@librarypolicy.bsky.social
Updates from the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social Public Policy & Advocacy team in D.C. #LibrariesStrong #BuildLibraries #FundLibraries #eBooksForAll #ForOurLibraries Become a library advocate: ala.org/takeaction
OPPORTUNITY: After rollbacks to #ERate funding for Wi-Fi hotspots, many libraries have new gaps in their budgets.
@missiontelecom.bsky.social is offering to help bridge the gaps for libraries & schools that received approval only to see it taken away. Learn more: missiontelecom.org/news-and-ins...
Poster featuring an illustration of Gustavo the Shy Ghost. Text reads "Don't be afraid to READ!"
Don't be afraid to READ!
Get into the spooky season with this poster featuring Gustavo the Shy Ghost from Mexican artist and New York Times bestselling author Flavia Z Drago.
Purchase here: https://bit.ly/4nZO2EO
NDIA, National Digital Inclusion Alliance. Oct 6-10, Digital Inclusion Week. Community Driven Digital Futures. Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) 2025 emphasizes that community-led solutions are essential building long-term, inclusive digital futures. Join DIW to help lift up community dreiven digital inclusion efforts.
It’s Digital Inclusion Week every week in public libraries across the country.
With more than 17,000 technology-enabled and convenient locations with trusted staff trained to connect people with the resources they need to succeed! #DIW2025
“Americans are curious, inquisitive, learning, and enriching themselves…”
Banned Books Week honorary chair @georgetakei.bsky.social knows we need the right to read to understand each other.
Full interview: youtu.be/Gm4-SOEwEYk
#BannedBooksWeek #CensorshipIsSo1984
w/@topshelfcomix.bsky.social
“People of faith belong firmly and proudly on the front lines of advocating for local libraries—and contesting efforts to undermine or censor them.”
— ALA President Sam Helmick & Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, Pres. & CEO of Interfaith Alliance
religionnews.com/2025/10/08/f...
#BannedBooksWeek
Reader Voter Ready, ALA American Library Association, National Voter Education Week, Oct 6-11, 2025. We're here to get everyone #VoteReady: Register to vote, get to know your ballot, make a plan to vote, understand the process, share with friends & family.
During #NationalVoterEducationWeek (and every week!) libraries across the country are helping patrons find nonpartisan information about elections, get registered to vote, and learn about the issues. How is your library getting #ReaderVoterReady?
Head to ala.org/readervoterready to find resources!
Recharging in Challenging Times An ALA Virtual Event February 10, 2026 Save the Date! Illustration of a calendar and clock.
✨ #ALAVirtual26 SAVE THE DATE for Recharging in Challenging Times, an ALA Virtual Event that will bring ideas, inspiration, and connection to the forefront. Make plans to join us on February 10, 2026. Look for details soon!
09.10.2025 20:46 — 👍 18 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0What does it really mean when a book is banned?
ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom breaks down the difference between challenges, restrictions, and bans—and how we’re fighting censorship every day.
Join the fight: UniteAgainstBookBans.org
Donate to ALA: ilovelibraries.org/1984
#BannedBooksWeek
Resolution: Expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States. Whereas the overwhelming majority of voters in the United States oppose book bans; Whereas an overwhelming majority of voters in the United States support educators teaching about the civil rights movement, the history and experiences of Native Americans, enslaved Africans, immigrants facing discrimination, and the ongoing effects of racism; Whereas an overwhelming majority of Americans are confident that their community’s public schools select appropriate books for students to read;
Thank you Rep. @raskin.house.gov for your resolution on the House floor recognizing #BannedBooksWeek!
We're grateful for the support of library champions in Congress who are showing up for libraries, library workers, and intellectual freedom.
Full resolution: raskin.house.gov/_cache/files...
Resolution: Expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States. Whereas the overwhelming majority of voters in the United States oppose book bans; Whereas an overwhelming majority of voters in the United States support educators teaching about the civil rights movement, the history and experiences of Native Americans, enslaved Africans, immigrants facing discrimination, and the ongoing effects of racism; Whereas an overwhelming majority of Americans are confident that their community’s public schools select appropriate books for students to read;
Thank you Rep. @raskin.house.gov for your resolution on the House floor recognizing #BannedBooksWeek!
We're grateful for the support of library champions in Congress who are showing up for libraries, library workers, and intellectual freedom.
Full resolution: raskin.house.gov/_cache/files...
Happy Digital Inclusion Week! #DIW25
Did you know that ALA has a Digital Inclusion Working Group for library workers interested in connecting w/ peers on all things digital opportunity? Visit our Digital Equity Resources for Libraries page to learn more about joining: www.ala.org/advocacy/fed...
“That's not transparency, that’s not due process, that’s not the First Amendment.”
ALA President Sam Helmick tells The Hill that they're hearing stories of superintendents handing librarians a Post-it with book titles then demanding both the Post-it and those books back.
thehill.com/homenews/edu...
NDIA, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Digital Inclusion Week, Oct 6-10, 2025. Community-Driven Digital Futures: Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is an annual nationwide event dedicated to raising awareness about digital equity and the vital importance or inclusion in our increasingly digital world. If you believe that everyone deserves digital access, DIW is for you!
During this #DIW2025, we’re celebrating the critical role libraries play in addressing their community’s unique needs.
