ALA150
American Library Association partners with Heritage Auctions for sale of historic READ® posters
By Staff
June 20, 2026
CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) is partnering with Heritage Auctions, the world’s largest collections auctioneer, to auction a rare selection of ALA’s iconic READ® posters, offering supporters, collectors, and library fans a chance to own a piece of library history during ALA’s 150th anniversary year.
Bidding opens June 18, with the live online auction taking place July 10. The auction will feature more than 200 ALA posters spanning decades of library promotion, advocacy, and pop culture history that have adorned the walls of libraries, schools, and universities across the U.S. for more than four decades in one of the nation’s most recognizable literacy campaigns.
Among the highlights are sought-after posters featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Taylor Swift, Yoda, the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and WWE personalities, along with autographed posters from more than 30 celebrities including Michael J. Fox, Bette Midler, Paul Newman, Sting, and Oprah Winfrey. The sale also includes library promotional posters from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, plus beloved cartoon and children’s characters such as Barney, Big Bird, Garfield, Goofy, the Muppets, Winnie the Pooh, and Mickey Mouse.
“For more than 40 years, some of the world’s most recognizable figures have taken part in ALA’s READ® Campaign, highlighting the importance and pleasure of reading for generations.” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “This auction gives book lovers and library supporters a meaningful opportunity to own a piece of that legacy while celebrating the enduring power of reading.”
The auction arrives at a milestone moment for ALA, which is celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2026. Founded in 1876, the Association is marking 150 years of championing access to information, supporting library workers, and advancing the vital role libraries play in communities nationwide.
The auction is being presented in partnership with Heritage Auctions, which will host the online sale.
“These posters are more than promotional materials, they’re cultural touchstones that have inspired generations of readers,” said Charles Epting, director of consignments, pop culture/historical at Heritage Auctions. “Growing up in the 90s, I remembered seeing many of them. They made reading feel exciting and accessible, and this collection reflects a shared experience that has connected readers for decades. “
The catalog is available at http://ha.com/42200
About Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Geneva, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 2,000,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of more than 7,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.
About the American Library Association??
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
