Chicago Proclaims October 6 “American Library Association Day”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proclaimed October 6, ALA’s anniversary, as American Library Association Day in Chicago.
Discover the people, policies, and pivotal moments that shaped the ALA and the libraries we all rely on. Our anniversary blog is your behind-the-scenes look at the legacy we’re honoring and the future we’re building, with regular stories on how we’re celebrating.
Chicago Proclaims October 6 “American Library Association Day”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proclaimed October 6, ALA’s anniversary, as American Library Association Day in Chicago.
ALA’s Anniversary Meets a Critical Moment for the Right to Read
The overlap of Banned Books Week and ALA’s official 150th anniversary offers a timely opportunity to reflect on ALA’s longstanding role in defending intellectual freedom and protecting Americans’ right to read.
150 Years of Advocacy for Libraries
Advocacy for libraries has been at the heart of the American Library Association’s (ALA) mission for 150 years. A new publication by ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy office highlights milestones and key accomplishments from ALA’s history. The resulting laws and initiatives have made an indelible impact on America’s libraries and the people they serve.
ALA’s 150 in United States’ 250: Democracy in the Making
ALA’s work at 150 is inextricably intertwined with the work of advancing the United States of America’s 250 and libraries across the globe. We are a vital part of democracy in the making.
Since ALA headquarters moved in 2020 to its present location at Chicago’s 225 North Michigan Avenue, ALA Librarian Colleen Barbus has presided over a completely reimagined in-house library.
The Librarians’ and Library Workers’ Bill of Rights
During the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago, ALA Council passed a resolution calling for the adoption and recognition of the Librarians’ and Library Workers’ Bill of Rights, a landmark framework affirming the dignity, safety and professional rights of library workers across all sectors.
The Future of Librarians: dLIST, a Story the Commons Keeps
The history of the Digital Library of Information Science and Technology (dList), the library field’s first open access disciplinary repository for Library and Information Science scholarship, shows what happens when a profession’s stated values and its institutional choices diverge at a technological inflection point.
For the Cornerstones of Our Communities: ALA and the Freedom to Read
Shortly after ALA was founded, it became clear that libraries needed a voice in government. ALA’s intertwined Public Policy and Advocacy Office and Office for Intellectual Freedom are that presence, ensuring that libraries and library professionals receive the support that allow them to succeed at providing equitable access to information for all.
The History of the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund
To financially support librarians who have been denied employment rights or discriminated against on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, age, disability, or place of national origin or denied employment rights because of their defense of intellectual freedom, ALA created the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, named in honor of a staunch defender of intellectual freedom and editor of ALA’s Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom.
A Look at ALA’s Historic Support for Small and Rural Libraries
In March 2022, ALA announced a new project in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries, under ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative, to expand support for hundreds of small and rural libraries across the country.