ALA Public Policy & Advocacy
@librarypolicy.bsky.social
2.6K followers 83 following 220 posts
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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librarypolicy.bsky.social
During this #DIW2025, we’re celebrating the critical role libraries play in addressing their community’s unique needs.

From accessing telehealth services, help applying for jobs, connecting veterans with benefits and tech lending programs - libraries power community-driven digital futures for all.
NDIA, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Digital Inclusion Week, Oct 6-10, 2025. Community-Driven Digital Futures: Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is an annual nationwide event dedicated to raising awareness about digital equity and the vital importance or inclusion in our increasingly digital world. If you believe that everyone deserves digital access, DIW is for you!
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amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Today at 3:00 pm CT.
Find inspiration and ideas for your own advocacy from the students on the front lines of the fight against censorship.
bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans
#BannedBooksWeek
bannedbooksweek.bsky.social
TOMORROW: Join #BannedBooksWeek youth honorary chair Iris Mogul & student advocates from around the country for a conversation about how young people can fight book bans! 10/8, 3pmCT

bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans

#BannedBooksWeek #CensorshipIsSo1984

w/ @ncacensorship.bsky.social
A fight for our rights: Youth fighting book bans. A conversation with student leaders moderated by Banned Books Week youth honorary chair Iris Mogul. October 8, 2025, 3:00 p.m. CT. Register: bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans
librarypolicy.bsky.social
This #NationalVoterEducationWeek, we're proud to celebrate the work libraries do every day to connect their communities with information and resources for local, state, and federal elections!

Libraries are getting their communities #VoteReady, & yours can too! Find more at ala.org/readervoterready
Reader Voter Ready, National Voter Education Week, Oct 6-11, 2025. We're here to get everyone #VoteReady. Register to vote, get to know your ballot, make a plan to vote, understand the process, and share with friends and family. NationalVoterEducationWeek.org
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amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
"Three years ago, after a difficult state legislative session in TX that aimed to restrict access to books and disparage the work of librarians, I recognized the urgency of helping my community understand how our libraries operate." - San Antonio school librarian Lucy Podmore

https://bit.ly/4nEV0iQ
Walk with a Purpose | American Libraries Magazine
Instead of simply highlighting censorship statistics or bemoaning what we can’t read, the Freedom Walk celebrates our right to read.
bit.ly
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amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
The right to read belongs to all of us, but rights only survive when we defend them. ALA is standing with library workers, parents, and readers to push back against censorship. You can donate to support our work at ilovelibraries.org/1984.

Censorship is so 1984, but supporting libraries is so 2025.
Censorship is so 1984. Supporting Libraries is so 2025. Read for your rights. Give for our libraries. American Library Association logo
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librarypolicy.bsky.social
Three celebrations, one week:

✅#BannedBooksWeek
✅Digital Inclusion Week #DIW25
✅#NationalVoterEducationWeek

Here at ALA, we're proud to celebrate all 3, along w/ libraries nationwide!

Libraries protect the right to read, help get patrons online, AND connect communities to election information.
Picture of Kevin Maher, Lisa Varga, and Megan Janicki (ALA staff), posing together in the ALA office in Washington. Kevin holds bookmarks that read "Reader Voter Ready", Lisa holds a sign encouraging advocates to take action against book bans, and Megan holds a sign that says "Show up for E-Rate"
librarypolicy.bsky.social
Three celebrations, one week:

✅#BannedBooksWeek
✅Digital Inclusion Week #DIW25
✅#NationalVoterEducationWeek

Here at ALA, we're proud to celebrate all 3, along w/ libraries nationwide!

Libraries protect the right to read, help get patrons online, AND connect communities to election information.
Picture of Kevin Maher, Lisa Varga, and Megan Janicki (ALA staff), posing together in the ALA office in Washington. Kevin holds bookmarks that read "Reader Voter Ready", Lisa holds a sign encouraging advocates to take action against book bans, and Megan holds a sign that says "Show up for E-Rate"
librarypolicy.bsky.social
It's Digital Inclusion Week, which means we should be celebrating. But changes to the #ERate program by the FCC mean that libraries & their communities will lose out on federal support for internet access via Wi-Fi hotspots.

Read more, ft Sam Helmick: broadbandbreakfast.com/libraries-an... #DIW2025
Libraries and Schools Brace for FCC Cuts to Wi-Fi Programs
‘We don’t yet know the full extent of what this vote means for libraries and schools.’
broadbandbreakfast.com
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amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Today at noon CT.
Register at ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#BannedBooksWeek
bannedbooksweek.bsky.social
TOMORROW: Join @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @oif.bsky.social staff to learn about Law for Librarians & Intellectual Freedom Helplines, how these programs provide censorshp support, and other resources for our communities.

ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#BannedBooksWeek #CensorshipIsSo1984
Librarians Supporting Each Other to Confront Book Bans. Tuesday, Cotober 7, 2025. 12pm CT. Law for Librarians. Intellectual Freedom Helplines. Censorship is so 1984. Read for Your Rights. Banned Books Week, October 5-11, 2025
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librarianjones.com
Take at least ONE action to help defend books from censorship and speak up for those who make them available. Find resources/tools + actions you can take in just 5 mins: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day #BannedBooksWeek #UniteAgainstBookBans @la-cac.org @aaslala.bsky.social
librarypolicy.bsky.social
There's a lot happening this week - including Digital Inclusion Week!

