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TLA 2023 Preview: Texas Librarians Unite!
The 2023 Texas Library Association Annual Conference, set for April 19-22 in Austin, comes at a crucial moment for the state’s librarians.
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The Week in Libraries: April 7, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Big wins for the freedom to read in Idaho, and Texas; legendary author Judy Blume delivers a passionate defense of libraries; the new pain points for academic librarians in the wake of the pandemic; and why the key to defeating book bans is showing up.
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Judge Finds Texas Library's Book Bans Unconstitutional, Orders Books Returned
In a victory for freedom to read advocates, federal judge Robert Pitman found that Llano County's "targeting and removal" of a host of allegedly "inappropriate" books from library shelves constituted viewpoint and content discrimination.
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The Week in Libraries: March 31, 2023
Among the week's headlines: bomb threats over Juno Dawson's 'This Book Is Gay' highlight the increasing threat level librarians and teachers are facing; Missouri lawmakers vote to defund the state's public libraries; and PEN America's Nadine Farid Johnson tells Congress that the country is facing the 'broadest attack on First Amendment rights' in generations.
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Little Free Library Aims to Eliminate Book Deserts
The nonprofit hopes to partner with local community organizations across the U.S. to install and maintain book-sharing boxes.
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In a Swift Decision, Judge Eviscerates Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program
After nearly three years of litigation, federal judge John G. Koeltl ruled that the Internet Archive infringed the copyrights of four plaintiff publishers by scanning print editions of their books and lending them online. The ruling comes just days after a March 20 hearing.
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Is Controlled Digital Lending on Borrowed Time?
At a long-awaited hearing last week, a federal judge sounded skeptical of the Internet Archive’s program to scan and lend library books.
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The Week in Libraries: March 24, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Congress passes a 'parental rights' bill; Illinois advances its bill to prohibit book banning; Missouri lawmakers seek to pull funding from public libraries in the state; and Julie Stivers has been named School Library Journal's 2023 School Librarian of the Year.
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ALA Reports Shocking Increase in Attempted Book Bans in 2022
With book banning and legislative attacks on the freedom to read continuing to surge across the country, the ALA tracked a stunning 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022.
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Judge Appears Skeptical of Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program
Over the course of the 90-minute hearing, Judge John G. Koeltl appeared unmoved by the IA's fair use claims and unconvinced that the publishers’ market for library e-books was not impacted by the practice known as controlled digital lending.
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The Week in Libraries: March 17, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Federal library funding hangs in the balance as the 2024 budget process ramps up; Arkansas passes a controversial bill aimed at restricting libraries; a Michigan prosecutor threatens to charge a local library director for refusing to pull Maia Kobabe's 'Gender Queer' from the collection; and the Copyright Office weighs in again on AI authored works.
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With Budget Deadline Looming, Library Supporters Urge Congress to #FundLibraries
ALA officials are urging library advocate to ask their congressional representatives to cosign letters in support of library programs. The House deadline for signatures is March 20.
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The Week in Libraries: March 10, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claims book banning is a media hoax; Illinois goes on the offense to protect the freedom to read; and a new poll suggests that the Right's 'war on woke' might not be an effective political strategy.
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Should Public Libraries Double Down on Print Book Collections?
Data from the IMLS show gate counts and circulation have been falling for more than a decade. U.K.-based library advocate Tim Coates says print books hold the key to reversing the trend.
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The Week in Libraries: March 3, 2023
Among the headlines this week: a look at libraries some three years after the Covid-19 pandemic began; how the right wing culture war playing out in many communities has led to some librarians living in fear; the St. Paul Public Library's 'Read Brave' program enters its 10th year; and Connecticut revises its proposed library e-book bill.
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The Week in Libraries: February 24, 2023
Amid criticism, Puffin revises its plan to soften some of the language in Roald Dahl's classic works; North Dakota passes a new law that wou ban sexually explicit materials in public libraries; and Library Futures releases a policy paper on digital ownership.
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With New Model Language, Library E-book Bills Are Back
A year after a federal judge struck down Maryland's groundbreaking library e-book law, library advocates are backing revised legislation they say can help ensure "fair and equitable licensing terms" for library e-books while avoiding the thorny copyright issue that doomed Maryland’s effort.
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Comics Plus Exceeds One Million Checkouts in 2022
Now in its third year, Comics Plus counts more than 2,500 customers, who enjoy access to a large and growing catalog.
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The Week in Libraries: February 17, 2023
Among the week's headlines: PEN America reports that 'educational censorship' bills are continuing to spread nationwide; the Utah Library Association delivers a powerful statement on censorship; and registration is now open for the 2023 ALA Annual Conference, set for June 22-27 in Chicago.
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The Week in Libraries: February 10, 2023
Among the week's headlines: The Colorado Civil Rights Division rules that a librarian who objected to censorship efforts in her library was illegally terminated; more on the College Board's questionable interactions with Florida officials; Library Journal releases its annual budget survey report; and Hawaii introduces a new library e-book bill.
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