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LibrariesAs New Law Looms, Follett Asks Publishers to Help ‘Rate’ Their Own Books for Sale in Texas
With a lawsuit pending to block a controversial new "book rating" law from taking effect in Texas, publishers and industry groups are balking at a request from the nation's largest school distributor to help rate their own titles for sale in the state.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: August 4, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a major victory for freedom to read advocates in Arkansas; a motion to block Texas's new 'book rating' law gets a speedy hearing date; the Michigan Library Association recruits advocates for its freedom to read initiative; and a look at the Brooklyn Public Library's teen council.
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Publisher News
Judgment Phase of Internet Archive Copyright Case Appears Imminent
More than four months after finding the Internet Archive liable for copyright infringement, the next phase in the litigation appears to be close. In a July 28 order, judge John G. Koeltl gave the parties until August 11 to deliver recommendations for determining a judgment in the closely watched copyright case, adding there will be "no more extensions."
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Publisher News
Judge Finds Revived Amazon E-book Monopoly Suit Should Proceed
A magistrate judge in New York has once again recommended that a lawsuit accusing the Big Five publishers of colluding with Amazon to fix e-book prices should be dismissed. But in a twist, the court suggested a monopolization claim against Amazon be allowed to proceed.
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Libraries
Federal Judge Blocks Parts of Arkansas ‘Harmful to Minors’ Law
Judge Timothy L. Brooks's 49-page opinion and order concluded that the law would "permit, if not encourage, library committees and local governmental bodies to make censorship decisions based on content or viewpoint," thus violating the First Amendment.
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Publisher News
Judge Temporarily Blocks Montana’s Drag Law from Taking Effect
In a July 28 ruling, federal judge Brian Morris found sufficient evidence to grant a temporary restraining order blocking the law so that Montana Pride, which began on July 30 and will run through August 6, can proceed without legal risk.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: July 28, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a coalition of booksellers and publishing industry groups sue Texas over the state's new book rating law; a judge in Arkansas is set to rule on a motion to block that state's 'harmful to minors' law from taking effect; and a Houston school district's plan to replace its libraries with 'discipline centers' draws criticism from city leaders.
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Publisher News
Booksellers, Industry Groups File Suit to Block Texas Book Rating Law
The 28-page complaint claims that the law—which is set to take effect in September—would impose sweeping, vague, and unconstitutional content-based restrictions and unduly burden booksellers.
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Publisher News
NYCLU's Lee Rowland to Succeed Chris Finan as NCAC Executive Director
The National Coalition Against Censorship has named Lee Rowland, currently policy director at the New York Civil Liberties Union, to replace the retiring Christopher Finan as its executive director.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: July 21, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Barack Obama offers his support to librarians; Missouri's Jay Ashcroft is now taking aim at ALA; a Utah poll finds voters oppose book banning; and the protest at U.C. Berkeley's anthropology library has ended.
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Libraries
DPLA Launches ‘Geo-targeted’ Banned Book Club via Palace E-book App
The new program utilizes GPS-based “geo-targeting” to show readers the books that have been banned in their area, making e-book versions available to borrow digitally.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: July 14, 2023
Among the week's headlines: The Montana State Library Commission pulls out of the ALA; Republican North Carolina lawmakers introduce a 'frightening' new parental rights bill; and a sprawling exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library celebrates the life and work of Jay-Z.
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Publisher News
Lawsuit Challenges Montana's Sweeping New Ban on Drag Performances
In a July 7 filing, the plaintiffs, including a local bookseller, said that the new law is "motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ animus” and imposes an “unconstitutional content and viewpoint-based restriction” on free speech.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: July 7, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Emily Amick (@emilyinyourphone) on why books bans are about more than books; why a new Texas law is a nightmare for publishers and book vendors; and the Queens Public Library celebrates 50 years of hip hop with a new library card.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: June 30, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a resurgent ALA Annual Conference closes in Chicago; a Georgia teacher is fired for reading an inclusive book to her students; how libraries are catering to remote workers; and New York City libraries are spared from budget cuts.
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Publisher News
New Press Urges Appeals Court to Uphold Block on Florida’s Stop W.O.K.E. Act
In a filing this week, lawyers for The New Press argued that the controversial Florida law, a centerpiece of governor Ron DeSantis's legislative agenda, “wears its prejudice on its sleeve.”
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Industry News
ALA 2023: Gorman and Robinson Tell Librarians, 'It's Okay to Be Sad'
ALA 2023 wrapped up Tuesday with an uplifting keynote featuring poet Amanda Gorman and children's book illustrator Christian Robinson, who discussed how people can harness their grief to effect change in the world.
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Libraries
ALA 2023: Experts and Allies Supply Librarians with Information and Tools to Fight Censorship
The professional program at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference was packed with information to help librarians and advocates battle book bans and other challenges to the freedom to read.
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Libraries
ALA 2023: Judy Blume Offers a Rousing Defense of the Freedom to Read
Keynoting a resurgent ALA Annual Conference, the author talked about her experiences with book banning in the 1980s and thanked librarians for their ardent defense of banned books.
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Libraries
ALA, AAP Reaffirm Landmark Freedom to Read Statement on 70th Anniversary
First adopted in 1953, the reaffirmation this week comes amid an unprecedented surge in book challenges and legislative attacks on the freedom to read.
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