***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***
A PLA 2026 Virtual Conference On-Demand Webinar
As more and more federal, state, and local governments craft legislation that inhibit the work and role of libraries, the communities served and the people who run them, it is important to understand the differences, when to act, and how to respond. Learn about how legislation works and how and when it may be challenged. Panelists include a representative from ALA's Public Policy & Advocacy Office and a representative from a state legislature.
Recorded live during the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference, April 1–3, 2026.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify how adverse legislation can affect your library;
- Craft a plan for when to act and how to respond in your community; and
- Prepare for upcoming challenges due to legislation.
Who Should Attend
This on-demand webinar is intended for any public library worker wishing to sample the educational offerings of the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference.
If you were registered for the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference, or were an in-person full-conference registrant who purchased the Virtual Conference add-on, then you already have access to this recording in the online Conference console until July 3, 2026.
Panelists
Deborah Doyle is President of United for Libraries (2024-26). A writer, editor, and fundraiser, she is an active library advocate at local, state, and national levels. Playing board and staff roles at Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, she was actively involved in creating San Francisco’s well-funded modern library system. She has served as President of the California Library Association (CLA) and is the only person to receive CLA’s President’s Award twice. She currently sits on the United for Libraries board, ALA's Committee on Legislation, CLA's Advocacy and Legislative Committee, and chaired the Sonoma County Library Commission, for five years. Deborah holds a BA from UVA and an Executive MLIS from SJSU.
David Paige is the director of Libraries Unlimited. He is a past president of United for Libraries, a former Trustee of the Conway Public Library, and a former school board member. He also currently serves as a New Hampshire State Representative.
Rosie Stewart, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Penguin Random House.
Lisa Varga is the Associate Executive Director of ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, DC. Prior to joining ALA, Lisa was the Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association, a professional organization representing more than 5,000 librarians and library staff in Academic, Public and Special libraries throughout the Commonwealth. In 2024, Lisa was named Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. She is a passionate advocate for libraries and a proud mom to three young men.
Important Registration Information
Log into or create your ALA eLearning account
An ALA eLearning account is required to register. Don’t have an account? Create one for free by going to the “Log in” menu located at the top right corner of your screen. No membership is required to create the account.
Redeem your signup code to complete your registration
Once you’ve registered for this on-demand webinar, a signup code will be added to your ALA eLearning account and emailed to you. Find the signup code on your signup code page, then redeem it on your account’s dashboard to complete your enrollment in this on-demand webinar.
- Need to purchase registration on behalf of a colleague?
- Need to register a group of 3 or more?
- Need to register with a purchase order?
Review the ALA eLearning FAQ if you need more information.
Accommodations
This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).
If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.
Tech Requirements
To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.
Contact
This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).
