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ALA Announces $1.25 Million Grant Fund for Libraries Impacted by Covid-19
Under the ALA COVID Library Relief Fund, libraries can apply for grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 to bolster a wide range of library operations and services.
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The Awesome Power of Picture Books
Sari Feldman reflects on how these “wizards of the literary world” can be the key to a lifelong love of reading.
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PRH Extends Temporary E-book, Digital Audio Terms for Libraries
Under the terms of its program, which PRH began more than a year ago, libraries have the option to license e-books and digital audio for one-year terms at a 50% prorated price as an alternative to the existing two-year term (for e-books) or perpetual access (for digital audio).
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Season Two of 'The Skillset Podcast' With R. David Lankes & Nicole A. Cooke
In the wake of a tumultuous year, the new season of 'The Skillset Podcast' is focused on 'collective care' within the library community.
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ALA Releases 2020 Most Challenged Books List
For the third year in a row, Alex Gino's 'George' has topped the American Library Association's list of most challenged books in American libraries.
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Letter to the Editor: 'Surprised' by AAP Reaction to PW Article
In a letter to the editor, AAP's general counsel called lawyer Jonathan Band's take on Maryland's library e-book legislation as a "false statement." Band responds.
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Library E-book Bill Clears Maryland Legislature, Heading to Governor
After passing the Maryland General Assembly unanimously on March 10, the bill sailed through the final steps of reconciliation this week.
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ALA to Biden Administration: Don't Overlook Libraries in Infrastructure Plan
ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. said that not including libraries in the administration’s plan would be a “missed opportunity” and urged librarians to contact the White House.
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Library E-Book Bill Advancing in Maryland
Library supporters remain hopeful it will cross the finish line before the April 12 legislative session ends in Maryland, despite recent comments from the Association of American Publishers, which this week stated its opposition to the measure.
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TLA 2021 Program Highlights: Celebrate Differences, Empower Voices
Set to run online Thursday–Saturday, April 22–24, the TLA 2021 Annual Conference will feature 200 educational sessions and a strong lineup of live speakers, and organizers are confident that it will inspire, educate, and entertain attendees. Registration will remain open through April 24.
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After a Year of Historic Challenges, the Texas Library Association Looks to the Future
For a second straight year, the Covid-19 pandemic will force the Texas Library Association Annual Conference to be online only (April 22–24). But in true Texas fashion, TLA organizers have risen to the challenge with an expansive virtual program that features a slate of strong speakers and sessions.
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Elsevier Strikes Historic Open Access Deal With University of California
The agreement comes more than two years after UC officials walked away from its subscription deal with Elsevier, demanding the publisher negotiate a fair transformative open access deal.
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On the Path to Cultural Competence
Cultural competence requires us to look beyond Western norms and standards to think about what's missing and who is missing. Only then, writes Nicole A. Cooke, can we see the factors that contribute to and perpetuate the systemic racism and inequities that divide our society.
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Passage of American Rescue Plan Boosts IMLS, Federal Library Funding
The bold $1.9 trillion measure signed into law yesterday includes $200 million in pandemic relief funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the largest single increase in the agency's history.
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Maryland Legislature Passes Bill Supporting Library Access to Digital Content
The Maryland legislature this week became the first to pass legislation that would ensure libraries can license digital content that is available to consumers. Similar legislation is pending in New York and Rhode Island.
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House Introduces Bill Seeking $5 Billion for Library Facilities
The Build America’s Libraries Act was introduced in the House of Representatives this week by Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Don Young (R-AK) and would provide $5 billion to address decades of needed repairs, updates, as well as the construction of modern library facilities in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
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'Arms' Race: Where We Stand One Year into the Covid-19 Crisis
As we approach the one year anniversary of the first U.S. Covid-19 lockdowns, PW spoke with Columbia University epidemiologist Jeffrey Shaman, who offered a frank assessment of where we stand in our battle against Covid-19.
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OverDrive CEO: Publishers, Librarians Still Searching for Fair E-book Lending Models
In a post this week, OverDrive CEO Steve Potash said he was proud of some of the “incremental gains” made in the library e-book market in 2020 but insisted that the work of establishing “fair, flexible, and reasonable terms” for libraries and schools to acquire and lend digital content is far from over.
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PW Webinar Series 'Live from the Library Lounge' Returns March 4
The free webinar series for librarians will resume with a discussion exploring how Covid-19 has impacted public libraries, including the successes, failures, the hard lessons learned, and the challenges and opportunities yet to come as we approach year two of this global public health crisis.
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James McBride, Rebecca Giggs Win ALA's 2021 Carnegie Medals
The awards, which were established in 2012, have become a highly coveted literary honor, reflecting the expert judgment and insight of library professionals and booksellers who work closely with adult readers.