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Authors, Advocacy Group Pen Open Letter Urging Publishers to Support Libraries
The advocacy group Fight for the Future has organized an open letter demanding that publishers and their trade organizations cease efforts the authors say are undermining libraries. In response, the AAP has labeled the campaign "disinformation," while a group led by the Authors Guild called the statement "highly misleading."
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Congressional Resolution Condemns Nationwide Book Banning Efforts
In honor of Banned Books Week, the resolution seeks to recognize the “alarming threats to freedom of expression” sweeping the country, and calls for “local governments and educational institutions” to protect the rights of Americans “to read a wide array of books reflecting a multitude of viewpoints and perspectives.”
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PEN America Report Shows ‘Rapid Acceleration’ of Book Bans in Schools
Coinciding with Banned Books Week 2022, PEN America has released an alarming new report, which found that more than 2,500 book bans were issued in some 140 school districts in 32 states during the 2021-22 school year.
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EveryLibrary Poll Finds Book Bans Are Broadly Unpopular With Voters
A new poll released to coincide with Banned Books Week confirms that efforts to censor books remain unpopular with voters across party lines.
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On Eve of Banned Books Week 2022, ALA Says Challenges Are Rising
ALA documented 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources involving 1,651 different titles through August, on pace to shatter last year's record number of challenges. Banned Books Week 2022 is set to run September 18-24.
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Library Futures Joins NYU’s Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy
At NYU, the two year-old library advocacy group will become part of a wider community of "practitioners, scholars, students, and researchers working together to further knowledge and policy in the service of the public good,” said Library Futures director Jennie Rose Halperin.
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After Strong First Season, Literati Book Fairs Expand into New Territories
Schools in select cities across the country will be able to operate a Literati Book Fair in the new academic year.
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Publishers, Internet Archive Trade Reply Briefs in Book Scanning Case
The parties sharpen their arguments for summary judgment in the closely watched copyright case.
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Judge Tosses Virginia Obscenity Cases, Declares State Law Unconstitutional
In a resounding victory for the freedom to read, a Virginia state judge on August 30 swiftly dismissed two closely watched cases that sought to bar the public display and sale of two books alleged to be obscene under an obscure state law, and in so doing struck down the state law the claims were based on.
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Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #9 Featuring Andrea Wang, Author of 'The Many Meanings of Meilan'
Wang is set to appear in conversation with Crystal Chen of the New York Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, September 6, at 1 PM ET.
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This Ohio Librarian Is Seeking to Defeat a Book Banner Where It Counts—at the Ballot Box
With schools and libraries under increasing political pressure, Kathy Zappitello, director of the Conneaut Public Library and the 2022 President of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, is standing up by standing for public office.
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Biden Administration Announces Historic Open Access Policy for Taxpayer-Funded Research
The culmination of a 20-year advocacy effort, the new policy will finally make taxpayer-funded research available to the public without cost or delay.
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Biden Administration Announces New IMLS Board Appointees
On August 12, President Biden announced 11 appointees to serve on the the National Museum and Library Services Board, including a recent ALA president, an ALA honorary membership recipient (the association's highest honor), and the state librarian of Biden's home state of Delaware.
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Supporters, Opponents Weigh in on Internet Archive Copyright Battle
Stakeholders on both sides of the closely-watched copyright case have now weighed in with amicus briefs. PW rounds them up here.
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ALA Responds as Legislation Threatens Librarians for Offering Information on Abortion Services
ALA says it is “developing guidance” for libraries and library workers and working with other organizations to “oppose any efforts to limit access to constitutionally protected information or limit privacy protections” for library users.
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AAP Won't Seek Fees in Maryland E-book Case
In a new filing the AAP said that it will not seek to recoup costs and legal fees it incurred in its successful challenge to a Maryland e-book law that was declared unconstitutional earlier this year.
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LibraryPass Says Comics Plus Circulation Has Doubled in First Half of 2022
Comics Plus readers drove nearly half a million checkouts of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga through more than 2,000 schools and libraries through the first half of 2022.
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Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #8 Featuring James Yang, Author of 'A Boy Named Isamu'
Yang is set to appear in conversation with Karen Wang of the New York Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, August 2 at 1 PM ET.
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Groundbreaking Study Explores Trauma, Stress in Frontline Library Workers
The 2022 Urban Libraries Unite Trauma Study addresses a "crisis of trauma" in urban public libraries.
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The ALA Annual Conference Returns with Solid Attendance
The 2022 ALA Annual Conference, the first in-person annual conference since 2019, set a new high-water mark for the return to U.S. in-person events in the book business.