Articles

Catch up on the latest in library programming news.

Death Café at the Library: Where Strangers Meet to Discuss the End

A Death Café is a place where “people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death." And they are quite commonplace in libraries.

Our Top Picks for ALA Annual 2025 in Philly

Check out our recommended ALA Annual 2025 sessions that will spark fresh ideas and elevate your library programming game.

I Love Libraries: Real-Life Stories of Library Impact

Take action at ILoveLibraries.org and read through the following articles to inspire advocacy for our communities and libraries.

Unmasking the Joy of Reading: A School Library Twist on 'The Masked Singer’

A school librarian engaged students with a “Masked Reader” event, during which students guessed the identities of masked teachers, fostering an excitement for reading.

Nov 21, 2019

APPLY NOW: Facilitation Training

An ALA initiative helps small and rural library staff develop the communication skills they need to thrive.

Building Community in a School Library

Students should feel welcome in their library. Luckily, programming is a great way to build community.

Public Humanities in Public Libraries

Hannah Schmidl from Princeton Public Library explains why libraries are the perfect place to connect people to thought-provoking humanities work.

Nov 13, 2019

Grant Prep: 6 Things to Do Before Starting

Finding and applying for grants can be a slog, but it’s easier with some advance preparation.

Oct 31, 2019

4 Writing Prompts to Break the Ice

Help patrons of all ages find their stories — not only as readers, but as writers.

Reel ‘Em In! Get Secondary Students Hooked on Self-Selected Titles

Encourage teens to get excited about reading with these tips from school librarians Donna Mignardi and Jennifer Sturge.

The Library as 'Force Multiplier': Finals at the UT-Knoxville Library

An academic library shares its approach to program planning, risk taking and putting students first.

Fun Ways to Advertise Library Programs

If you advertise it, they will come ... won't they? Use these tips to get new faces in the door.

Oct 18, 2019

Free Health Resources for Public Libraries

The Public Library Association shares free health tools and resources in the spirit of Health Literacy Month.

An Adult Speaker Series on the Cheap

In the small town of Fenton, people craved cultural programming. The public library responded.

Oct 3, 2019

5 Ways to Target Your Email Marketing

Program marketing is all about getting the right message to the right person at the right time.

Campus Wellness: Promoting Self-Care

Nap tent, anyone? Many colleges today have campus wellness offices, and they're an ideal program partner.