ALA at 150: Championing Free Inquiry in a New Era of Challenges

CHICAGO, IL – January 08, 2026 – The American Library Association (ALA) is launching a year-long celebration to mark its 150th anniversary, a milestone that honors a century and a half of advocating for libraries, empowering information professionals, and defending the fundamental right to read. Founded in 1876, the nation's largest and oldest library association is commemorating its legacy with a series of events designed not only to reflect on its history but to galvanize support for the future of libraries in an increasingly complex information landscape.

The sesquicentennial kicks off this month with the announcement of the 2026 Youth Media Awards (YMA) on January 26, an event that underscores the organization's commitment to literacy from an early age. Throughout 2026, the ALA will host flagship events, including a special celebration at its Annual Conference in Chicago and the observance of its official birthday on October 6.

"Libraries are lifelines, shared public spaces, and engines of opportunity," said ALA President Sam Helmick in a statement. "This milestone year is a moment to inspire, to rally our members and to invite all library professionals and advocates into the shared mission of shaping the next 150 years for our libraries."

From Humble Beginnings to Community Cornerstones

The ALA's journey began on October 6, 1876, when 103 librarians, including prominent figures like Melvil Dewey and Charles Ammi Cutter, gathered at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Their initial goal was pragmatic: "to enable librarians to do their present work more easily and at less expense." This early focus on professionalization and standardization laid the groundwork for the modern American library system.

Over the past 150 years, that mission has expanded dramatically. Guided by the ALA, libraries have evolved from quiet repositories of books into vibrant, essential community hubs. They have adapted to serve changing societal needs, from providing books to soldiers during wartime to becoming crucial access points for digital literacy, job-seeking resources, and social support services. This transformation reflects the ALA's advocacy for libraries as dynamic institutions that must meet communities where they are, offering everything from internet access and coding classes to safe spaces for children and public forums for civic discourse.

This evolution from book lender to community anchor is a central theme of the anniversary, highlighting how the organization has steered the profession through technological revolutions and societal shifts, ensuring libraries remain relevant and indispensable public assets.

The Enduring Battle for the Freedom to Read

While the ALA celebrates its history, the anniversary arrives at a moment of profound challenge. The organization finds itself on the front lines of a contentious cultural battle over intellectual freedom. Recent years have seen an unprecedented surge in organized attempts to ban or restrict books in school and public libraries across the United States. Reports from the ALA's own Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and partner organizations like PEN America document a sharp increase in challenges, which disproportionately target books by or about people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The ALA has been a bulwark against censorship for decades, a role institutionalized through the OIF, which tracks challenges, provides support to embattled librarians, and educates the public on the principles of intellectual freedom. The annual Banned Books Week, a high-profile initiative supported by the ALA, has become a crucial platform for this advocacy. Symbolically, the commemoration of the ALA's official birthday on October 6 will coincide with this critical week of observance, powerfully linking the organization's founding to its most urgent contemporary mission: defending the right to access a wide spectrum of ideas and stories without censorship.

This ongoing struggle underscores that the ALA's 150-year-old mission is not a historical artifact but a living, breathing fight. The association's work today involves equipping librarians with the resources and legal knowledge to navigate these pressures while championing the library's role as a place for free and open inquiry for all members of a community.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Readers

Fittingly, the ALA is kicking off its anniversary by celebrating the future. The Youth Media Awards, which will be held in Chicago on January 26, honor the year's most outstanding books and media for children and young adults. These awards, numbering more than 22, have a profound cultural impact that extends far beyond the publishing industry.

The most famous of these, the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, have guided generations of parents, educators, and librarians to literature of the highest quality since their inception in 1922 and 1938, respectively. Winning a Newbery for distinguished writing or a Caldecott for distinguished illustration serves as a seal of excellence, launching books into the canon of children's literature and ensuring their place on library shelves for years to come.

Beyond these two, the ALA's award ecosystem celebrates a rich diversity of voices and experiences. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards honor African American authors and illustrators, while the Stonewall Book Award recognizes exceptional merit relating to the LGBTQIA+ experience. These and other awards are a direct reflection of the ALA's commitment to ensuring that young readers can see themselves in stories and learn about the experiences of others, fostering empathy and a more inclusive understanding of the world. By starting its anniversary with the YMAs, the association powerfully affirms that nurturing a lifelong love of reading is the foundation for an informed and engaged citizenry.

A Sesquicentennial Vision for the Future

The year-long celebration is designed to be both reflective and forward-looking. National Library Week in April will be led by honorary chair Mychal Threets, an award-winning librarian and host of 'Reading Rainbow' whose infectious enthusiasm is expected to amplify the message of finding joy and opportunity at the library. The ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in June will serve as a centerpiece for the anniversary, bringing together thousands of library professionals to celebrate and strategize.

To share its story with a wider audience, the organization has launched a dedicated website, ALA150.org. The site will serve as a digital archive and a hub for engagement, chronicling pivotal moments and inviting members to share their own stories through initiatives like the "How I Library" podcast. This digital strategy aims to make the anniversary a year of "impact, not just remembrance."

As it marks this historic milestone, the American Library Association is not merely looking back at 150 years of achievement. It is leveraging its legacy to confront modern challenges, reaffirming its commitment to equitable access, and advocating for the continued investment in the people and institutions that protect the public's right to know.