McKay, Elizabeth | American Libraries Magazine

Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut, promoted Elizabeth McKay to supervisor of the Youth Services Department April 1.

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ALA announced on November 6 the candidates running for ALA president for the 2027–2028 term: Tamika Barnes, associate dean of Perimeter College Library Services at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and Becky Calzada, district library coordinator at Leander (Tex.) Independent School District. The ALA Nominating Committee also announced candidates for 12 councilor-at-large seats. Barnes and Calzada, as well as any petition candidates for president, will take part in a virtual candidates’ forum to be scheduled in winter 2026. Ballot mailing for the election will begin March 9, 2026, and will run through April 1.

AL: The Scoop, Nov. 6
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Dan Montgomery writes: “When the interview committee asked why I was interested in the executive director position, I replied, doing my best impression of famed mountaineer George Mallory: ‘Because it’s the ALA!’ I was responding, of course, to my belief in libraries and in the right to read, both of which have been under serious attack. And library workers and advocates who defend reading, books, and unfettered access to knowledge are critical to protecting American democracy. So, to be part of the organization most squarely in the forefront of that cause seemed to me an unmissable opportunity, and a great honor.”

American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.
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R. L. Maizes and Ali Solomon share a series of cartoons that depict true horrors for book lovers. These hilarious but hair-raising situations include lending a book to a friend who cares for it improperly, the terrible measures you might have to take to avoid spoilers, and the horrifying combination of a toddler, a heavily sauced pasta, and a first edition.

Electric Lit, Oct. 31
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Nikki DeMarco writes: “I spent a lot of years thinking I wasn’t a real reader. The amount of time I spent, and the way I actually read, never seemed to match what counted as ‘real.’ When I became a librarian, I started hearing the same stories echoed back from my students at my new school. Over and over, people framed their reading life as a failure, because it didn’t look like the neat, linear version we’ve all been sold. That’s when I realized I had to spread the word: The problem isn’t with the readers. It’s with the rules.”

Book Riot, Oct. 31
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Sarah Asch writes: “A new state law, Senate Bill 13, prohibits school library materials with profane content or indecent content from campuses. It puts the onus on school staff to make sure materials are in compliance. For help, school staff are turning to ChatGPT. But it’s unclear what standards ChatGPT is using to make the determination of which books would violate the law. There have also been examples of school districts closing their libraries temporarily until staff can better assess what books they have on the shelves.”

Texas Standard, Nov. 3
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Athena Stavrou writes: “Home to more than 170 million items, including Magna Carta, the British Library is one of the world’s largest and most impressive book collections. However, in October 2023, a major cyberattack plunged it into chaos, shutting down its digital systems and resulting in the leaking of staff details onto the dark web. Two years on, staff—who are striking due to a pay dispute—have said the disruption is still creating chaos and considerably increasing their workload.”

The Independent (London), Nov. 1; The Guardian, Nov. 22, 2023
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Kayli Pascal-Martinez writes: “The State of Hawaii launched the Kōkua Food Drive in response to the ongoing federal shutdown and disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The weeklong food collection campaign began Monday, in partnership with the Hawaii State Public Library System, to support food banks across the islands. From November 3–7, residents are encouraged to bring any canned goods and other nonperishable food items to their local public library during regular business hours.” Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio) Public Library is offering free meals to kids and teens and other food resources.

KITV-TV (Honolulu), Nov. 3; Hawaii State Public Library System, Nov. 3; Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio) Public Library, Oct. 30

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