Hallie Rich

What I learned at my first SLJ Summit.

The Page (AZ) Public Library prioritizes the diverse needs of its community—addressing hunger, digital equity, and social-emotional learning for students—while actively including and recognizing its Indigenous community members.

Dedicated librarians and library supporters can continue critical advocacy work to shape the legislative and policy environment in ways that complement, rather than counteract, our professional values. 

As my community expands from Library Journal to now include School Library Journal, I am eager to understand more about what you, our SLJ readers, value and how our publications can best support your needs.

Amid the celebration of books and libraries was the undercurrent of a community under attack, with conversations and sessions at ALA Annual in Philadelphia centered around advocacy, democracy, and diverse books.