and more.
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The Week in Libraries: October 4, 2024
Among the week's headlines: Penguin Random Houses's new public policy manager talks about book bans and her new role; a fascinating look at the Internet Archive; and a new survey explores people's attitudes toward libraries.
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In Arkansas, Book Banners Dealt Another Legal Setback
A federal judge has ordered the Crawford County Public Library in Arkansas to stop segregating books with LGBTQ themes into special “social sections,” finding that the policy “was motivated in substantial part by a desire to impede users’ access."
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Publishers, Advocates File New Complaint in Iowa Book Banning Case
Following an August 9 ruling by the Eighth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, a coalition of publishers, authors, and advocates has filed a new complaint seeking to strike down the sweeping book ban provision in Iowa’s controversial law, SF 496.
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The Week in Libraries: September 27, 2024
Among the week's headlines: it was a busy Banned Books Week in court with developments in two major book banning cases; an anti–book banning resolution is reintroduced in Congress; Delaware libraries grapple with a ransomware attack; and the Carnegie Corporation gives $4 million to New York City libraries.
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On Appeal, Llano County Seeks Book Ban Ruling That Would Upend Public Libraries
At an appeal hearing this week, lawyers for the rural Texas county told the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that it should strike down a three-decade-old precedent and hand politicians near total authority over what books can go on—or be banned from—public library shelves.
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ALA Finds Book Challenges Are Slowing in 2024
ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 challenges to censor library materials in the first eight months of the year, down from 695 during the same period in 2023, with ALA reps suggesting that advocacy efforts, including lawsuits in several states, are beginning to yield positive results.
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Penguin Random House Creates New Role to Help Battle Book Bans
Rosalie (Rosie) Stewart, most recently manager of grassroots communications for the ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office, will join the publisher as senior manager for public policy, reporting directly to PRH VP Skip Dye, a key move that signals the publisher's intent to expand its battle against book bans beyond the courtroom.
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The Week in Libraries: September 20, 2024
Among the week's headlines, ALA releases a new booklist for young readers on the importance of voting; Penguin Random Houses's Banned Wagon embarks on its second-ever tour; and why the Florida attorney general is wading into a closely watched book banning case from Llano County, Texas.
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The Battle Against Book Bans Rages On: PW Talks with Kelly Jensen
PW checks in with the 'Book Riot' writer, whose weekly Censorship News column tracks efforts to ban books in school and libraries.
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The Resistance: Five People Standing Up to Book Banners
For many, defending the freedom to read has come at a steep cost. We recently talked with five librarians and educators who are standing up to the would-be censors.
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