Programming & Exhibitions

Promoting cultural and community programming as an essential part of library service.
Icon of lightbulb

The place for library workers to share, learn and be inspired to present excellent programming.

Visit Programminglibrarian.org

Icon of money changing hands

Learn about current grant and exhibit opportunities available from ALA's Public Programs Office.

See current opportunities

Icon of person on laptop with speech bubble

Brush up on skills and get new program ideas with free webinars from ALA's Public Programs Office.

View free webinars

Programs & Resources

Latest Programming & Exhibition News

Stone Bridge High School Awarded ALA’s 2025 Jaffarian Award for Historical Artifact Footlocker Program

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its 2025 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award to Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia...

Three Libraries Awarded ALA’s 2025 Peggy Barber Tribute Grant for Programs for Isolated Older Adults

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its 2025 Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, a programming grant named after the transformative ALA leader, to...

Mountain Top Library (N.Y.) and Pottsboro (Texas) Library Awarded ALA’s Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its sixth annual Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant to Mountain Top Library (N.Y.) and Pottsboro (Texas)...

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

ALA awards $3.5 million in library accessibility funding to 300 small and rural libraries in third round of grant initiative

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the third round of recipients of its Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities...

Win $5,000 for your k-12 school library!

K-12 school librarians invited to apply for the annual $5,000 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award

CHICAGO — School librarians are invited to apply for a $5,000 annual award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Nominations for the...

PPO year in review numbers

2024 Year In Review

From traveling exhibits to continued funding for accessibility projects, the Public Programs Office showcases key 2024 stories and impact from our extensive network of libraries.

About the Public Programs Office

Through professional development activities, programming resources, model programs and grant opportunities, the Public Programs Office supports libraries as they fill their role as community cultural center, a place of cultural and civic engagement, where people of all backgrounds gather for reflection, discovery, participation and growth.

Learn more

ccf loho

Support The Cultural Communities Fund

Created by the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office in 2004 with a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities; the endowment has since grown to $3.2 million. Cultural Communities Fund (CCF) supports excellence and innovation in community-focused library programming through grants, awards, and professional development.

Please join our network of CCF supporters — including more than 500 library professionals, foundations and corporations. You can designate your gift to support a specific grant or award (listed below) or you can give an unrestricted gift, and we will use your donation where it is needed most.