Professional Development Resources for Librarians: Home

Libraries are among the most trusted institutions in America, providing opportunity and enrichment at every stage in life. Yet in recent years, libraries have been facing unprecedented challenges – bans on library materials and programs, threats to cut local funding, and state legislation that would criminalize librarians for doing their jobs. Now the federal government is moving to cut off its modest but effective support for libraries, from withdrawal of funding for broadband to the elimination of the only source of federal funding for our nation’s 125,000 libraries, the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Ask an Archivist: How to Care for Indigenous Materials

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025

Time: 2:00-3:00 PM

This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.

Does your library have Indigenous documents, photos, recordings, or historical items, but you’re not sure how to handle them? Join us for Ask an Archivist, a conversation series where you can bring your questions—big or small—and learn from archivists who specialize in Indigenous collections.

Together, we’ll talk about:

• How to care for Indigenous materials with respect.
• Cataloging and description that honor cultural perspectives.
• When and how to limit access based on community protocols.
• Building relationships with Indigenous communities.

This is a chance to get practical guidance, resources, and ideas you can use right away in your library. Whether you work in a public, academic, or special library, you’ll leave with tools to better care for the Indigenous materials entrusted to your collections.

Bring your questions and let’s learn together.

Unite Against Book Bans supports the public to defeat attempts at every level of government to censor reading materials and ban books. The majority of Americans believe in everyone's freedom to read, and the coalition is composed of parents, students, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and library workers. Unite Against Book Bans is an initiative of the American Library Association, a 501(c)3 organization. 

Unite Against Book Bans Mission: "Unite Against Book Bans strives to stop the removal of reading materials from America’s libraries and schools, which has soared to record highs in recent years. Unite is working to defeat the vocal minority that seeks to impose their views on others by restricting the First Amendment right to read freely."

Unite Against Book Bans Beliefs: 

• Reading is a foundational skill, critical to learning and exercising our democratic freedoms.
• Individuals must be trusted and have the right to make their own decisions about what to read.
• Parents should not make decisions about what to read for other parents' children.
• Library materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books are tools for understanding complex issues. Limiting access to books does not offer protection from life's complex and challenging issues.
• All people deserve to see themselves reflected in a library's books.
• Library workers should not be subject to harassment, intimidation, arrest, or threats of legal action for fulfilling their professional obligation to serve all members of their community.