Illustration of a robot holding a book with black and red text on a light yellow background

Written and created by authors John Boswell, Patty Brown, and WIll Elder, Humphrey Robot is a cut-out book that was published in 1983. The book allows readers to cut-out and make a three-dimensional robot named Humphrey. Standing at 12'' tall, Humphrey came with an assortment of kits that allowed readers to dress up and customize Humphrey in a variety of different clothing. The different costumes allowed Humphrey to turn into a chef, a mogul, a doctor, a nanny, as well as vacation clothes for the robot.

Blue and white illustration of a the head of the statue of liberty with red and blue text on a white background

The American Storytelling Series is an 8 volume video series, published in 1986 by the H.W. Wilson publishing company. The series consists of 21 short stories for children, either fairy tales or folklore, each told by a different storyteller.

Blue text with a red heart on a white background

The American Library Association (ALA) celebrates the love of reading through special events, such as the National Readathon Day and the Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R) events held annually in the spring. All generations are encouraged to participate as the love of reading is ageless.   

Red text with a heart as a letter O and black text underneath on a yellow background (appears to have faded from white)

When it comes to supporting people’s love of libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) has been instrumental in fulfilling that goal since 1876. Today, an initiative; Ilovelibraries, is an online component to expand that support. Each year they sponsor various awards, such as the I love my librarian, Library Champions and Youth Media Awards (YMA) to those who exemplify love my library through public service throughout our national libraries. 

Illustration of a pointed roof building with an antenna and blue text on an orange background

Neighborhood Information Center Helps Everyone (NICHE) was a community oriented initiative that was run by Montclair (New Jersey) Public Library from 1974-1977. The program was funded by a nearly $100,000 federal grant, the goal of which was to provide information to the underserved and minority community members as a catalyst for social change. The kiosk was located in a store front and contained books, magazines, and pamphlets on crisis topics such as alcoholism, planned parenthood, food stamps, legal aide, mental health, and more. By 1979, the outcomes and techniques of the program were fully incorporated into the normal operations of Montclair Public Library.

Red and black text on a white background

In 1993, the American Library Association, American Women in Radio and Television, and Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. joined forces to launch a campaign against sexual harassment in the workplace. It began when several men and women at ABC were troubled by the lack of resources available to the public on the topic of sexual harassment so they produced a 30-second PSA. The announcement explored what sexual harassment is and directed viewers to their local public library to read the “Stop Sexual Harassment” resource booklet.

Illustratiion a figure holding a book in front of its face with images floating on the right and left over a peach colored bottom edge with blue text on it

The National Library of Canada was established by Parliament in 1953. The mandate of the Library was to preserve, promote and provide access to the published heritage of Canada. The Library worked to facilitate access to their collection of Canadiana as well as to assist other libraries with identifying Canadian material through the creation of a national bibliographic database. In 2004, the National Library of Canada merged with the National Archives of Canada to become Library and Archives Canada.

Illustration of an orange and black upraised fist created out of books with black text around it and a black outer edge

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association works to promote and improve library services in African American communities and provides leadership and recruitment for the professional development of African American librarians. In 1969, E.J. Josey was appointed to the ALA Nominating Committee. In 1971, it was decided that the ALA was not serving the needs of black librarians and library professionals; a Black Caucus was formed to address these issues. Josey was elected chairman of the Caucus; the first two goals of the Caucus was to submit a formal statement of concern to the ALA and a resolution to the ALA that would censure libraries that provided services to private segregated schools that were formed to avoid integration.

Blue and white illustration of a book with black text next to it on a white stripe with a red stripe with white text above and a blue stripe with white text below

In April, 2009, members of New York City’s three library unions, Queens Library Guild Local 1321, Brooklyn Library Guild Local 1482, and New York Public Library Guild Local 1930 held a rally at City Hall Park to protest the withholding of raises from the City’s budget simply because of an oversight by the City Counsel for not passing a budget modification for a budget that had already been approved. Local union presidents joined the DC37 Political Action Department on the steps of City Hall where they handed out buttons to City Council members as they arrived for work.

Brown text and an illustration of two people with a brown dollar sign behind them on a white background

“Justice You Can Bank On” is the slogan of the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE), which was founded in 1979. NCPE is a coalition of women’s and civil rights organizations; labor unions; religious, professional, legal, and educational associations, commissions on women, state and local pay equity coalitions and individuals working to eliminate sex- and race-based wage discrimination and to achieve pay equity. Their purpose is to close the wage gap that still exists between women, as well as people of color, and men. Pay equity – evaluating and compensating jobs based on their skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions, and not on the people who hold the jobs – is a solution to eliminating wage discrimination and closing the wage gap. Among NCPE's many member organizations is the American Library Association.