Library advocates, take note. ALA officially launched its 2025 #FundLibraries campaign for federal library funding last Monday with the release of it usual "dear appropriator letters." This week, however, ALA officials learned that the deadline to submit signatures for the House letters has been set for May 1, and ALA officials are now urging library advocates to contact their representatives without delay to urge them to sign the letters.
Federal library funding is facing an especially tough fight in the current budget process. With partisan gridlock, election year politics, and a surprise 4% cut to LSTA funding proposed by the White House. To get involved, visit the ALA's advocacy page here.
In a major victory some seven years in the making, the FCC this week at last voted to restore net neutrality rules repealed by the Trump Administration in 2017. The New York Times reports: "Jessica Rosenworcel, the chairwoman of the F.C.C. and a Democrat, said the rules reflected the importance of high-speed internet as the main mode of communications for many Americans. 'Every consumer deserves internet access that is fast, open and fair,' Ms. Rosenworcel said. 'This is common sense.' Broadband providers are expected to sue to try to overturn the reinstated rules."
The ALA has been a staunch advocate for net neutrality for more than a decade. "The open internet is a vital platform for free speech and intellectual expression," reads an ALA fact sheet. "Without strong net neutrality protections in place, there is nothing to stop internet service providers from blocking or throttling legal internet traffic or setting up commercial arrangements where certain traffic is prioritized over other traffic. In practice, this will make it harder for people to have equitable access to the internet and for libraries to serve their patrons. A non-neutral net gives entities who can afford to pay more control over what information every American can access, potentially relegating libraries and other non-commercial enterprises to the internet’s 'slow lanes.'"
Maryland Matters reports that Maryland this week became the latest state to pass a law that seeks to discourage book bans in libraries, with Governor Wes Moore signing the Freedom to Read Act into law on April 25. The bill, passed as "emergency" legislation, takes effect immediately. "The act requires local school officials to manage library programs and not exclude or remove materials 'because of partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval.' Local school officials must develop policies and procedures to review objections—made by a student, parent or guardian—about books or materials. School districts also must establish a reasonable timeline to conduct and conclude a review. Books and materials being reviewed must 'remain available' for use by students and school personnel until the review process has concluded," the article reports. "It also prohibits retaliating against employees for doing their jobs."
In contrast, the Montgomery Advertiser reports that the Alabama house has approved a bill, HB385, this week that would allow for the prosecution of librarians who fail to ban allegedly inappropriate sexual content. "The bill adds to the legal definition of 'sexual conduct' by clarifying it as 'sexual or gender oriented material that knowingly exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations' that occurs in K-12 public schools, public libraries and other public places where minors may be present and without the consent of a parent," the article reports. "In addition, it would allow anyone to claim library materials are obscene and then write to the school district's superintendent or head librarian to request the materials' removal." The bill now heads to the state senate.
In an editorial in the Alabama Political Reporter, a former Alabama librarian sums up how librarians in the state are feeling. "Librarians in Alabama are struggling. They have been for a while, and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel yet," the article states. "Librarians are simply exhausted. And many of them are miserable in jobs that have always brought them joy and fulfillment. They’re facing constant demonization, plus a real chance that their work might put them at risk for being arrested. Every library worker you know is thinking of an exit strategy. Yes, even the one you love the most. Even the ones who have always been so dedicated to serving their community."
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that nearly two years after the state passed its "sweeping sensitive materials law," the state is trying to figure out how to apply the law retroactively in light of new state guidance. "Determining whether or not past book ban decisions jive with the new statewide guidance is no easy task," the report states, adding that "a list of all retroactively banned books" could be released as early as August.
In Wyoming, the Gillette News Record reports that, despite the state very publicly cutting ties with ALA, two County librarians will be able to take a class offered by the American Library Association after all. "At a library board meeting Monday, library director John Jackson told the board that there are two relatively new employees in the reference department that need to be trained," the article states. "The only training opportunity out there is through the ALA. It’s a six-week course that focuses on the functions of a reference services librarian, such as evaluating sources, using the internet as a reference tool and outreach and marketing."
In her weekly censorship roundup for Book Riot, Kelly Jensens offers a "boiled-down primer" for how to fight book bans in 2024. "If you read this very basic list of what to do and feel frustrated, that’s worth sitting with," Jensen writes. "This is not a short-term project. Again, the first 'how to' guide here was published in fall 2021. It’s now spring 2024. Change only happens when you take action to make change and change is extremely slow."
Fast Company has a rather rosy take on what's happening in children's publishing. "Publishers, writers, and progressive organizations across the children’s book industry aren’t letting the book bans hold them back," the article states. "Instead, they’re turning the bans into a rallying cry to publish even more diverse characters and points of view. Indeed, over the last five years, there has been a steady increase in books by and about people of color. And people are finding creative ways to make sure these books get out into the world."
And finally this week, the cost of library e-books remains a thorny issue, and KUOW in Washington state this week reported on the issue. "The increasing demand for digital books is causing problems for local libraries," the report states. "Last month, [Seattle Puyblic Library] announced it was reducing the number of digital holds patrons can place from 25 down to 10. The reason: Digital books are extremely expensive for libraries, even though they’re generally cheaper than print books for an individual consumer." The article also notes that the Washington Library Association has "drafted a bill in partnership with the eBook Study Group and is hoping to introduce it during next year’s legislative session."
