Thank you, librarians and library workers, for the opportunity to represent your care, expertise and impact to the communities we serve as @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social president. It has been the privilege of a lifetime. #OurStoriesAreWorthSharing #FreePeopleReadFreely

"I know firsthand what we’re protecting. I know who I’m protecting. And it makes me feel quite happy and validated to restore what belongs to them.” - Sam Helmick, Iowa City Public Library @samhelmick.bsky.social @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social #NEH

"After years of navigating shifting landscapes, there is no substitute for the hand-to-hand knowledge exchanged among colleagues." ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social looks ahead to #ALAAC26. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/06/01/sparking-a-new-era/

Tune in to hear from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social president @samhelmick.bsky.social! #alaac26 apple.co/4nVDIiJ

ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social reflects on the Association's first 150 years, and looks forward to the next. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/05/01/ala-at-150/

Great piece from @19thnews.org about the ongoing toll of censorship on librarians. Features @samhelmick.bsky.social and several librarians from across the country. 19thnews.org/2026/04/book...

„Terwijl we de Nationale Bibliotheekweek vieren, benadrukken we opnieuw dat bibliotheken plekken zijn voor kennis, die voor iedereen toegankelijk moet zijn.” @samhelmick.bsky.social @pinedonrc.bsky.social @nrc.nl #Bibliotheken www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...

It’s a beautiful day in the bookmobile, a beautiful day in the bookmobile, come on inside, there are stories to feel! It’s a beautiful day in the #bookmobile. 📚 🚍 💜 📚 🚍 💜 📚 🚍 💜

Letters to the Editor: An amendment to SF2432, affecting Iowa libraries, deserves open debate, says the president of the American Library Association. Story link in the comments. #iowa #sf2432 @samhelmick.bsky.social

Team Iowa City Public Library is training for our new ILS today! Learning so much and very excited about the features that will enhance patron service and automate circulation, communication, and reporting functions! I’m also really digging this Quote of the Day feature. 💜 📚

Soliciting petitions and prayers for travel mercies. Wonderful opportunity to rest, reflect, and restore from a rewarding whirlwind of a trip to champion information science and libraries and to remember the power of connection and community building everywhere we go. #travel #LibraryLife

I morgen kl 1430 vil Sam Helmick (@samhelmick.bsky.social) presidenten i American Library Association snakke om bibliotekenes betydning for ytringsrom, informasjonsfrihet og fellesskapsbygging på @oslomet.bsky.social. Pilestredet 48 eller strømming på film.oslomet.no/bibliotekene...

What a true honor and delight it is to have contributed to the 11th Edition of the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @oif.bsky.social Intellectual Freedom Manual. My copy has arrived and I can hardly wait to dive in and learn! #FreePeopleReadFreely #Freadom #IntellectualFreedom

I’m about a giddy as a goat that my post ALA networking/business cards have arrived and that there’s an actual thought bunny hiding in my jacket. #HappyMaking #ThoughtBunnies

Thank you, Oklahoma Library Association! It’s been such a blessing and bringer of joy to learn and network together with your members at #OLA26! Oklahoma Libraries (their library workers and their communities) ROCK!

#loving #travel #poetry #peoplewatching

Thank you @iowapublicradio.org for the opportunity to talk about the importance of local collaboration between Iowa’s city councils and community library trustees and how fundamental access is to parental choice in terms of reading and life long learning. #ialegis #librarylife

Thank you to the 200 library leaders at the Capitol today telling the stories about America’s libraries and to every amazing library worker supporting their communities today! #NLLD #ShowUpForPurLibraries

National Library Legislative Day is officially here! Library advocates are on the Hill in Washington to make their voices heard and urge support for our country’s libraries in Congress. Thank you to EVERY ALA member and advocate who’s here to show up #ForOurLibraries! #NLLD26 #FundLibraries

Absolutely honored to visit the amazing Augustana College Library Team to celebrate their current exhibits, tour special collections, learn about their wonderful student-focused approaches, and review one of the most beautiful Zine collections I have ever encountered. #LibraryLife

Grateful for the Association of Bookmobile & Outreach community for teaching me so much about the importance of library outreach and bookmobile services. Humbled to speak in defense of access, community building, and library partnerships. #ialegis

Fact: Thousands of Iowan parents manage their child’s library accounts today. Fact: Minors have 4th Amendment Rights that librarians are responsible to honor by both Iowa Code & professional ethics. Fact: Compelling the government to monitor & report (regardless of the Iowan’s age) is not legal.

ALA President Sam Helmick: #PLA2026 is an opportunity to show up for Minnesota library workers, celebrate resilience in our profession, and learn, network, and grow together. Join us April 1–3 in Minneapolis. Advance registration rates end today! Learn more & register: placonference.org .

