Public Information Office
Reporters: Please visit the Media/Press Center
Mission
The Public Information Offices manages the public awareness efforts of the Association through the Campaign for America's Libraries, delivering key messages to external audiences about the value of libraries and librarians. PIO also communicates ALA's key messages through media relations and crisis communications, and offers public relations counsel and editorial services. Tools are also developed and shared with librarians to help advance ALA’s 2015 Key Action Areas. Works with Public Awareness Committee.
Libraries in the News
Molly Raphael inteviewed on The Huffington Post
Chicago Tribune: You can get that at the library?
Free entertainment, for life (CNN Opinion)
"Improving literacy through school libraries," op-ed by best-selling author Pam Muñoz Ryan
Best-selling Author Scott Turow Writes About the Value of Libraries and the Threats They Face
Chicago Tribune: Future etched in city libraries
Seattle Times: Public libraries: enablers of Americans' dreams
PBS News Hour: Conversation (with Camila Alire) The State of America's Libraries
Libraries fading as school budget crisis deepens
Marketplace From American Public Media: Libraries adapt to help unemployed
See the Newbery, Caldecott winners on the "Today Show"
USA Today: Internet attracts job seekers to libraries
Events
National Library Week
ALA Youth Media Awards
National Library Card Sign-up Month
Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros
ALA Staff resources
- New ALA News guidelines
- PIO Editorial Services
- 62 ways to improve your press releases
- Videos from 2009 ALA Communications Training Seminar
Oversight Groups
Activities of the Public Information Office are overseen by the ALA Public Awareness Committee and its three subcommittees - the Campaign for America's Libraries Subcommittee, the Public Relations Assembly and the National Library Week Subcommittee. These groups meet twice a year, during ALA's Annual Conferences in June-July, and Midwinter Meetings, usually held in January.
The next meetings will occur during the 2011 Midwinter Meeting in San Diego (Jan. 7-11) and the 2011 Annual Conference in New Orleans, La., (June 23–28). Exact dates, times and locations will be posted as they become available.
Campaign for America's Libraries Subcommittee
National Library Week Subcommittee
I Love My Librarian Award Committee
Resources
PIO Staff
Mark R. Gould
Director
(312) 280-5042
mgould@ala.org
Megan Humphrey
Manager
The Campaign for America’s Libraries
(312) 280-4020
mhumphrey@ala.org
Megan McFarlane
Coordinator
The Campaign for America’s Libraries
(312) 280-2148
mmcfarlane@ala.org
Macey Morales
Manager
PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-4393
mmorales@ala.org
Jennifer Petersen
Public Relations Coordinator
PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-5043
jpetersen@ala.org
Steve Zalusky
Manager of Communications
(312) 280-1546
szalusky@ala.org
Position Vacant
Administrative Assistant