CHICAGO; WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Joint ALA/ARL Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force’s final draft of the Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework was approved by the boards of directors of the four partner organizations, the American Library Association (ALA), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and Public Library Association (PLA), during summer 2022.
CHICAGO — Whether it’s navigating a crisis or witnessing a community member struggling with tough times, coming face to face with trauma and adversity can be uncomfortable.
CHICAGO; WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Joint ALA/ARL Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force seeks feedback from the library community on the initial draft framework.
CHICAGO – The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) and Public Library Association (PLA) now offer Benchmark: Library Metrics and Trends to power library data analysis and visualization. This new digital resource can help libraries plan, make informed decisions, and tell the story of their impact.
CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has released a new book, "Strategic Planning for Public Libraries," addressing the key areas of strategic planning that public library professionals care about most. This instructional publication provides a framework that libraries of all sizes can use as a basis for their strategic planning. The content is supported by research conducted across more than 200 public library professionals and in-depth interviews with more than 20 library directors and leaders throughout the country.
CHICAGO — When the pandemic suddenly forced many public libraries to close their doors or limit patron access, library staff redoubled their efforts to serve their communities in every way possible. Demonstrating their resilience by quickly pivoting to new modes of service, public libraries are continuing to offer innovative yet practical ways to connect patrons to the information and services they need and enjoy.
CHICAGO – In October, the Public Library Association (PLA) released two new professional development resources exclusively available to PLA members. PLA's new Learning Tapas are quick, self-paced videos with corresponding guidebooks designed to provide a "taste" or introduction to the topic at hand.
CHICAGO – For the third year in a row, the Public Library Association (PLA) has developed and released an Early Literacy Calendar, featuring daily literacy-building activities that libraries can share with families in their community.
CHICAGO — When you’re a solo librarian or only have a few volunteers to rely on (with a tiny budget to match) you’ve got to make the most of everything. With creativity, flexibility, and heart, you can offer programming that engages people of all ages and backgrounds. “209 Big Programming Ideas for Small Budgets,” published by ALA Editions in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), shares ideas and guidance for being the anchor your community needs.
CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has released a new online tutorial to help patrons learn the basics of using the popular online video site, YouTube. The course, Intro to Searching Videos on YouTube, covers the basics of searching for videos for entertainment, instruction, “do it yourself,” and more. This 21-minute online tutorial explores how one navigates the YouTube homepage, how to perform searches, and how to create an account.