American Libraries magazine

Considering AI | American Libraries Magazine These four recent books about AI offer important criticisms, background information, and critical strategies for librarians.

In this issue's Librarian's Library column, Reanna Esmail reviews four books examining #artificialintelligence in the library world. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/considering-ai/

Broadband funding, Baker & Taylor, intellectual freedom, and federal issues were some of the most important library stories of 2025. Read our recap of the biggest library news. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/2025-year-in-review/

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AL Live--Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you're embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are consider...

Coming today, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. Eastern: Join the FREE AL Live webinar, “Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the right LIS program." Register: bit.ly/4pFB13R. Sponsored by Old Dominion University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

By the Numbers: Black History | American Libraries Magazine Statistics about Black history collections, Black authors, and Black literature.

Did you know: Morehouse College's Martin Luther King Jr. Collection contains more than 13,000 items, including early drafts of the "I Have a Dream" speech. Learn more in this issue's "By the Numbers" column: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/by-the-numbers-black-history/

Bookend: Once Upon a Time | American Libraries Magazine The Storytelling Resource Place holds books, recordings, costumes, and other items related to the storytelling performance tradition.

"Much like libraries safeguard written knowledge, we safeguard the living traditions of oral storytelling." Discover the Storytelling Research Place at https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/12/12/bookend-once-upon-a-time/

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AL Live--Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you're embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are consider...

Join us for the next AL Live webinar, “Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the right LIS program" February 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register FREE at bit.ly/4pFB13R. Sponsored by Old Dominion University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

Preparing for New Web Accessibility Requirements | American Libraries Magazine Getting started with web accessibility improvements can feel over­whelming. But even incremental improvements have real benefits.

Small steps can help make significant improvements to website accessibility. Learn more: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/12/17/preparing-for-new-web-accessibility-requirements/

Bookend: Up Her Sleeve | American Libraries Magazine Northport–East Northport (N.Y.) Public Library commemorated Library Card Sign-Up Month with a display of 1,200 cards from around the world.

Learn how a librarian at Northport-East Northport Public Library collected and displayed more than 1,200 library cards from around the world. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/24/bookend-up-her-sleeve/

Submissions Open for Library Design Showcase | American Libraries Magazine American Libraries is accepting submissions for the 2026 Library Design Showcase in the September/October issue.

American Libraries is seeking submissions for our 2026 Library Design Showcase. Share your fabulous new or newly renovated library facility! https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/submissions-open-for-library-design-showcase-2/

Bold Changes | American Libraries Magazine Work is under way to address ALA’s challenges, using the ALA Forward initiative to help guide us toward financial stability.

ALA Treasurer Larry Neal's column provides an update on efforts to address ALA's financial situation. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/bold-changes/

💻 Join ALA for the Recharging in Challenging Times Virtual Event! 💬 One day, 9 education sessions across 3 tracks, 2 keynote speakers, and facilitator-led conversations—all built around the priorities you helped us identify. Register today! https://www.ala.org/virtual-event #ALAVirtual26

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AL Live--Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you're embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are consider...

Join us for the next AL Live webinar, “Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the right LIS program" February 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register FREE at bit.ly/4pFB13R. Sponsored by Old Dominion University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

Librarian's Library by Reanna Esmail

As #artificialintelligence has made its way into library work, these four recent publications offer important criticisms, background information, and critical strategies for librarians to address this growing technology. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/considering-ai/

Newsmaker: Brian Selznick | American Libraries Magazine Caldecott Medal–winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick talks about his latest YA novel, Run Away with Me.

Caldecott-Medal-winning author/illustrator Brian Selznick spoke with @howilibrary.bsky.social about finding revelatory love, building on cultural history, and why books scare those in power. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/newsmaker-brian-selznick/

Walk with a Purpose | American Libraries Magazine Instead of simply highlighting censorship statistics or bemoaning what we can’t read, the Freedom Walk celebrates our right to read.

