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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.
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The Week in Libraries: February 16, 2024
Maryland lawmakers seek to protect libraries, Florida governor Ron DeSantis appears to acknowledge that book banning efforts have gone too far, and more.
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The Week in Libraries: February 9, 2024
Among the week's headlines: The American Library Association announces five new "Core Values" for librarianship; a candidate for Missouri secretary of state campaigns by burning library books with a flamethrower; and OCLC is suing a shadow archive site.
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The Week in Libraries: February 2, 2024
Among the week's headlines: PLA 2024 is next on the library conference calendar; Alabama takes aim at ALA; and Georgia proposes a book rating law.
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After Nearly Four Years, Manhattan's Poets House Reopens
Following the pandemic, a community schism, and a burst water supply line, the nonprofit poetry library has undergone serious renovation and reorganization, staffing up and once again opening its doors to the public.
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The Week in Libraries: January 26, 2024
Among the week's headlines: LibLearnX 2024 is in the books; Oklahoma appoints a conservative media provocateur to a key post; and new bills emerge to defend libraries and the freedom to read.
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Librarians Gather for ALA's Second In-Person LibLearnX
Despite modest attendance, LibLearnX 2024 once again offered an engaging program, including compelling talks from Kate DiCamillo, Michele Norris, and Jesus Trejo, among others, and a professional program exploring a range of such hot topics as the freedom to read, sustainability, and AI.
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The Week in Libraries: January 19, 2024
Among the week’s headlines: ALA’s LibLearnX 2024 gets underway; students and librarians at an Idaho high school push back against book bans; and an Alabama legislator wants to make it easy for politicians to fire library board members.
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The Week in Libraries: January 12, 2024
Among this week's headlines: EveryLibrary updates its “legislation to watch” tracker for 2024; Indiana lawmakers take aim at how libraries are funded in the state; and the Los Angeles Public Library gets into publishing.
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