Membership
Why Join ALA?
Through professional development, advocacy, and engagement opportunities, ALA members gain valuable skills and build connections that advance careers. ALA opens new opportunities for progress, both as a professional and a profession.
Membership with ALA also supports our advocacy work on the Hill, as well as supporting ALA’s work around intellectual freedom, diversity and literacy outreach, and international relations.
Membership Types
ALA personal membership provides resources and benefits that help move your career forward with continuing education, networking opportunities and the latest library trends. Learn more about the benefits that come along with your personal membership below.
Personal Membership Types and Dues
Personal Membership Quick Links
Through organizational membership in ALA, your library gains a unique opportunity to have its concerns clearly heard at the national level. All types of libraries, not-for-profit schools conducting programs of library education, and other not-for-profit organizations including library associations, affiliated organizations, and international organizations are eligible.
Joining ALA offers your library a wide range of benefits, including discounts such as professional publications, employment, and management resources, human resource and managerial resources, information, and important library-related insurance.
Organizational Membership Quick Links
ALA Corporate Members receive recognition as supporters of libraries and library workers and have premier access to more than 50,000 individual and 4,000 organizational members of ALA through our conferences and trade shows. ALA brings Corporate Members visibility in the marketplace and offers member-to-member access to buyers and decision makers in the library community. Corporate members include businesses not included in either Personal or Organizational definitions that wish to be patrons of ALA.
Corporate Members receive a wide variety of benefits--click the link below for details.
Corporate Membership Quick Links
As an ALA Member, you'll have access to . . .
Pursue your specialized library interests and build a network of peers in your field. A majority of ALA members belong to one or more division.
Explore your personal interests and ignite your passion around issues and ideas that are impacting your library and your career.
ALA Connect is a centralized space where you can network with other members, chat on discussion boards, download shared resources from community-generated libraries, and collaborate as a member of volunteer committees and other groups.
Personal members can save their favorite job ad searches as automated Job Alerts and add their résumé to the résumé bank for hiring employers to find.
You'll receive a subscription to American Libraries magazine
You'll also receive the weekly AL Direct Newsletter.
You'll receive discounts on . . .
Join us at ALA Annual Conference and LibLearnX and receive discounted member registration rates.
Enjoy discounted course rates on association-wide elearning materials for professional development, improving library services, technology training, advocacy, and much more—for all librarians in any type of library.
Save 10% on books, gifts, and promotional items at the ALA Store. Some exclusions apply.
ALA Members save 41% on a subscription to Booklist. As the book review journal of the American Library Association, Booklist connects library and education workers to the books and resources needed to support and enrich their communities.
As a member of ALA, your ALA member discounts can save you money on the products and services you use, whether it’s for your personal life or for your library. (Member login required to see full list.)
3 Easy Ways to Join or Renew Today
To become a new ALA Member, click here to join online. (Only first-time ALA Members should use this link.)
If you have ever been an ALA Member in the past, click here to renew online.
Call ALA Member Relations and Services at 800-545-2433
8:30am - 4:30pm (Monday-Friday)
Download a print-ready form at the Print Membership Application Page, complete, and return by mail or fax.
Accessibility
We're making every effort to develop an accessible system. If you require an accessibility accommodation and have difficulty using the system, please contact membership@ala.org or call 1-800-545-2433, ex. 5 to receive assistance.
Member Resources
Find answers to frequently asked questions about becoming a member, managing your member account, and renewing your membership at the FAQ page.
For any other questions, please call Member Customer Service at 800-545-2433 or email membership@ala.org.
Make the most of your ALA membership by leveraging these key benefits including ALA Connect and Connect Live, American Libraries and AL Direct and Library Workflife.