From accessing telehealth services, help applying for jobs, connecting veterans with benefits and tech lending programs - libraries power community-driven digital futures for all.
Today at 3:00 pm CT.
Find inspiration and ideas for your own advocacy from the students on the front lines of the fight against censorship.
bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans
#BannedBooksWeek
Reader Voter Ready, National Voter Education Week, Oct 6-11, 2025. We're here to get everyone #VoteReady. Register to vote, get to know your ballot, make a plan to vote, understand the process, and share with friends and family. NationalVoterEducationWeek.org
This #NationalVoterEducationWeek, we're proud to celebrate the work libraries do every day to connect their communities with information and resources for local, state, and federal elections!
Libraries are getting their communities #VoteReady, & yours can too! Find more at ala.org/readervoterready
"Three years ago, after a difficult state legislative session in TX that aimed to restrict access to books and disparage the work of librarians, I recognized the urgency of helping my community understand how our libraries operate." - San Antonio school librarian Lucy Podmore
https://bit.ly/4nEV0iQ
Censorship is so 1984. Supporting Libraries is so 2025. Read for your rights. Give for our libraries. American Library Association logo
The right to read belongs to all of us, but rights only survive when we defend them. ALA is standing with library workers, parents, and readers to push back against censorship. You can donate to support our work at ilovelibraries.org/1984.
Censorship is so 1984, but supporting libraries is so 2025.
Picture of Kevin Maher, Lisa Varga, and Megan Janicki (ALA staff), posing together in the ALA office in Washington. Kevin holds bookmarks that read "Reader Voter Ready", Lisa holds a sign encouraging advocates to take action against book bans, and Megan holds a sign that says "Show up for E-Rate"
Three celebrations, one week:
✅#BannedBooksWeek
✅Digital Inclusion Week #DIW25
✅#NationalVoterEducationWeek
Here at ALA, we're proud to celebrate all 3, along w/ libraries nationwide!
Libraries protect the right to read, help get patrons online, AND connect communities to election information.
Picture of Kevin Maher, Lisa Varga, and Megan Janicki (ALA staff), posing together in the ALA office in Washington. Kevin holds bookmarks that read "Reader Voter Ready", Lisa holds a sign encouraging advocates to take action against book bans, and Megan holds a sign that says "Show up for E-Rate"
Three celebrations, one week:
✅#BannedBooksWeek
✅Digital Inclusion Week #DIW25
✅#NationalVoterEducationWeek
Here at ALA, we're proud to celebrate all 3, along w/ libraries nationwide!
Libraries protect the right to read, help get patrons online, AND connect communities to election information.
It's Digital Inclusion Week, which means we should be celebrating. But changes to the #ERate program by the FCC mean that libraries & their communities will lose out on federal support for internet access via Wi-Fi hotspots.
Read more, ft Sam Helmick: broadbandbreakfast.com/libraries-an... #DIW2025
Today at noon CT.
Register at ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#BannedBooksWeek
Special #BannedBooksWeek edition of the @projectcensored.bsky.social show with Youth Honorary Chair Iris Mogul, ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social, and Lee Rowland from @ncacensorship.bsky.social.
https://www.projectcensored.org/banned-books-week-censorship-1984/
Take at least ONE action to help defend books from censorship and speak up for those who make them available. Find resources/tools + actions you can take in just 5 mins: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day #BannedBooksWeek #UniteAgainstBookBans @la-cac.org @aaslala.bsky.social
05.10.2025 15:23 — 👍 111 🔁 58 💬 0 📌 2
Oct 6-10: Digital Inclusion Week 2025. This year's theme, "Community-Driven Digital Futures", recognizes that the most impactful solutions for bridging the digital divide emerge directly from within our communities. Join in digital inclusion week to advance digital equity and strengthening communities. NDIA, National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
There's a lot happening this week - including Digital Inclusion Week!
We proudly celebrate the work libraries do to build community-driven digital futures. Libraries ensure all community members have access to broadband, and the digital skills needed to thrive online. #DIW2025
Don't miss the first free webinar of this year's #BannedBooksWeek, today at 3pm Central! Learn more and register ⤵️
06.10.2025 14:53 — 👍 0 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
"Those who ban books want to lock away ideas they fear. But in truth, they are trying to steal our freedom."
#BannedBooksWeek honorary chair @georgetakei.bsky.social encourages all of us to stand up for the freedom to read! #CensorshipIsSo1984
youtu.be/qwtzX15AKvQ?...
BANNED BOOKS WEEK Oct. 5-11, 2025. Censorship is so 1984 - Read for Your Rights. ala.org/bbooks. American Library Association
Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights.
Today kicks off #BannedBooksWeek, and this year's theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.
https://www.ala.org/bbooks.
The good news? If it's brief, most library services will continue since funding has already been distributed to states. But a longer shutdown could mean serious disruptions.
Learn more and contact your representatives at: ala.org/fundlibraries
The federal government shutdown that started October 1st is affecting libraries across the country and there are concerns about potential elimination of library-supporting programs. Learn more about what this means for agencies, funding and staff:
americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-sc...
After federal cut, libraries across Florida are being forced to limit or end Inter-Library Loan services, an essential program for sharing information across the state: www.gainesville.com/story/news/2...
Use your voice, tell Congress to #FundLibraries: ala.org/fundlibraries
