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...
Passage of American Rescue Plan Boosts IMLS, Federal Library Funding
The bold $1.9 trillion measure signed into law yesterday includes $200 million in pandemic relief funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the largest single increase in the agency's history. 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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Business DealsClarivate Completes ProQuest Acquisition
London-based Clarivate has completed its $5.3 billion purchase of ProQuest in a deal that creates a powerhouse in the library and information publishing market.
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Book News
Dav Pilkey to Ring in the New Year with Next 'Cat Kid' Book
Dav Pilkey is back in his familiar perch atop the bestseller list this week with the November 30 release of 'Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives.'
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Copyright
Judge Extends Discovery Deadline in Internet Archive Book Scanning Suit
At a December 2 pre-motion conference, a federal magistrate judge agreed to extend the discovery deadline in the lawsuit filed by four major publishers against the Internet Archive over the Internet Archive's scanning and lending of print library books.
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Publisher News
How Four Bestselling Authors Connected with Readers, Helped Indie Booksellers, and Beat the Pandemic
After launching as a sort of support group in the early days of Covid-19, Friends & Fiction celebrated its 100th episode on November 24. PW caught up with show's creators and hosts, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Patti Callahan Henry, to talk about the rise of this special literary community.
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Publisher News
Former Trump Defense Secretary Sues Pentagon for Blocking Portions of his Memoir
In the suit, filed on November 28, attorneys for Mark Esper say that “significant text” is being “improperly withheld from publication…under the guise of classification.”
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Copyright
Internet Archive Rejects Publishers’ ‘Stonewalling’ Claim in Scanning Lawsuit
IA lawyers called the publishers’ recent filing ‘unfortunate’ and said they are complying with or have already complied with all of the publishers’ discovery requests.
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Publisher News
Supreme Court Asked to Rein In Government Pre-Publication Reviews
A petition was filed this week by the Knight First Amendment Institute and the ACLU on behalf of five former government employees, who claim their First Amendment rights are being unreasonably stifled by an expansive and non-transparent review process.
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Copyright
Chegg Responds to Pearson Copyright Lawsuit
Pearson claims that Chegg is illegally appropriating Pearson's end-of-chapter textbook questions for its subscription study service, but in an answer this week, Chegg attorneys call the suit “legally flawed” and accuse Pearson of “weaponizing” its copyright interests in an effort to throttle lawful innovation.
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Libraries
In New Filing, Publishers Accuse Internet Archive of ‘Stonewalling’ Discovery in Scanning Lawsuit
In a November 19 letter, lawyers for the plaintiff publishers outlined seven “categories” of requested documents yet to be turned over by the Internet Archive and accused the IA of "hoping to run out the clock” on discovery. Discovery in the case is due to close mid-December.
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Libraries
Lawmakers Expand Inquiry into Library E-book Market
After questioning the Big Five publishers in September, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo (D-California) this week expanded their ongoing inquiry into the library e-book market with questions for nine major library e-book distributors.
