ALA Public Policy & Advocacy

@librarypolicy

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

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ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 22h

In every state, libraries and schools rely on E-Rate discounts for broadband service. The FCC's new proposals could take that away. Without E-Rate, libraries in communities nationwide would be faced with huge, new expenses. Tell Congress to protect #ERate: action.ala.org/campaign/sav...

A sign that reads "Defend E-Rate. ALA American Library Association", being held in the air by a person's hand.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 1d

ALA and our team in DC are saddened to learn of the passing of Janet L. Stanley. As the chief librarian of the Nat. Museum of African Art, Stanley shaped one of the world's most important library collections on the visual arts of Africa. Learn more via the Smithsonian: africa.si.edu/research#war...

Janet L. Stanley served as the chief librarian for the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art from 1979 until her retirement in 2024. In that time, which stretched from the museum’s foundational era in its original location on Capitol Hill until today, she built the library into a global resource for the research and study of the visual arts of Africa. Its collection of more than 50,000 volumes covers all aspects of African visual arts, including sculpture, painting, printmaking, pottery, textiles, crafts, popular culture, photography, architecture, rock art, and archaeology. The Robbins Library has significant supporting collections of African ethnography, musicology, performing arts, theater, cinema, oral traditions, religion, creative writing, and arts in the African Diaspora as well as general information on the history of African countries.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 5d

E-Rate is under threat from new proposals at the FCC which could eliminate or curtail the program. Libraries in every state rely on E-Rate for broadband discounts: there's too much at stake in our communities to stay quiet. Tell Congress to protect #ERate: action.ala.org/campaign/sav...

A sign that reads "Defend E-Rate. ALA American Library Association.", held in the air by a person's hand.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 6d

A federal book banning bill is being considered in the Senate, and we need to make our voices heard! Library advocates will not stay silent: this is too important. Tell your Senators to reject S4925 and stand up for the right to read: www.action.ala.org/campaign/S4925

Show up for our libraries, ALA 150 American Library Association.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 8d

The FCC voted to consider eliminating the #ERate program, an essential source of broadband funding for libraries and schools. Library advocates are not going to let that happen. Tell Congress to #SaveOurERate and protect the program! Take action now: action.ala.org/campaign/sav...

Show up for E-Rate. ALA American Library Association.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 12d

ALA is proud to support @repricklarsen.bsky.social's Read for Reentry Act, legislation designed to study new & existing ways to support libraries serving incarcerated patrons. As ALA President Maria McCauley said, "Prison libraries make a world of difference." More: larsen.house.gov/news/documen...

"Prison libraries make a world of difference through the critical services they offer, books and beyond. Data on state and federal prison libraries proposed by the Read for Reentry Act would build a more comprehensive picture of the impact prison libraries have on reducing recidivism and aiding in reentry. Gathering additional data is the first step towards scaling what works.” - ALA President Maria McCauley. Show up for our libraries, ALA 150, American Library Association.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 13d

We need library advocates to make their voices heard and tell Congress to support the freedom to read and reject S 4925. Contact your Senators now to oppose federal book banning legislation. The freedom to read is too important to stay silent. Take action: action.ala.org/campaign/S4925/

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 14d

We’re so proud to have joined so many amazing partners today to #SaveOurERate. Thank you to our friends at SHLB for making today happen! You can make your voice heard too. Take action now and tell Congress to protect the program and the communities it serves: ala.org/erate

SHLB’s Joey Wender at the front of the presentation thanking the audience for attending.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 14d

Megan Sutherland, COO of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, shares how libraries REQUIRE the internet to serve their patrons. From the HVAC system to the security of the building, libraries cannot function with the internet access E-Rate provides.

Megan Sutherland of PCGMLS speaking with other panelists at the event on Capitol Hill.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 14d

We’re thrilled to join partners w/ the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition today on Capitol Hill! We’re spreading the word to Congressmembers & staff: we need to #SaveOurERate E-Rate is an essential support of broadband in libraries & schools nationwide. A new FCC proposal threatens it.

SHLB speaker Joey Wender standing with a panel at the front of a Congressional meeting room.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 14d

Did you know that National Voter Registration Day provides swag, communications tools, and learning opportunities for partners? They make it easy to combine #LibraryJoy with #NationalVoterRegistrationJoy! Become a partner and help get your community #ReaderVoterReady: bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26

National Voter Registration Day: Sep 15, 2026. ALA is a proud partner of NVRD. bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 16d

The FCC's new proposals could gut the #ERate program, an critical support for broadband in libraries and schools in every state and territory. We can't stay silent in this face of these proposals. Use your voice and take action. Tell Congress to #SaveOurERate: action.ala.org/campaign/saveourerate/

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 19d

ALA staff were proud to join colleagues across libraries, publishing, and education this week on the Hill to remind our elected officials of the importance of the right to read! Thank you to everyone who made their voices heard in Congress - and to everyone who made this possible!

Library and intellectual freedom advocates - from publishing, libraries, and education - standing together on a rooftop with the Capitol dome in the background.

