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Publisher NewsExpedited Appeal in Texas Book Rating Case Delayed by Three Weeks
Meanwhile, an administrative stay blocking judge Alan D. Albright's injunction from taking effect remains in place—a move that has allowed the law to take effect despite being found unconstitutional by the district court.
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Publisher News
Appeals Court Sets Oral Argument in Texas Book Rating Case
The Fifth Circuit will hear the state's appeal on November 8. Meanwhile, the law in effect despite being found unconstitutional by a district court.
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Publisher News
Appeals Court Lets Texas Book Rating Law Take Effect, Orders Expedited Hearing
The Fifth Circuit ordered an administrative stay to remain in place while an "expedited" appeals process plays out, effectively allowing Texas to enforce HB 900, the state's controversial book rating law, despite a district court finding it to be "a web of unconstitutionally vague requirements."
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: October 6, 2023
Among the week's headlines: ALA executive director Tracie D. Hall resigns; how a new 'harmful to minors' rule is playing out in Missouri; and 'USA Today' reports on the website fueling book bans across the nation.
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Libraries
Tracie D. Hall Out at American Library Association
In a surprise announcement, the ALA said that executive director Tracie D. Hall resigned from her position effective October 6, bringing a sudden end to her tenure after a challenging four years for the organization.
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Publisher News
Can Spotify Take Digital Audiobooks to the Next Level?
Publishers are betting it will—and at a star-studded event at Spotify’s Manhattan headquarters on October 3, Spotify officially launched its new subscription-based audiobook service in the U.K. and Australia, with a U.S. launch set to come by winter.
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Libraries
Schedule Set, but Order Blocking Texas Book Rating Law Still in Limbo
In an October 2 filing, the plaintiffs argued that staying a federal judge's decision to enjoin HB 900 would "radically upend the status quo” and leave booksellers in a precarious position. But that is exactly where things stand, as an administrative stay issued by the Fifth Circuit effectively allows the law to take effect despite being found unconstitutional.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: September 29, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Banned Books Week begins on Sunday; South Carolina's state library withdraws from the ALA; EveryLibrary and 'Book Riot' survey parents attitudes about book bans; and 'Library Journal' questions whether KKR's ownership of OverDrive is an issue for the firm's acquisition of publisher Simon & Schuster.
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Libraries
Appeals Court Temporarily Stays Injunction Blocking Texas Book Rating Law
The temporary hold, which is not based on the merits of the case, puts Judge Alan D. Albright's preliminary injunction on ice while the Fifth Circuit considers the state's bid to stay the injunction.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: September 22, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a judge in Washington rejects a bid by book banners to force a vote on closing the local library; a Colorado librarian who was wrongly fired after refusing to censor LGBTQ programming is awarded $250,000; Alabama's state librarian defends the ALA; and LeVar Burton will serve as honorary chair for Banned Books Week.
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Libraries
New PEN America Report Finds 33% Jump in School Book Bans
"Amid a growing climate of censorship, school book bans continue to spread through coordinated campaigns by a vocal minority of groups and individual actors and, increasingly, as a result of pressure from state legislation," the report finds.
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Libraries
New ALA Data Shows Book Challenges Still Surging
Ahead of Banned Books Week, the ALA reported 695 attempts to censor library materials between January 1 and August 31, 2023, and 1,915 unique titles challenged—a 20% jump over last year.
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Publisher News
In a Blistering Opinion, Judge Officially Blocks Texas Book Rating Law
After nearly three weeks, federal judge Alan D. Albright delivered a 59-page written opinion holding that the controversial Texas law "misses the mark" by imposing a web of "unconstitutionally vague" requirements.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: September 15, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a politically charged hearing on book bans in the U.S. Senate; Illinois libraries face another wave of bomb threats; an internal report reveals the strain library workers at the Oakland Public Library are feeling; and a brilliant essay explores how today's right wing attacks on libraries echo from a dark chapter in our history.
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Copyright
Textbook Publishers Sue Notorious 'Shadow Library' Libgen
The suit claims that Libgen, one of the most popular pirate sites, attracts some nine million users a month in the U.S. alone, and offers 20,000 of the publisher plaintiffs' works for illegal download.
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Libraries
Texas Judge Hears Arguments Over Scope of HB 900 Injunction
At a hearing, judge Alan D. Albright appeared open to allowing parts of Texas's book rating law take effect, while attorneys for the plaintiffs insisted the law is unconstitutional and should be blocked in its entirety.
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Copyright
Internet Archive Files Appeal in Copyright Infringement Case
The notice of appeal, which was expected, came right at the 30-day deadline—a month to the day after judge John G. Koeltl approved and entered a negotiated consent judgment and a permanent injunction in the closely watched copyright case.
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Libraries
ALA Seeks Member Input on Freedom to Read Statement Revision
In the midst of a historic rise in book bans, the American Library Association has announced a series of "listening sessions" which could lead to the first revision of the landmark Freedom to Read statement since 2004.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: September 8, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey questions the work of public libraries in her state; the political attacks on the ALA continue; the Senate finally confirms a fifth FCC commissioner, breaking a years-long partisan deadlock; and paying tribute to the first Black librarian in the school district of Philadelphia.
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Publisher News
Texas Argues Parts of New 'Book Rating' Law Should Be Allowed to Take Effect
In a September 1 filing, attorneys for the state renewed their broader bid to stay the court's August 31 preliminary injunction blocking HB 900 from taking effect, but also argued that parts of the law are outside the scope of the plaintiffs' claims and should be allowed to take effect.
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