ALA Partners with Welcoming America to Celebrate Welcoming Week 2025
The American Library Association (ALA) has formed a new partnership with Welcoming America, a national nonprofit that leads a growing movement of communities committed to being inclusive of immigrants and all residents. Together, ALA and Welcoming America will celebrate Welcoming Week 2025 from September 12 through September 21, joining thousands of people across the country and around the globe in strengthening connections that foster immigrant inclusion and belonging.
Welcoming Week is more than a celebration. It is a call to action for communities to recognize the value of diversity and to create spaces where every person feels seen, supported, and included. By working in partnership with Welcoming America, ALA is highlighting the essential role that libraries play in making this vision a reality.
For generations, libraries have stood as one of the most trusted and accessible institutions in American life. They open doors to information, lifelong learning, and civic engagement. They also provide something less tangible but equally vital: a sense of welcome. For many newcomers, whether they are immigrants, refugees, displaced people, or individuals moving from one state to another, the library is often the first place where they find connection, comfort, and a sense of belonging in their new community.
ALA’s partnership with Welcoming America reaffirms the association’s long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also underscores the idea that libraries are not only places for books and information but are also essential civic spaces where people come together to share stories, learn from one another, and build stronger, more resilient communities. No matter a person’s language, culture, or background, the library can be a place where they feel welcomed and valued.
This Welcoming Week, ALA invites libraries of all types and sizes to take part in celebrating the vital role they play in creating inclusive communities. Libraries are encouraged to host events, develop programs, and engage with their communities in ways that demonstrate the values of openness and connection. Even small gestures, such as offering multilingual resources, displaying welcoming messages, or providing space for dialogue and storytelling, can have a powerful impact on how people experience belonging.
Get Involved
Libraries can begin planning their participation in Welcoming Week 2025 with the help of these resources:
- Welcoming Week
- Welcoming Week Toolkit
- Celebrating Welcoming Week: A Guide for Libraries
- Add Your Welcoming Week Event
To learn more about ALA’s ongoing support for immigrants, refugees, and displaced persons, visit the Subcommittee for Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons, which operates under the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services Advisory Committee.
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