If you need financial help to get through your graduate program, you should know that scholarship funds are now available. The American Library Association (ALA) has more than $300,000 available to students who are studying in library science or school library media programs at the master's degree level. Get your application in early. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

Nadia Orozco-Sahi has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Career LIFT Award, sponsored by OCLC and Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. They are the Library Services Coordinator at the University of New Mexico.

Washington, D.C. – The Public Policy and Advocacy Office (PPA) is pleased to announce the release of the updated ALA Advocacy Action Plan Workbook, which is available online. The guide is a project of the Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA) and updates the 2009 workbook developed by the American Library Association (ALA) and United for Libraries (UFL).  

CHICAGO–Join Core for the webinar “Dropping the Other I-Word: Local Library of Congress Subject Heading Replacements” on November 1, 2023, at 1 p.m. CT.

New data shows record surge of challenges in public libraries

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has released new preliminary data documenting the continued rise in attempts to censor books and materials in public, school and academic libraries during the first eight months in 2023.

NEW YORK CITY — Beloved reading advocate, writer, and television and film star LeVar Burton will lead this year’s Banned Books Week, which takes place October 1–7, 2023. Burton is the first actor to serve as honorary chair of Banned Books Week, an annual weeklong event that highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

CHICAGO - Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the American Library Association (ALA), is set to receive the Roosevelt Institute’s Freedom of Speech and Expression Award at the 2023 Four Freedoms Awards on Saturday, September 23. Held annually, the prestigious awards program honors individuals who represent the principles proclaimed by President Franklin D.

CHICAGO — Published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, “Halo Data: Understanding and Leveraging the Value in your Data” proposes a paradigm shift in methodology for organizations to properly appreciate and leverage the value of their data. Co-founders of the data consultancy firm Carruthers and Jackson, authors Caroline Carruthers and Peter Jackson have many years' experience in data strategy, management, and technology. Their book begins by reviewing the current state of our understanding of data.

Washington, D.C. — Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced that reinstating net neutrality protections will be on the agenda for the full FCC meeting on October 19, 2023. According to a fact sheet released by Rosenworcel, “the Chairwoman is proposing the FCC take the first procedural steps toward reaffirming rules that would treat broadband internet service as an essential service for American life.” 

CHICAGO — Libraries, schools, bookstores, and groups around the world will be calling attention to censorship – and ways to fight it – October 1 – 7, 2023. The American Library Association and Unite Against Book Bans will mark this year’s event with a slate of programs, a call to action on Let Freedom Read Day, videos from the Banned Books From the Big Chair read out, and more.

CHICAGO — The annual BRASS Best of the Best Business Web Resources Award list was announced today by the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS).

CHICAGO—Core hosts the webinar “The Search For Meaningful Work: Overcoming Low Morale, Quiet Quitting, and Dead End Jobs” on October 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. CT. This presentation centers on creating a meaningful work life while also exploring how to break free from unfavorable elements. Low morale, quiet quitting, and dead end jobs refer to the subtle and gradual disengagement of library workers from their professional roles, often due to little opportunity for promotion or advancement, inadequate support, a lack of pay increases, repetitive tasks, low autonomy, and a negative work culture.

CHICAGO - ALA members may run for ALA office by petition for the position of ALA President-elect or ALA Councilor at Large. Individuals who are interested in running by petition or were not selected by the ALA Nominating Committee may run for office by filing an electronic petition. The ALA Nominating Committee will begin notifying nominated candidates by the end of October 2023.

Members who are interested in running by petition may do so by completing an e-petition form:

CHICAGO—Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is pleased to present the two-part webinar series “Transgender People in Libraries” in November 2023. This series, led by a nonbinary trans librarian with over a decade of experience in the library field, offers guidance on gender identity concepts, anti-trans rhetoric and misinformation, and best practices in respectfully working with gender-diverse patrons, employees, and peers.

Middletown, CT - Choice is pleased to announce a new partnership with Gary Price, an information services industry expert. The new collaboration will bring specially curated and timely content to Choice’s newest vertical, LibTech Insights, which provides pragmatic instruction and guidance around using and implementing library technology.

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has opened its annual survey and seeks responses to the 2023 Public Library Technology Survey. This unique national survey focuses on resources, infrastructure, training, staff, and funding related to technology. This data is vital to understand how libraries serve as hubs of knowledge and innovation in our communities and continue to evolve to meet patron needs. PLA invites all public libraries to participate in this survey, which is open through December 16, 2023. 

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) announced today that Tracie D. Hall will resign from her role as executive director following nearly four transformative years at the Association. Her last day will be Friday, October 6.

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of "Scholarly Communication Librarianship and Open Knowledge," edited by Maria Bonn, Josh Bolick, and Will Cross. This open textbook and practitioner’s guide collects theory, practice, and case studies from nearly 80 experts in scholarly communication and open education. 

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) will receive the 2023 Barbara Bush National Literacy Honors Award at this year’s National Celebration of Reading, hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

CHICAGO–Join Core for the webinar “Integrative Reflection in Action” on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 1 p.m. CT. Reflection as an assessment tool has consistently been a topic of trending library research, especially in regard to information literacy instruction and public services.

CHICAGO - The Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association (SRRT) is pleased to announce the SRRT Conference Travel Grant to help finance up to two SRRT members' attendance at the 2024 ALA Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. The $1000 award covers limited fees related to airfare, lodging, and conference registration.

NYPL and ALA Toolkits for Libraries and Teens Now Available

Following the successful collaboration between the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable (GNCRT) and the Black Caucus American Library Association (BCALA), the GNCRT and REFORMA are pleased to announce their new Collaboration Core Comics Reading List project. The planned final annotated list will feature high-quality graphic novels that showcase Spanish-speaking and Latino stories and creators.

CHICAGO — Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) announced that registration and housing are officially open for the PLA 2024 Conference. The conference will take place April 3–5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio; most events will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, located at 400 North High Street.

CHICAGO - Catastrophic flooding back in July impacted the state of Vermont, including many libraries. 17 public libraries suffered damage to their buildings and loss of resources. Thanks to support from ALA members and other library supporters around the country, the ALA Disaster Relief Fund is sending $3,500 to the Vermont Library Association to disburse to those libraries hardest hit and in need of financial assistance.