How to Subscribe to Public Libraries Magazine and Access Its Archives

Updated

Public Libraries Online is the online publication of the Public Library Association (PLA), and it mixes free web content with a member-restricted magazine archive. If you want the print/digital magazine and its back issues, the site points you to a PLA/ALA subscription page; if you only want to read articles, much of the online content is openly available. The key distinction the site itself makes is between the free online magazine content and "Past Issues (Members only)."

What you can access without a subscription

The Public Libraries Online site functions as a blog and article hub. Its menu covers topics such as:

  • Administration & Leadership
  • Books
  • Cataloging & Technical Services
  • Collection Management
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice
  • Information Literacy & Library Instruction
  • Intellectual Freedom & Copyright
  • Marketing & Engagement
  • Programs & Services
  • Self-Care
  • Technology

It also hosts a podcast and an About page. Recent article examples include interviews with authors (e.g., Beck Kubrick on a graphic novel), advocacy pieces like "E-Rate Under Threat," and conference reflections from PLA 2026 in Minneapolis. These are the kinds of resources you can read directly on the site.

What requires membership or a subscription

The site labels "Past Issues" as Members only. That means the magazine's back-issue archive is gated behind PLA/ALA membership or a subscription, while the current online articles are not. The site's own navigation separates these two layers, so don't assume the archive is free just because the blog is.

How to subscribe

  1. Go to the Public Libraries Online site.
  2. Find the Subscribe link in the navigation. On the site, this points to the ALA/PLA publications subscription page: https://www.ala.org/pla/resources/publications/publiclibraries/subscribe.
  3. Follow the instructions on that page to choose your subscription or membership option.

The site does not publish current prices, tiers, or payment methods in the material available here, so check the ALA/PLA subscription page for the latest options and costs.

Practical notes

  • If your goal is reading articles and interviews, start with the free online content — no login is indicated for those pages.
  • If your goal is the magazine archive, expect a members-only gate and plan to subscribe or join PLA.
  • The "Subscribe" link is the single official entry point the site provides; use it rather than guessing at other URLs.

In short: free articles are available on the site, but the magazine's past issues are members-only, and the Subscribe link leads to the PLA/ALA page where you can sign up.