American Library Association (ALA) Releases “State of America’s Libraries: A Snapshot of 2024” Report

From thje Introduction to the Report by Leslie Burger (ALA (Interim Director):

As I sit down to write this introduction and look back at 2024, it seems like such a long time ago. The State of America’s Libraries report is meant to be a snapshotin-time of the year that’s past, and this year’s report will cover the great work libraries of all kinds did in the past year.

That will include the lead-up to the election, when the American Library Association teamed up with the League of Women Voters for our Reader. Voter. Ready. campaign, which was picked up at libraries throughout the country.

Our libraries worked hard to get the vote out, not for specific candidates, but for people to freely choose their next leaders. That’s what democracy is all about.

Before the end of 2024, we had the results of that election. Since then, we learned that the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the only federal funding dedicated to libraries, is slated for elimination and grant funding will be stopped. Library services throughout the U.S. are in jeopardy because of this action. We don’t yet know how the rest of 2025 will unfold, but I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how much our library world is changing and how quickly. Check out our #ShowUpForOurLibraries campaign for more information.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how much our library world is changing and how quickly. Check out our #ShowUpForOurLibraries campaign for more information. But the work of libraries in 2024 is not to be ignored because library professionals continued to lead the way in their communities, and libraries continued to be the bedrock of our country.

Burger goes on to discuss the three major trends from 2024:

• Censorship
• Artificial Intelligence
• Sustainability

Direct to Full Text Report
20 pages; PDF.

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Funding, Libraries, News