|
On April 20, ALA released its
State of America’s Libraries 2026 report, an annual snapshot of library trends.
The
report is published during
National Library Week, this year taking place April 19–25. The 2026 report documents censorship in libraries from the previous year.
In 2025, ALA recorded 713 attempts to censor library materials and services, of which 487 attempts targeted books.
The report includes a list of the 11 Most Targeted Titles in 2025, led by Sold by Patricia McCormick....
AL: The Scoop, Apr. 20
| |
|
Elyse H. Fox writes: “Librarians are used to being generalists, able to research all kinds of questions.
But when someone seeks help filling out a form or understanding their rights, those same staffers may be wary of crossing the line from legal reference to unauthorized practice of law.
Moreover, public library collections often have few legal resources for patrons.
Within these limitations, though, library workers can develop their legal reference skills and provide appropriate referrals.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
| |
|
ALA’s Public Programs Office has created the Programming Librarian Resource Hub, a collection of ready-to-use templates, worksheets, checklists, and timelines to make program planning easier.
Materials in the Resource Hub have been contributed by ALA staff, library workers, consultants, and others experienced in planning library programs.
Available documents include program planning worksheets, partnership agreements, sample policies, examples of directional signage and floor decals, and more....
Programming Librarian, Apr.
20
| |
|
Mobile Citizen helps libraries deliver reliable internet to the people who need it most—students, job seekers, families, and more. We have budget-friendly pricing at $10/month per device. We offer a range of devices from portable hotspots to SIM cards to tablets and Chromebooks.
Click here to learn more and get started today.
|
| |
|
Ariel Barreras writes: “Get ready for Round #2 of Pokémon Club! In December, I wrote about
preparing for my winter session of Pokémon Club, and my January post was about
lessons learned from my first sessions. I am currently preparing for our spring program season, which includes more Pokémon Club. In this post, I will share some art activities that I will be incorporating into my upcoming Pokémon Club sessions, including painting Pokémon cards, creating original Pokémon cards, and sculpting Pokémon clay art.”...
ALSC Blog, Apr. 16; Jan. 31; Dec. 11, 2025
| |
|
Eleanor Ball writes: “Because we (instructors, librarians, workplace professionals) have long since mastered skills like delegating tasks and coordinating multiple people, these skills become invisible to us.
We call upon them without thinking, and we forget how hard it might have been to learn them.
We forget we even had to learn them.
But students don’t know what they don’t know, and we’ve forgotten what they don’t know. How can we overcome our unconscious competence to help students learn from square one?”...
ACRLog Apr. 17
| |
|
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has created the AASL Page to Practice Book Club, a new online professional learning community designed to help school librarians and K–12 educators turn professional reading into real-world impact.
Hosted on LinkedIn, the club provides a flexible, asynchronous space for participants to engage with timely, high-quality professional titles from AASL’s collection. Through weekly facilitator-guided prompts, participants are invited to reflect, share insights, and engage in conversation with colleagues across the country....
American Association of School Librarians, Apr.
15
| |
|
|
|
Lydia Tang writes: “The first National Library Week was launched on March 16–22, 1958. Citing a 1957 survey showing that only 17% of Americans polled were reading a book, the inaugural National Library Week slogan was ‘Wake Up and Read!’ The National Library Week initiative was the first nationwide effort to promote literacy for personal and national improvement, to celebrate the role of libraries in making reading materials accessible to everyone, and to highlight the varied career opportunities available within the library profession.”...
ALA150, Apr. 20
| |
|
Whitney Hasler writes: “If you run a public library children’s program, you probably know the drop-off. Kids age out of storytime and a good chunk of your regulars just… disappear. They’re not tweens yet. They’re not ready for independent reading clubs.
They’re somewhere in the middle, and for a while, we weren’t serving them well. That gap is what led me to start Curious Kids, a monthly hands-on program for children roughly ages 6–9. It’s become one of my favorite things we do, and I want to share what’s made it work.”...
ALSC Blog, Apr. 19
| |
|
Jane Friedman writes: “A recent Book Industry Study Group webinar offered specific insights I hadn’t heard before: librarians as the publishing industry’s early warning system.
Librarians are not working in the realm of ‘what if’ when it comes to AI; they’re managing the real-world effects right now.
R. David Lankes, a library scholar who has conducted research in the field, suggested that libraries may be moving toward a new function that I would describe as ‘arbiters of reality,’ serving as ‘trusted humans’ who can vouch for a source.”...
JaneFriedman.com, Apr. 20
| |
|
|
|
Tiffany Liou writes: “Dallas is backing away from plans to close library branches after an
overwhelming wave of public support pushed city leaders to reconsider.
Now, the goal is for neighborhood libraries to remain open while expanding services at flagship locations.
The
proposed closures were initially part of a cost-saving effort to address a budget shortfall.
Shutting down four branches would save the city about $2.6 million. But during a Dallas City Council Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee meeting this week, council members expressed support for maintaining all existing branches.”...
WFAA-TV (Dallas), Apr. 20; Jan. 20
| |
|
Michael Kozlowski writes: “In North America, an estimated 57–61% of Gen Z and millennials identify as readers, averaging 3.5 to 4.5 books per year, with a preference for physical books.
Book clubs can serve as a natural extension for those seeking the benefits of reading and community.
Among younger adults, interest in book clubs is growing: About 21% of Gen Z and 29% of millennials report belonging to one, but they’re putting their own spin on them.”...
Good E-Reader, Apr. 20
| |
|
Adrienne De Luna writes: “Library budgets have been coming up over and over again in our community conversations, and the frustration is real.
Whether it’s hiring freezes, reduced programming, or being told to ‘do more with less,’ the pressure isn’t hypothetical. So now what? For a lot of libraries, the answer is grants as a practical, strategic way to keep showing up for your community the way they deserve.
You don’t need a development department or years of experience to get started.”...
Youth Services Playbook, Apr.
21
| | |
|
|
|
American Libraries Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Wednesday to personal members of ALA.
Editor, AL Direct: Greg Landgraf
Direct ad inquiries to: Melissa Carr
Send news and feedback: AL Direct
All links outside the ALA website are provided for informational purposes only. Questions about the content of any external site should be addressed to the administrator of that site. AL Direct FAQ.
American Libraries will not sell your email to outside parties, but your email may be shared with advertisers in this newsletter should you express interest in their products by clicking on their ads or content. If advertisers choose to communicate with you by email, they are obligated to provide you with an opportunity to opt-out from future emails in compliance with the CAN-SPAM act of 2003 and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation of 2018. Read the ALA privacy policy.
To manage your American Libraries email preferences, click here.
To unsubscribe from all ALA emails, click here.
American Library Association | 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300 | Chicago, IL 60601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg){kind=spacer}
