Why Libraries Are Committing to Systemic Change
"The crises we face today—in public health, in our economy, and in confronting the structural racism in our society—demand that we rethink everything," writes author and library educator R. David Lankes. more...
Changes Loom as Public Libraries Begin to Reopen
Observers in recent years have argued that if public libraries didn’t already exist in America, we wouldn’t be able to invent them. In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, the question now is: Can we reinvent them? more...
All By Ourselves
As states push to reopen, many libraries are having to figure out their own way forward. more...
Is the Covid-19 Crisis a Watershed Moment for Library E-books?
Why the rapid shift to digital library services necessitated by the Covid-19 crisis could help chart a new, more productive course for the digital library market long term. more...
Reading Is Only a Step on the Path to Anti-Racism
Anti-racist reading lists are trending, but becoming anti-racist requires action, writes librarian Nicole A. Cooke. more...
Libraries Must Draw the Line on E-books
Recent developments suggest a grim future for digital content in libraries, writes Sari Feldman, unless library supporters find a way to respond. more...and more.
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SoapboxHow Libraries Can Help Us Make a More Perfect Union
Throughout our history, we've see that when we come together in civil, honest conversations based on facts and science, history and truth, we find commonality.
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Libraries
ALA 2021 Virtual Midwinter Meeting Gets Underway
First Lady Jill Biden, Author Ibram X. Kendi, and Amanda Gorman, the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of the United States who stole the show at President Biden's inauguration this week, are among those scheduled to speak at the 2021 ALA virtual Midwinter Meeting, which runs through Tuesday, January 26.
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Publisher News
Amazon Hit with E-book Price Fixing Suit
The law firm that successfully sued Apple and five major publishers for colluding to fix e-book prices in 2011 has filed a class action suit against Amazon, accusing the company of colluding with the Big Five publishers to eliminate price competition from the e-book market.
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Libraries
BiblioBoard, PW’s BookLife Launch New Library E-book Program for Self-Published Authors
BookLife Elite will offer public libraries access to a curated collection of unlimited, simultaneous-use indie e-books, meaning library readers can access the books instantly—no holds lists.
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Libraries
Food, Shelter, and the Public Library
If there is any American institution that connects the threads of literacy, learning, and community welfare, it is the local public library. But without access to healthy food and safe housing, writes PW columnist Sari Feldman, no community can fully thrive, a fact driven home during this pandemic year.
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Libraries
New Report Offers Post-Pandemic Outlook for Book Business
In a free 50-page report, three veteran publishing and digital media consultants offer a postmortem on 2020 and a glimpse at what the future holds for publishers, booksellers, libraries and readers.
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Libraries
OverDrive Reports Surge in Digital Library Lending in 2020
Readers worldwide borrowed some 430 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines in the past 12 months, a hefty 33% increase over 2019, OverDrive officials reported, based on data drawn from some 65,000 libraries and schools worldwide.
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Libraries
First Lady Jill Biden to Speak at the 2021 ALA Virtual Midwinter Meeting
The January 25 appearance, in what will be among Dr. Biden's first appearances as First Lady of the United States, is a major show of support for the library community.
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Copyright
CASE Act Set to Pass as Part of Omnibus Bill
A four year-old bill that would establish an extra-judicial “small claims court” for copyright cases is now set to become law after Congressional leaders slipped the measure into the Covid-19 relief and omnibus spending bill now headed to President Trump’s desk.
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Libraries
IMLS, NEA, NEH Score Increases in 2021 Budget Bill
The 2021 budget marks the eighth straight year of increases for IMLS, the last four years of which included proposals by the Trump Administration to permanently eliminate the agency.