"When we tell our stories, we remind the world that libraries are not just buildings or budgets. They are living testaments to human curiosity and care." Read more from ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/your-library-story/

www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/m... #ialegis #keeplibrarieslocal

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you all know . . . 💜 how lovable and important your stories are 💗 how many opportunities await you at your local libraries 💘and how many amazing literary puns there are out there to share with the ones you love!

ALA is proud to support bicameral, bipartisan legislation to protect passport acceptance services in nonprofit public libraries. ALA Pres. Sam Helmick: "Any public library currently authorized to provide passport acceptance services should be able to continue doing so." www.ala.org/news/2026/02...

"HF 2309 erodes the very foundation of local trust and community conscience," Helmick said. "Iowans are conscientious. Iowans know how to raise their families in libraries without government intervention." www.iowapublicradio.org/state-govern...

Iowa’s libraries are guided by local boards and local voices making them strong & equipped to support unique community needs. If you believe communities should govern themselves, let your local Library Board of Trustees know about this bill and tell your state legislators to respect local control.

Clearing the Hold Shelf before we open. It’s amazing that 721 items have been already reserved and processed for pick up for the week! Excited to connect folks with materials and information! #mondaymotivation

Here are three #ialegis bills harmful to library communities to contact your local representatives about this week. #keeplibrarieslocal

Excited to work in such a beautiful space with the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social Executive Board and staff over this chilly but very productive winter weekend in Chicago. #YouthMediaAwards #FreePeopleReadFreely

Your story matters. ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social demonstrates how sharing your work and your achievements is a critical act of library advocacy. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/01/02/your-library-story/

Thank you, @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social Executive Director, Dan Montgomery, for addressing the Iowa City Public Library staff during our InService Day. Thank you for the inspiring conversation & reminder that we serve communities well by providing access to opportunity, literacy, and learning. 📚 💜

Our guest this week was American Library Association (@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social) President Sam Helmick (@samhelmick.bsky.social). They work so very hard for libraries and librarians!

Our guest this week on Book Flood Podcast is ALA (@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social) President @samhelmick.bsky.social. We discuss ALA, book banning, advocacy, and more! bookfloodpodcast.com

Soliciting prayers and petitions for safe travels! Headed to the Guadalajara International Book Fair a little early in hopes of beating the winter weather. #travel #faith #grateful ✈️ ❄️ 📚

Excited to connect with information science & library students (who can attend for free) and the rest of my colleagues at this learning and networking event! It’s quite wonderful to belong to such a diverse and incredible community of practice and mutual support!! #LibraryLife #AlwaysLearning

Headed home from the @ncacensorship.bsky.social gala feeling inspired and resilient as well as encouraged by how many folks are engaged in ensuring #FreePeopleReadFreely. #hopeful #LibraryLife #travel

ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social highlights how ALA chapters are "our first indicators of new trends, the tightening pressure on legislative challenges, and the steady rhythm of community needs." https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/11/03/the-pulse-of-our-profession/

@samhelmick.bsky.social is the real deal! Join this call and you will be inspired, enlightened, and delighted!

Enjoyed the moon and some Minnie Riperton this morning as I walked and gathered some thought bunnies. #SundayMorning

Enjoyed a lovely drive to Des Moines and headed to the Brooklyn Public Library to celebrate #IntellectualFreedom and #FreePeopleReadFreely during an evening with the great @georgetakei.bsky.social. Soliciting petitions and prayers for smooth and safe travels!! ☕️ 📚 Let’s do some good! #Freadom

Discover how you can create literary freedom that helps LGBTQ+ youth feel safe, seen, and valued with Featured speakers PFLAG National CEO Brian Bond, “Red, White, and Royal Blue” author Casey McQuiston, ALA President @samhelmick.bsky.social, and education reporter Nadra Kareem Nittle.

Headed to the Library of Congress for a terminology workshop this week! Not enough time for coffee but got some emails out. ☕️ 💻 Soliciting good thoughts, petitions, and prayers for travel mercies please. 💜 ✈️ #AlwaysLearning #Grateful #Blessed

Passing a cozy afternoon in a comfy sweater, with a cup of coffee, and a stack of comics. #HappyMaking #AmReading

Grateful for the fellowship with @raushenbush.bsky.social on State of Belief podcast to explore freedom, faith, libraries, and #LibraryCardSignUpMonth. 💜 religionnews.com/2025/09/13/l... #ShowUpForOurLibraries

Absolutely loved connecting with neighbors and new friends tonight at Tiny Art Show through the North Liberty Library! Started with a miniature self portrait on a Post It note, but couldn’t figure out a good way to transfer it, so doodled a more simplistic self portrait instead. 🖼️ 🐿️ 🎨 📚

Volunteering a bit this morning at the #NatBookFest between library visits and meetups. It’s amazing to connect with the amazing folks who love to read and gift time and energy into this incredible event. #ReadersAreLeaders

"When we treat libraries as communities rather than commodities, we serve with love and respect, ensuring they remain strong, welcoming, and sustainable for all."