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LibrariesBill Protecting Libraries, Librarians Passes Illinois House, Heads for Senate
House Bill 4567 expands protections for libraries and library workers by making those threaten libraries with violence subject to the same enhanced penalties as individuals who threaten schools. The measure also creates a grant program to support improved library security.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: May 17, 2024
Among the week's headlines: ALA reports that library advocates stepped up for federal library funding; Alabama passes new rules for public libraries; and librarians in Montana pulled off an ice cold protest against the state library commission.
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Libraries
Librarians, Advocates Sue to Block Restrictive New Alabama Library Policies
The suit comes amid a months-long drama which saw allies of a right-wing group take over the library board and abruptly fire the library director. “This is about who should get to decide what books our kids get to read—parents or politicians,” said Angie Hayden of Read Freely Alabama, one of the lead plaintiffs, in a statement.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: May 10, 2024
Among the headlines this week: John Oliver weighs in on book bans and libraries (and so do his viewers); more library drama in Alabama; and how to prepare for Pride month.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: May 3, 2024
Advocacy efforts for federal library funding shift to the Senate, a librarian has joined the Democratic gubernatorial ticket in Utah, 'Library Journal' has named its 2024 class of Movers & Shakers, and more in this week's library news.
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Publisher News
ACLS Announces 2024 Open Access Book Award Winners
The winning authors will share a cash award of $20,000, and the winning publishers will share a grant for $30,000 to support “the immediate open access publication of at least two new books.”
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: April 26, 2024
Among the week's headlines: a deadline looms for federal library funding; the FCC votes to restore net neutrality rules; Maryland passes a law designed to discourage book bans; and why Alabama librarians are feeling exhausted.
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Libraries
Internet Archive Files Final Appeal Brief in Book Scanning Case
The Internet Archive has filed its final reply brief in Hachette v. Internet Archive, the closely watched copyright case involving the scanning and digital lending of library books.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: April 19, 2024
Among the week's headlines: a new report reinforces the value of school libraries; PEN America finds school book bans still surging; and an epic battle over the public library in Superman's hometown of Metropolis (...Illinois).
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Publisher News
Five Publishers Join Lawsuit to Stop Iowa Book Banning Law
“We as publishers are uniting in our unwavering commitment to stand with educators, librarians, students, authors, and readers against the unconstitutional censorship measures being imposed by the state of Iowa," the publishers said in a joint statement.
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Publisher News
New PEN America Report Finds School Book Bans at Record Levels
The report, 'Banned in the USA: Narrating the Crisis,' reports 4,349 book bans recorded from July to December 2023, with more book bans recorded during the first half of the current school year than in all of the last school year.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: April 12, 2024
Among the headlines this week: ALA releases the 2024 State of America's Libraries Report; PLA reports strong attendance at its annual conference; and Idaho passes a "harmful to minors" bill.
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Libraries
ALA Releases Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023
Maia Kobabe’s 'Gender Queer' topped the list of this year's most challenged books, which is again dominated by stories by and about LGBTQ+ persons and people of color, whose voices
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Libraries
At PLA 2024, Shola Richards Delivers a Much-Needed Message for Librarians
Richards told his personal story of escaping a toxic workplace and offered a roadmap for public librarians—who have been feeling the stress of their ever-expanding work long before the current surge in book banning and political attacks began—to begin addressing the challenges in their own environments.
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Libraries
Judge Weighs Preliminary Injunction in Alaska Book Banning Lawsuit
A year after administrators in the Mat-Su district responded to a handful of parental complaints by pulling 56 titles from school libraries without any formal review, a federal judge considers an injunction that would return the books to school library shelves and pause the removal of any others pending a further order from the court.
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Shows & Events
TLA 2024 Preview: Leading the Way in the Lone Star State
Under the conference theme “Stories Inspire. Opportunities Await,” Texas Library Association leaders say the 2024 annual conference, set for April 13–16 in San Antonio, is expected to draw more than 5,000 attendees.
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Libraries
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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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: March 29, 2024
Among the week's headlines: PLA 2024 is on deck for next week in Columbus and with a new opening speaker; Washington passes a bill to protect libraries; and federal library funding will remain stable for 2024, but next year's budget battle is already heating up.
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Publisher News
Amicus Briefs Filed in Internet Archive Copyright Case
The briefs are the latest development in the long-running copyright infringement case, following the publishers' opening appeal brief filed earlier this month, and comes nearly one year after judge John G. Koeltl unequivocally found the scanning and lending of print library books to be copyright infringement. The Internet Archive’s reply brief is now due on April 19.
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Libraries
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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