ALA's Lisa Varga and PRH's Skip Dye and Rosalie Stewart, posing for a selfie in front of Senator Chuck Schumer's office.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 22d

Have you told your Senators to reject book bans? We need library advocates to make their voices heard and tell Congress to support the freedom to read and reject S 4925. We can't stay quiet while the right to read is threatened. Take action: action.ala.org/campaign/S4925/

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· 26d

National Voter Registration Day: September 15, 2026. ALA is a proud partner of NVRD. bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26 - Reader Voter Ready, ALA American Library Association

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jul 13

Join ALA and the League of Women Voters for updates on the election landscape and how libraries and local Leagues are teaming up to empower voters and ensure that communities are #ReaderVoterReady! Register: bit.ly/ALA-LWV-2026webinar

Teaming with Solutions: LWV and Library Collaborations to Empower Voters and Protect Democracy. Wed, July 15 2026, 3pm ET. Registration: bit.ly/ALA-LWV-2026webinar League of Women Voters Education Fund, Reader Voter Ready American Library Association.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jul 2

July 15th @ 3pm ET: Join ALA and the @lwv.org to learn how libraries can team up with their local League of Women Voters to help voters make their voices heard. All across the country, libraries and Leagues are getting their communities #ReaderVoterReady! Register: bit.ly/ALA-LWV-2026webinar

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 30

Whether you're just leaving Chicago now or headed home from #ALAAC26 earlier this weekend, we're so grateful we got to see you! Thank you to EVERYONE who stopped by our presentations & huddles, and thank you for taking action for libraries. From our team to you, we hope you had an amazing time!

Selfie with eight staff members from ALA's Public Policy & Advocacy Office and Chapter Relations Office, taken on Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Sunday during ALAAC 2026. A CTA bus is visible in the background.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 29

The exhibit floor at #ALAAC26 may be closing, but the ALA Connect Lounge is open until 2pm. Be sure to stop for info about ALA's latest advocacy priorities and initiatives! Take action and tell Congress to #SaveOurERate: ala.org/erate Learn more about NLLD 2027: www.ala.org/advocacy/nlld

Photo of advocacy materials at the ALA Connect Lounge. Signs advertising National Library Legislative Day 2027, the Save Our E-Rate campaign, and ALA's library funding and broadband priorities.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

Our last session of the day just finished up! Thank you to the amazing library workers and partners from NC IDEA Foundation for sharing the great work you're doing in North Carolina to support small business owners and entrepreneurs at your library! #ALAAC26

Library workers, NC IDEA Foundation staff, and ALA staff posing together in a conference room at ALA Annual. Slide text: "Growing Entrepreneurs at the Library: Lessons from the LEAF program."

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

Up next: state spotlights! Every month our State Legislative Leaders connect to report out on new bills, tactics, and goals. #ALAAC26

State Spotlights
State Legislative and Advocacy Leaders
• State Legislative Leaders meet once a month to network
• Every state has one or more member leader leading advocacy, legislative, government relations, and policy work
• ALA, American Association of School Librarians
(AASL,) and Association of College and Research
Libraries (ACRL) state chairs are welcome

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

How are library advocates succeeding in their states? Collaboration! (and more!) #ALAAC26

Successful tactics
• Pointing out the "grift" when bill sponsors or allies are personally benefitting from requirements in the law.
• Pointing out costs associated with implementation, especially unfunded mandates
• Getting non-librarian groups to advocate

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

On the positive side: we’ve seen more Freedom to Read legislation proposed and passed in states across the country, including specific protections for library workers and patrons. #ALAAC26

2026 Overview
• Freedom to read legislation continues to be pushed on the state level (NY, AK, FL, MA, PA, SC, UT, VA)
• Is most successful in states where the state association supports it, and has a broad coalition.
• Increasingly include specific protections for library workers.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

From 2024 through 2026, content censorship has been the focus of adverse legislation tracked by ALA, our chapters and our partners. #ALAAC26

2026 Overview
• Top target from 2024 through 2026 is content censorship
• Continues to focus on sexual content, using broad definitions. In practice, this is actually applied to LGBTQIA+
• Several bills focus specifically on "gender ideology," which is sometimes is explicitly defined as a "don't say trans," bill, sometimes is implied but not as explicit, but still is intended to censor content by and about trans communities. Similar tactic to "sexually explicit" language.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

While the most recent legislative sessions in states have seen fewer adverse bills, we’re not letting our guard down. ALA and our chapters are staying vigilant for new legislation all across the country that would impact libraries.

Overview:
• Fewer adverse bills this legislative session so far
• Some of that is due to legislative session scheduling, since TX is overrepresented and is not in session in
2026. North Dakota, Montana, Nevada are also not in session
• However, if we take out Texas from the analysis, the number of adverse bills has still dropped in 2025 and further further in 2026.
• There is anecdotal evidence that legislators aren't as eager to fight for adverse library bills

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

Up first is ALA’s Amelia Aldred for an update on state legislation trends! ALA provides legislative tracking to our chapters - and supports their research - to make sure every chapter has the most up to date information on relevant policies.

State Legislation Trends - June 2026. (map of the country with a universal library symbol)

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

We’re about to get started with our state legislative update at #ALAAC26! Join us in McCormick 179A to hear the latest news on state legislation impacting libraries, from intellectual freedom to library funding. See our full schedule: www.ala.org/advocacy/PPA...

Legislation in the States: Update and Discussion

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the ALA Connect Lounge for our #LibrariesBuildBusiness huddle session! It was amazing to hear about how libraries nationwide are supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in their communities. See our full #ALAAC26 schedule: www.ala.org/advocacy/PPA...

A group of conference attendees and ALA staff sitting together in the ALA Connect Lounge at two tables.

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 28

Need some more swag at #ALAAC26? Stop by the ALA Connect Lounge until 1pm Central to meet our E-Rate Task Force, grab some E-Rate buttons and stickers, and tell Congress to #SaveOurERate! Take action now and show up for E-Rate: ala.org/erate

ALA member Joe Thompson and ALA staff Megan Janicki standing together in the ALA Connect Lounge, holding signs that read “Defend E-Rate” and “Show Up for E-Rate”

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy@librarypolicy· Jun 27

Our #ReaderVoterReady huddle session at #ALAAC26 is underway! Thank you to everyone who’s stopped by to say hello and chat about how libraries can support voter engagement in their communities.