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LibrariesThe Week in Libraries: March 1, 2024
Among the week's headlines: Georgia moves a step closer to banning the ALA; a library e-book bill is back in Connecticut; and librarian TikTok star Mychal Threets, who went viral for sharing 'library joy,' has left his job.
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Libraries
Freedom to Read Advocates Blast Alabama Library's Ban on LGBTQ Book Purchases
The criticism comes after the Autauga-Prattville Public Library’s newly appointed board enacted a new policy suspending the purchase of children’s or young adult books that include "sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender discordance," a move the National Coalition Against Censorship called "discriminatory and unconstitutional."
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Libraries
The American Library Association Releases 'Book Résumés' for Banned Books
The ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans initiative has unveiled a new free resource this week: a collection of "book résumés," documents created in collaboration with dozens of publishers that summarize a banned book’s significance and educational value for use in local advocacy work.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: February 16, 2024
Maryland lawmakers seek to protect libraries, Florida governor Ron DeSantis appears to acknowledge that book banning efforts have gone too far, and more.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: February 9, 2024
Among the week's headlines: The American Library Association announces five new "Core Values" for librarianship; a candidate for Missouri secretary of state campaigns by burning library books with a flamethrower; and OCLC is suing a shadow archive site.
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Publisher News
Elsevier Chairman YS Chi Elected AAP Board Chair
Chi, chairman of Elsevier and director of corporate affairs for the RELX Group, has served on the AAP board since 2007, and previously served as its chair from 2016 to 2017.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: February 2, 2024
Among the week's headlines: PLA 2024 is next on the library conference calendar; Alabama takes aim at ALA; and Georgia proposes a book rating law.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: January 26, 2024
Among the week's headlines: LibLearnX 2024 is in the books; Oklahoma appoints a conservative media provocateur to a key post; and new bills emerge to defend libraries and the freedom to read.
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Libraries
Librarians Gather for ALA's Second In-Person LibLearnX
Despite modest attendance, LibLearnX 2024 once again offered an engaging program, including compelling talks from Kate DiCamillo, Michele Norris, and Jesus Trejo, among others, and a professional program exploring a range of such hot topics as the freedom to read, sustainability, and AI.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: January 19, 2024
Among the week’s headlines: ALA’s LibLearnX 2024 gets underway; students and librarians at an Idaho high school push back against book bans; and an Alabama legislator wants to make it easy for politicians to fire library board members.
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Publisher News
In Major Win, Appeals Court Upholds Block on Texas Book Rating Law
In an unequivocal 36-page decision, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit—said to be the most conservative court in the nation—agreed with a lower court that the mandatory book ratings called for by the Texas law HB 900 were unconstitutional.
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Libraries
The 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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