Reflections on the 2024 ALA Conference

We attended the ALA Conference this year and had a blast connecting with librarians and publishers. Here are some of our key takeaways.

1. Librarians and library workers are under attack and need support more than ever. Depending on the state, new laws are being proposed and passed that go further than banning books to outright threatening librarians and library workers with criminal charges (see Idaho). Public discourse is increasingly bringing libraries and the people who work in them into the culture wars, and it’s at the forefront of many librarians' and library workers' minds as they consider whether to stay and fight to make a difference or move to a state that’s more supportive of libraries and the people who work in them.

2. There are an overwhelming number of books out there. There were more books on display at the marketplace than one single person could ever read in their lifetime (even though there were many children’s books on display as well!). One 20-foot display we visited (see below) had more books than BookBrowse recommends in an entire year. We believe that our role in curating the best of the best remains more important than ever.

3. Librarians and library workers are committed to being welcoming for everyone. This stance is surprisingly controversial (see above), but it’s amazing to see how much time, attention, and care they are putting into making libraries inclusive — for example, creating special accommodations for patrons that don’t have the motor skills to easily handle paper books.  

4. Libraries have a marketing challenge. Libraries offer so many great resources to patrons, even beyond books, but from the librarians we spoke to, many shared that they felt like they failed to get the word out effectively among the members of their community. The librarians we spoke to mentioned that attending different community events was an effective way to showcase all libraries offer to new parts of the community — even something as simple as setting a booth up at their town fair.

Libraries and those who work in them provide more value for their communities than ever before, so we should support them more than we ever have. BookBrowse is honored to help librarians, library workers, and their patrons discover books that not only entertain, but also engage and enlighten.