"The Freedom Walk explores the ideas behind our freedom to read and the critical role students and the public can play in protecting that freedom. Instead of celebrating what we can’t read, we celebrate our right to read." https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/walk-with-a-purpose-2/

Illustration by Antonio Rodriguez of a person reading a book to others in the library

In "Moving Beyond the Acronym," a panel of experts explore how executive orders are threatening diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at colleges and universities, and how those issues are affecting librarians. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/moving-beyond-the-acronym/

Racing the Clock | American Libraries Magazine Speed puzzling, or the practice of assembling a jigsaw puzzle as fast as possible, has become an unlikely hit at public libraries.

Learn how libraries are piecing together a fun new program: speed puzzling competitions. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/racing-the-clock/

YouTube video by American Library Association The American Library Association turns 150

2026 is ALA's 150th anniversary, a milestone that invites us to advocate fiercely and invest in the infrastructure that makes libraries a foundation of thriving communities. Celebrate all year at ALA150.org. #ForOurLibraries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5L_7MB8G3c

Reinvigorating ALA | American Libraries Magazine My primary goal at the Association is to ensure financial stability, foster member trust and growth, and bolster advocacy.

"My primary goal is achieving the vision outlined in the ALA Forward initiative: ensuring ALA’s financial stability, fostering membership trust and growth, and bolstering advocacy." Read the new Executive Director's column. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/reinvigorating-ala/

Unlocking Possibilities | American Libraries Magazine July’s United for Libraries Virtual event featured programs on governance, fundraising, relationship building, and storytelling.

The @ala-united.bsky.social virtual conference focused on fiscal, logistical, institutional, and existential challenges to libraries and the role library supporters can play to address them. Read our report at https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/unlocking-possibilities/

Your Library Story | American Libraries Magazine When we tell our stories, we remind the world that libraries are living testaments to human curiosity and care.

Your story matters. ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social demonstrates how sharing your work and your achievements is a critical act of library advocacy. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/your-library-story/

2025 Year in Review | American Libraries Magazine A look back at news that affected libraries and library workers in 2025, including federal funding updates and changes at ALA.

Read our recap of the news that shaped a tumultuous year for libraries and library workers. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/2025-year-in-review/

American Libraries American Libraries - January/February 2026

Our January/February issue is live on our website—featuring the top library stories of 2025, Newsmaker Brian Selznick, speed puzzling programs, and storytelling for advocacy. Read the full issue at https://bit.ly/AL-JF26issue or by article at https://bit.ly/AL-JF26stories.

Illustration of a woman watering a tree growing out of a person's head

Learn how professional development can fit into a well-being program—while reducing costs and increasing productivity. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/03/professional-development-is-a-wellness-program/

Ready for a Refresh | American Libraries Magazine Libraries add value to people’s lives with innovative programming for all ages. These books offer new and meaningful ways to serve patrons.

Our Librarian's Library column reviews books that offer ideas for innovative, meaningful library programming. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/03/ready-for-a-refresh/

Adaptive Arcade | American Libraries Magazine Adaptive controllers can help to make video game programs accessible to library patrons with disabilities.

Interested in improving the accessibility of videogame events? Learn Deerfield Public Library's approach in "Adaptive Arcade." https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/03/adaptive-arcade/

Adriana Harmeyer with Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings

"Of course, any kind of book category is going to be good for me." Purdue University archivist and Jeopardy! super champion Adriana Harmeyer speaks with American Libraries about her time on the show. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/03/qa-with-adriana-harmeyer/

Digital clocks that display literary quotes

Our Holiday Gift Guide has creative ideas for any book lover, from candles to computer games to clocks. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/16/2025-holiday-gift-guide-for-librarians-and-book-lovers/

In a new online column, ALA's Senior Endowment Trustee Brett Bonfield introduces himself and gives an overview of ALA's endowment, which provides ongoing support to the Association. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/10/17/an-introduction-to-the-endowment/

Newsmaker: Sean Sherman | American Libraries Magazine Award-winning chef Sean Sherman's second cookbook, Turtle Island, highlights the diversity of Indigenous food.

Chef Sean Sherman's new cookbook: Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, takes a region-by-region approach to Native ingredients, history, and cooking. Read our interview with him: https://bit.ly/3LgoIN7