Press Kits

Día
Libraries will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Día on April 30, 2016. Día, also known as El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), is an observance held annually on April 30 and a year-round commitment by libraries to emphasize the importance of literacy for all children by linking children and families to diverse books, languages and cultures.

Preservation Week
During Preservation Week. April 24 - 30,  libraries all over the country present events, activities, and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared history.

National Library Week
National Library Week (April  10 - 16, 2016) is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries offer opportunity to all. The theme for 2016 National Library Week is "Libraries Transform."

PLA 2016 Conference
The Public Library Association's (PLA) biennial conference is the premier professional development event for public librarians, public library workers, trustees, Friends, library vendors and others with an interest in public libraries. The PLA 2016 Conference will take place April 5-9, 2016, in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, and will feature more than 100 top-quality educational programs, author events and more than 600 exhibits showcasing the latest technology and services.

ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits 
The American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library association in the world, holds the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in January. The conference draws more than 10,000 leaders and staff, educators, writers, publishers, Friends of libraries, trustees, special guests and exhibitors from the library and information industry for some 2,400 meetings, programs, discussion groups, events, in-depth conversations and exhibits, united by the theme “The conversation starts here..”

ALA Youth Media Awards
Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books and media for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards, including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth.

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction 
The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, were established in 2012, and recognize the best of the best in fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year. The awards serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers. Nancy Pearl, librarian, literature expert, NPR commentator, and best-selling author of “Booklust” serves as chair of the awards’ selection committee.

I Love My Librarian Award
The I Love My Librarian Award recognizes the public service accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college or university librarians. Each year an award jury selects up to 10 librarian award winners who have transformed lives and communities through education and lifelong learning. This year’s winners will be announced on Dec. 3, 2015.

Library Card Sign-up Month
September is Library Card Sign-up Month - a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind the masses that a library card is the key to limitless opportunities. Serving as Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month 2015 is Snoopy, the world-famous beagle from the beloved Peanuts comics.

Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week, Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Libraries Transforming Communities
Libraries Transforming Communities helps libraries become more reflective of and connected to their communities and achieve a domino effect of positive results, including stronger relationships with local civic agencies, non-profits, funders and corporations, and greater community investment in civility, collaboration, education, health and well-being. 

2012 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study Press Kit
The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (PLFTAS) is the largest and longest running study of its kind. The survey is conducted by the American Library Association (ALA), the University of Maryland-College Park and Florida State University. It is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA. The study provides information from public libraries regarding their Internet connectivity, public computing, technology training, and other public library roles as public access technology centers in their communities.