4,235 Total number of unique titles challenged in libraries in 2025, as documented by the American Library Association’s (ALA’s) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). That number is the second highest on record, just short of 2023’s 4,240 unique titles challenged. 2007 Average publication year of the books on ALA’s list of the Top 11 Most … Continue reading By the Numbers: Banned Books Week 2026
“Book bans are pervasive and insidious threats to creative expression and intellectual freedom. Stories are an unparalleled tool for truth, and in the face of fear of misinformation, it is paramount that truth prevails.” Tony Weaver Jr., Banned Books Week honorary cochair and author of the graphic novel Weirdo, Banned Books Week, Sept. 17 … Continue reading Noted and Quoted: Banned Books Week 2026
Behind each title is an author being professionally—and sometimes personally—targeted for the stories they have chosen to share. These works usually amplify marginalized voices such as abuse victims or those within the LGBTQ+ community. American Libraries spoke with five authors on the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025 list included in the report to … Continue reading Authors Discuss Being Banned, Part 2: Malinda Lo, Ellen Hopkins, and Jennifer L. Armentrout
Behind each title is an author being professionally—and sometimes personally—targeted for the stories they have chosen to share. These works usually amplify marginalized voices such as abuse victims or those within the LGBTQ+ community. American Libraries spoke with five authors on the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025 list included in the report to … Continue reading Authors Discuss Being Banned, Part 1: Patricia McCormick and Stephen Chbosky
Here are a few practical ways to think about approaching a library renovation: Start with a North Star. Before you pick finishes or start talking timelines, take a step back and get clarity on what you want your library to become. I call this the north star—your vision for how the building should function for … Continue reading Refreshing for the Future
As you approach retirement and need to rely on investments to cover living expenses, the standard advice is to shift your portfolio toward bond-based ETFs or mutual funds. Bonds have had fewer and less dramatic booms and busts. For this reason, they are generally considered less risky than stocks. On average, over the long term, … Continue reading Limiting Risk in the Face of Uncertainty
The high school’s effort to limit phone use on campus has received support from its educators, who say classroom engagement is on the rise, and mixed reviews from students, who dislike being cut off from their devices. But there’s been one unexpected outcome of the policy: More students are spending time in the library, where they’re … Continue reading Hold the Phone
Laufey is no stranger to the power of a library card. In 2025, the musician collaborated with four major US public library systems—Boston, Fulton County (Ga.), LA County, and Phoenix—and Reykjavík (Iceland) City Library to release Laufey Book Club library cards to encourage more library card sign-ups. The limited drop was a hit; most libraries … Continue reading One for the Collection
On June 11, Joey Wender, executive director of the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, published the following column in Benton Institute for Broadband and Society Digital Beat. It is reprinted here with permission. The FCC Is Asking Whether to End E-Rate Every school and library should answer On June 4, the Federal Communications … Continue reading A New Threat to E-Rate
As ICE has raided homes, businesses, and public facilities in communities across the country, public libraries are grappling with how to prepare staff, protect patrons, respond to incidents, and develop resources for in-the-moment de-escalation and long-term recovery. In February, the Public Library Association (PLA) convened a webinar called “Responding to ICE at the Library: Real … Continue reading Encountering ICE
It’s an overwhelming time to vet and license library resources. To cut through the noise, I’ve narrowed down my queries for vendors to five questions to better understand how a new AI tool might enhance my library’s user experience. 1. What content is your tool trained on? The future of generative AI models will heavily … Continue reading 5 Questions to Ask Your Vendors about AI
State of the industry Clarivate, which in recent years has subsumed the technology products of Ex Libris and Innovative, further strengthened its place as the industry leader. Clarivate has embraced AI across its businesses, including with the 2024 release of its Academic AI Platform, supporting a strategy to harness these technologies while delivering reliable content. … Continue reading 2026 Library Systems Briefing
