In 1876, the year of our nation’s centennial, 103 dreamers gathered in Philadelphia. These librarians and library advocates did not come merely to talk. They came to weave a vision of libraries as lanterns in the night, as havens of thought, as places where minds and hearts could be set free. From that gathering, the American Library Association was born. Today, we stand at 150 years, a century and a half of voices lifted, stories shared, and doors opened. We celebrate not just survival but triumph. For libraries are not just buildings; they are the pulse of democracy, the heart of community, and the echo of our collective soul. Through wars and unrest, through the whirlwind of change, ALA has held fast to a simple truth: Knowledge belongs to all, and all who seek it deserve to find it. This year, the celebration belongs to every library, every library worker, and every community we serve.…