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LibrariesThe 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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Libraries
OverDrive: Record Number of Libraries Hit One Million Digital Lends in 2023
Another year, another record: OverDrive reps reported this week that 152 libraries around the world reached million-checkout milestone last year, including 23 first-timers.
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Publisher News
In Key Win, Judge Says Escambia County Book Banning Lawsuit Can Proceed
After a January 10 hearing, judge T. Kent Wetherell denied a motion by the Escambia County School Board to dismiss the case, suggesting that school officials cannot simply pull books they find objectionable from library shelves.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: January 5, 2024
Among the week's headlines: the ALA's I Love My Librarian Award winners will be honored at LibLearnX in Baltimore; Nichelle Hayes steps down in Indianapolis; and how one Colorado librarian (and her lawyer) have upped the stakes for would-be book banners.
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Libraries
OverDrive Reports Another Record Year for Digital Library Circulation
Library users worldwide borrowed some 662 million e-books, digital audiobooks, and digital magazines, OverDrive reps announced in a release this week, with 152 library systems reporting more than a million digital checkouts in 2023.
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Publisher News
Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Iowa Book Banning Law
In a December 29 opinion and order, judge Stephen Locher found the "sweeping provisions" of SF 496, a new Iowa state law that would ban books with sexual content from Iowa schools, “unlikely to satisfy the First Amendment under any standard of scrutiny.”
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Publisher News
After Hearing, Court Set to Decide Fate of Iowa LGBTQ Book Banning Law
A federal judge is set to rule on two lawsuits seeking to block a controversial new Iowa law, SF 496, before the end of the year. The law would ban books with sexual content from Iowa classrooms and school libraries.
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Libraries
Hoover, Yarros Top OverDrive’s List of Most Borrowed E-books for 2023
OverDrive reps said 2023 was another banner year for library e-books, with North American public libraries seeing a 55% increase in digital checkouts in 2023.
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Publisher News
Internet Archive Seeks Reversal in Book Scanning Suit
In a highly anticipated appeal brief, officials at the Internet Archive argued that district court judge John G. Koeltl misunderstood the facts and misapplied the law in finding that the IA’s scanning and lending of print library books infringed publishers’ copyrights.
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Publisher News
Hachette v. Internet Archive: All Our Coverage
A compilation of PW's coverage of Hachette v. Internet Archive, the closely watched copyright case over the scanning and lending of print library books.
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People
PW’s 2023 People of the Year: Valerie Koehler and Charley Rejsek
'Publishers Weekly' is proud to recognize Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, and Charley Rejsek, CEO of BookPeople in Austin, as our 2023 People of the Year.
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Libraries
Turning Kids into Readers Requires More than Access to Books
In her farewell as a PW columnist, Sari Feldman reflects on the importance of reading instruction, inspired by her new full-time gig: grandmother.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: December 8, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Montana strikes the MLIS requirement for library directors; Florida's revealing argument about the freedom to read in public schools; and a new report from ALA explores the "digital public library ecosystem."
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Libraries
Librarians Gear Up for Second In-Person LibLearnX Conference
Set for January 19-22 in Baltimore, the still evolving, learning-focused LibLearnX hopes to take another step toward becoming a worthy successor to the now defunct ALA Midwinter Meeting.
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Libraries
The Top 10 Library Stories of 2023
PW looks back at the library stories that captivated the publishing world this year, and what they portend for 2024.
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Publisher News
Congress Introduces New Bill to Fight Book Bans in Schools
Amid a historic surge in book challenges in schools and school libraries, the Fight Book Bans Act would offer federal funding to support school districts fighting challenges to books and educational materials.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: December 1, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Iowa becomes the next book banning legal battleground; a survey finds that parents still overwhelmingly trust libraries and library workers; and ALA announces Meg Medina as honorary chair of National Library Week 2024.
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Publisher News
Lambda Legal, ACLU Sue to Block Iowa Anti-LGBTQ Book Banning Law
Signed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in May, SF 496, among its provisions, bans books with depictions of written or visual sex from school libraries, and prohibits instruction and materials involving gender identity and sexual orientation for students through sixth grade.
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Publisher News
Fifth Circuit Hears Appeal of Texas Book Rating Law
At a 45-minute hearing on November 29, lawyers for a coalition of plaintiff booksellers and publishing industry groups urged the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to immediately lift an administrative stay that has allowed the controversial book rating law to take effect.
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Publisher News
Appeal of Texas Book Rating Law Set for Oral Argument Tomorrow
After weeks of anticipation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will finally hear oral argument in the state’s appeal of judge Alan D. Albright’s August 31 decision to enjoin key provisions of HB 900.
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