Hamm, Leta | American Libraries Magazine

Leta Hamm, 85, a librarian at Illinois State University in Normal and Lee County (Fla.) Library System until her retirement in 2009, died February 26.

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Maria McCauley writes: “For 30 years, E-Rate has been one of America’s most visionary programs, opening the doors of digital opportunity to every community in our nation. But now E-Rate is under threat. Opponents argue that because E-Rate has succeeded, we no longer need it. But just as our streets and roads require ongoing investment, so too does our digital infrastructure. A digitally connected America—across rural, urban, and tribal lands alike—is a stronger America.” Learn more about proposed changes to E-Rate and how to contribute to advocacy to protect the program at a webinar July 16.

American Libraries column, July 14
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Sallyann Price writes: “Chicago was an apt host for the ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition, marking both ALA’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th birthday. At the Opening General Session, journalist, author, and podcaster Rachel Maddow set the tone for a convening that was both celebratory and deeply reflective on what’s happening in the world. Shifting demographics, rapid advances in technology, and the rise of authoritarianism are all affecting how libraries serve their communities. Maddow wasn’t the only speaker to draw inspiration from the challenges of these times.”

American Libraries feature, July 14
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Whitney Christopher writes: “As concerns about data privacy continue to grow and become increasingly difficult to navigate, libraries play an important role in helping patrons make informed decisions. A key challenge is ensuring patrons understand what happens to their data when they access third-party vendor websites, particularly in cases where tracking and data collection are not immediately visible. An ongoing project within Cornell University Library examines vendor privacy policies alongside the data collected by vendor platforms. The goal is to better align what vendors say in their policies with what their websites actually do, while also improving transparency for patrons.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, July 13
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In a column adapted from a presentation at the Recharging in Challenging Times ALA virtual event, Darcy Lipp-Acord writes: “What I find concerning are the abusive communication and behavior patterns I see being used by many who attempt to challenge books, ban books, and ‘protect children.’ Patterns I have pointed out to my staff include character assassination, disinformation, gaslighting, minimizing, and volatility. How do we prepare ourselves for these interactions?”

American Libraries column, Summer
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Kendra Winchester writes: “Disability Pride Month is all about taking strength in who we are as disabled people, celebrating our lives, and coming together as a community. That includes the kiddos in our lives. That’s where picture books come into play. These stories aren’t just sweet stories; they are reflections of the many different kinds of disabled lives lived around the world. They illustrate the incredible diversity in disabled communities. Here are a few to help get you started.”

Book Riot, July 2
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Paul Goble writes: “The Lenin State Library in Moscow is setting up a special restricted access collection to hold what officials call ‘destructive literature’ that scholars and officials may need to see to do their work but that ordinary Russians will not be able to access, according to Zhanna Alekseyeva. The Russian deputy culture minister says other libraries will follow suit and will place books not on the approved list in such restricted collections.”

Eurasia Review, June 26
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Vincent Safuto writes: “Paper copies of BookPage magazine are gone from Hernando County’s (Fla.) public libraries, though the free book-review publication remains available online. The move follows months of complaints from some residents who argued the magazine pushed a political agenda and that the subscription wasted county money. County Commissioner Steve Champion questioned whether libraries are an essential service. He said the county may have to cut nonessential services if Gov. Ron DeSantis’s proposed property tax reduction wins approval from 60% of Florida voters.”

Tampa Bay (Fla.) Beacons, July 6

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