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Censorship Is a Hammer Looking for a Nail: PW Talks with Sam Helmick
The community and access coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library discusses their experience on the front lines of one of the nation’s most intense legal and legislative battles over the freedom to read and the very real impact book banning campaigns have on the LGBTQ community.
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Raymond Pun Elected 2025-2026 President of the American Library Association
The academic and research librarian at the Alder Graduate School of Education in Redwood City, Calif., has been elected president of the American Library Association for its 2025–2026 term.
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The Week in Libraries: April 12, 2024
Among the headlines this week: ALA releases the 2024 State of America's Libraries Report; PLA reports strong attendance at its annual conference; and Idaho passes a "harmful to minors" bill.
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ALA Releases Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023
Maia Kobabe’s 'Gender Queer' topped the list of this year's most challenged books, which is again dominated by stories by and about LGBTQ+ persons and people of color, whose voices
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At PLA 2024, Shola Richards Delivers a Much-Needed Message for Librarians
Richards told his personal story of escaping a toxic workplace and offered a roadmap for public librarians—who have been feeling the stress of their ever-expanding work long before the current surge in book banning and political attacks began—to begin addressing the challenges in their own environments.
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OCLC Acquires CloudLibrary Digital Content Platform
Nonprofit library technology cooperative OCLC, the company behind WorldCat, has acquired CloudLibrary, a technology platform offering patrons access to digital content through libraries, from library e-book vendor Bibliotheca.
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Judge Weighs Preliminary Injunction in Alaska Book Banning Lawsuit
A year after administrators in the Mat-Su district responded to a handful of parental complaints by pulling 56 titles from school libraries without any formal review, a federal judge considers an injunction that would return the books to school library shelves and pause the removal of any others pending a further order from the court.
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The Week in Libraries: March 29, 2024
Among the week's headlines: PLA 2024 is on deck for next week in Columbus and with a new opening speaker; Washington passes a bill to protect libraries; and federal library funding will remain stable for 2024, but next year's budget battle is already heating up.
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Proposed Changes to Huntington Beach Public Library Draw Opposition
Plans to audit children's books and privatize library management in Huntington Beach, Calif. are drawing criticism from censorship opponents. On March 28, council members and Authors Against Book Bans held a joint press conference to decry the measures.
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The Week in Libraries: March 22, 2024
Among the week's headlines: ALA is honored by the National Book Critics Circle; the political attacks on libraries in Alabama continue to escalate; and a report on how libraries are bridging the mental health divide in Texas.
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Legislative Attacks on State Library Associations are Dangerous—and Illegal
EveryLibrary's John Chrastka argues that the legislative attacks on the work of library associations, if allowed to stand, could undermine the foundation of all professional association activities and destabilize the collaborative networks vital to any profession.
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PLA 2024: Program Picks
DEI, leadership, literacy, and, of course, defending the freedom to read are among the themes represented in a strong PLA 2024 professional program.
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Library Community Readies for PLA 2024
With a strong program and solid registration numbers, excitement is running high for the 2024 Public Library Association Conference, set for April 3–5 in Columbus, Ohio.
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The Week in Libraries: March 15, 2024
Among the week's headlines: ALA reports that book bans are still surging; the end has come for ALA's LibLearnX; a shocking escalation in a battle over the freedom to read at an Alabama library; and a handy roundup of state legislation designed to protect libraries.
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ALA Reports Record Spike in Book Titles Challenged in 2023
In a release, ALA officials said that 4,240 unique book titles were reported challenged in schools and libraries in 2023, a stunning 65% increase over 2022, when 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship.
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ALA to Cease LibLearnX in 2026
After three challenging years, ALA officials said the 2025 event in Phoenix will be the last winter show produced by the association.
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The Week in Libraries: March 8, 2024
Among the week's headlines: librarians head to Washington D.C. to push for library funding; a Llano County librarian is suing for wrongful termination after being fired for refusing to ban books; and EveryLibrary issues a paper exploring the political threats facing academic libraries.
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The Week in Libraries: March 1, 2024
Among the week's headlines: Georgia moves a step closer to banning the ALA; a library e-book bill is back in Connecticut; and librarian TikTok star Mychal Threets, who went viral for sharing 'library joy,' has left his job.
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Freedom to Read Advocates Blast Alabama Library's Ban on LGBTQ Book Purchases
The criticism comes after the Autauga-Prattville Public Library’s newly appointed board enacted a new policy suspending the purchase of children’s or young adult books that include "sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender discordance," a move the National Coalition Against Censorship called "discriminatory and unconstitutional."
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The American Library Association Releases 'Book Résumés' for Banned Books
The ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans initiative has unveiled a new free resource this week: a collection of "book résumés," documents created in collaboration with dozens of publishers that summarize a banned book’s significance and educational value for use in local advocacy work.