We proudly celebrate the work libraries do to build community-driven digital futures. Libraries ensure all community members have access to broadband, and the digital skills needed to thrive online. #DIW2025
Oct 6-10: Digital Inclusion Week 2025. This year's theme, "Community-Driven Digital Futures", recognizes that the most impactful solutions for bridging the digital divide emerge directly from within our communities. Join in digital inclusion week to advance digital equity and strengthening communities. NDIA, National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
librarypolicy.bsky.social
Don't miss the first free webinar of this year's #BannedBooksWeek, today at 3pm Central! Learn more and register ⤵️
amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Free #BannedBooksWeek webinar.
Join experts on Mon, Oct 6 at 3 p.m. CT to explore how policies can be a powerful tool for fighting censorship in libraries, bookstores, and communities and how advocates can use policies in their work.
See details + more free events: https://www.ala.org/bbooks/events
Policy as an Advocacy Tool: Tips for Booksellers, Librarians, and Community Advocates. Monday, October 6, 2025. 3:00 p.m. CT. Register today! Pictured are Sarah Lamdan, Philomena Polefrone, and Christine Emeran, along with the Unite Against Book Bans, National Coalition Against Censorship, and American Booksellers for Free Expression logos.
Reposted by ALA Public Policy & Advocacy
bannedbooksweek.bsky.social
"Those who ban books want to lock away ideas they fear. But in truth, they are trying to steal our freedom."

#BannedBooksWeek honorary chair @georgetakei.bsky.social encourages all of us to stand up for the freedom to read! #CensorshipIsSo1984

youtu.be/qwtzX15AKvQ?...
George Takei, Banned Books Week 2025 Honorary Chair
YouTube video by Banned Books Week
youtu.be
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amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights.

Today kicks off #BannedBooksWeek, and this year's theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.

https://www.ala.org/bbooks.
BANNED BOOKS WEEK Oct. 5-11, 2025. Censorship is so 1984 - Read for Your Rights. ala.org/bbooks. American Library Association
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mdlibraryassoc.bsky.social
The good news? If it's brief, most library services will continue since funding has already been distributed to states. But a longer shutdown could mean serious disruptions.

Learn more and contact your representatives at: ala.org/fundlibraries
Tell Congress to #FundLibraries
The American Library Association is leading the charge for libraries. Librarians, information professionals, and everyone who loves them must tell their members of Congress to support full federal fun...
ala.org
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mdlibraryassoc.bsky.social
The federal government shutdown that started October 1st is affecting libraries across the country and there are concerns about potential elimination of library-supporting programs. Learn more about what this means for agencies, funding and staff:
americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-sc...
How the 2025 Government Shutdown Will Impact Libraries | American Libraries Magazine
The federal government shutdown, which begins today, will have cascading effects across the nation and our economy.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org
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amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Today marks the beginning of the first federal government shutdown since 2019. ALA is concerned about the impacts on federal library workers, as well as the cascading impacts in communities nationwide.

Read more about what this means for libraries: americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-sc...
The federal government shutdown, which begins today, will have cascading effects across the nation and our economy... A protracted federal shutdown may induce more dramatic effects on libraries, the nation, our economy, and our democracy. Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.
librarypolicy.bsky.social
ALA President Sam Helmick on today's vote: "ALA is both disappointed by the FCC’s takebacks and discouraged by the lack of due process, which left no opportunity for staff, patrons and library advocates to give input on the draft order."

Read more ⤵️ #ForOurLibraries
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Reposted by ALA Public Policy & Advocacy
ilovelibraries.bsky.social
Library Card Sign-up Month 2025 is coming to a close, and we saw libraries across the country all over television news programs to discuss the value of a library card.

Read more at ilovelibraries.org.
Main image including three people on the set of WGN-Daytime Chicago discussing Library Card Sign-Up Month, with header text "LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH TAKES OVER THE AIRWAVES."
librarypolicy.bsky.social
How is your library preparing for this year's elections? Looking to collaborate with community partners? We've got the resource for you!

Check out our Civic Collaboration Guide, created with @lwvus.bsky.social : https://bit.ly/42KeUR5

More: ala.org/readervoterready
LWV, League of Women Voters; ALA American Library Association; Reader Voter Ready. A Guide to Civic Collaboration.
Reposted by ALA Public Policy & Advocacy
amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
NEW: the FCC has added two last-minute agenda items—the Hotspot Lending Program and School Bus Wi-Fi—to its September 30 meeting. The Commission is expected to overturn the programs, despite the proven impact of hotspots and existing funding through the federal E-Rate program.
Text graphic that reads: "FCC's plans to kill new federal hotspot lending rule are one more tactic to limit access to information." Bottom includes "Show Up For Our Libraries" graphic and American Library Association logo.