Blog | American Libraries Magazine

Five Months into the Trump Presidency

Charting the latest offensives against libraries and how advocates are pushing back
By Hannah Weinberg | June 18, 2025
Newsmaker: Brewster Kahle

On the Internet Archive’s uncertain future
By Anne Ford | June 4, 2025
2025 Annual Conference Preview

Philadelphia | June 26–30
By Alison Marcotte | June 2, 2025
Revolutionary Eats

Philadelphia’s food scene comes of age
By Reid Bramblett | June 2, 2025
Banning the Book Bans

State governments fight a rising tide of censorship
By Jeremy Gantz | June 2, 2025
Going to Press

Public library publishers spotlight local authors and stories
By Web Behrens | June 2, 2025
Slide into the Library

Turning PowerPoint into a community builder
By Rosie Newmark | June 2, 2025
Stopping the Spread

Escape rooms offer an immersive approach to misinformation
By Chris Coward and Jin Ha Lee | June 2, 2025
Newsmaker: Grace Lin

Bestselling author-illustrator on the magic of mythology and lore
By Julia Smith | June 2, 2025
By the Numbers: Summer Reading

Stats about how libraries keep the page turning during summer months
By Megan Bennett | June 2, 2025
Bookend: Eat and Greet
By Terra Dankowski | June 2, 2025
Honoring Spirits

Recognizing wisdom, hope, and service
By Cindy Hohl | June 2, 2025

Latest Library Links

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Emma Roth writes: “A federal judge has sided with Anthropic in an artificial intelligence (AI) copyright case, ruling that training its AI models on legally purchased books without authors’ permission is fair use. It’s a first-of-its-kind ruling in favor of the AI industry, but it’s importantly limited to physical books Anthropic purchased and digitized. Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California also said in his decision that the company must face a separate trial for pirating books from the internet, and did not address whether AI model outputs infringe copyrights, which is at issue in related cases.”

The Verge, June 24
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Kimberli Buckley writes: “The modern library is a unique ecosystem. It’s rich with stories, resources, and people of all ages. Today’s library staff might include members of at least five different generations—all working under one roof. With such a broad mix of perspectives, experiences, and communication styles, it’s no surprise that misunderstandings might happen, but with mindful communication it doesn’t have to. Mindful communication offers us a way to pause, listen, and connect more intentionally so that no matter your generation or role, you feel seen, heard, valued, and understood.”

Compassionate Librarian, June 22
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Ann Baillie writes: “Your library going through a building renovation can lead to many different, and often conflicting emotions. Building renovations are complicated, and depending on the size and scope of the work, you may need to close to the public for a while. You want to make sure you maintain a positive relationship with patrons while your physical building is closed. But how can you?”

ALSC Blog, June 18
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Nathan Sonnenschein writes: “During my first year as an undergraduate, my community college’s library handed out folders bearing a catchphrase: ‘Faster than Google. Better than Wikipedia. Your college library.’ This gave me the impression that academic libraries saw Wikipedia as a usurper on their terrain. In the decade since, I have been delighted to see many library professionals develop more nuanced approaches to Wikipedia. Still, the belief that Wikipedia has no place in research or scholarship persists. There are real issues, but they do not mean Wikipedia has no valid place in the information ecosystem.”

ACRLog, June 23
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Investing in Prison Libraries: A Cost-Effective Path to Safer Communities and Second Chances, an ALA Policy Perspectives report released July 23, explores the essential role of prison libraries in lowering recidivism by better preparing incarcerated people for their release. According to the report, full funding of prison libraries leads to safer and healthier communities and reduced prison costs. Co-authors Erin Boyington, Amelia Bryne, and Emily Durkin will discuss their findings at ALA’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia in “The Work of Prison Libraries and Why Further Investment is Needed” on Saturday, June 28, at 9 a.m.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, June 23
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Keith Curry Lance and Caitlin Gerrity write: “This study found that students were more likely to meet or exceed English Language Arts and Literacy (ELA) standards when their schools had credentialed teacher librarians (TLs), TLs serving a single school, and school library staff who engaged in certain specific activities, including managing their library collections and supporting literacy teaching. With rare exceptions, relationships between library staffing levels and staff activities and ELA performance levels persisted regardless of the gender, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status of students.”

Learning Hub, June 13
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Terra Dankowski writes: “It’s Thursday morning, and the fourth floor of Parkway Central Library is alive with bubbling jollof rice, crisping empanadas, and stir-frying japchae. Welcome to Edible Alphabet, the flagship series of Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literacy Center. Since 2015, the program has convened those learning English as a second language—many from the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia—to practice conversation and cook a recipe under the direction of an ESL teacher and chef instructor.”

American Libraries feature, June