenges in Small & Rural Libraries

Through a combination of practical workarounds, creative rethinking and sheer persistence, these small and rural libraries have worked to bring their accessibility plans to fruition.

Aug 4, 2020

Small Gestures Matter: Tennessee Library Helps Community Recover from Loss

Residents of a small Tennessee town dug up a 50-year-old time capsule to find it destroyed. The library stepped in to help.

Jul 30, 2020

Women's Suffrage Month Resource Round-up

We compiled a list of resources to help librarians commemorate the first official Women's Suffrage Month.

Jul 28, 2020

ALA President Launches Virtual Tour of U.S. Libraries

The 12-stop virtual tour will spotlight how libraries are addressing the needs of their diverse communities.

Jul 20, 2020

We Are the Alexandria Library Sit-In

In 1939, five Black men applied for library cards at a whites-only library. Then they sat in protest.

National History Day and Teacher/Librarian Collaboration

National History Day is a nonprofit education organization whose programs engage students in conducting original research.

Presenting Virtual Library Programming in Uncertain Times

Hannah Schmidl reflects on her experience of quickly pivoting from in-person to virtual programming and how this new skillset will stick around.

Jul 6, 2020

Apply Now: Community Connect

ALA and Capital One invite rural libraries to apply for Community Connect: Digital Access at Home grants.

Jul 1, 2020

Apply Now: Resilient Communities

Be part of a new pilot program to help public and academic libraries address the climate change crisis.

Grab-and-Go Bags from Magical Lands

Meservey Public Library staff created take-home activity bags based on famous literary lands.

Jun 24, 2020

Wisconsin Deaf Storyslam

Milwaukee Public Library's award-winning event invited Deaf people to share personal stories.

Jun 17, 2020

Ready for a Changing World: Design Challenges, Virtual Learning and Climate Change

Participatory design can be a powerful way to center youth voices as our society confronts major changes.

Anti-Racism in My Rural Library

In a conservative Iowa town of just 250, Chelsea Price is striving to make her tiny library inclusive.