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Earlier this year, Sarah Lamdan was promoted to executive director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) after joining the Association in 2024 as OIF deputy director. Prior to joining ALA, Lamdan was a librarian and law professor at City University of New York School of Law, where her research focused on information access, privacy, and other legal issues related to librarianship. She is author of two books, most recently Data Cartels, which looks at privacy and access as they relate to data analytics companies and platforms. Lamdan answered our 11 Questions to introduce herself to ALA members. -
Alejandro Marquez writes: “When I graduated from library school, I wanted to become an administrator. I envisioned myself leading teams, shaping the direction of the organization I joined, and advocating for the people and projects I believed in. However, I encountered persistent constraints around budgets and time, faced overwhelming workloads, and, most significantly, was confronted with the ongoing need to support and mentor struggling colleagues. A significant number of talented and dedicated library workers are saying ‘No’ to traditional managerial roles. This essay will explore the factors driving this trend.” -
Elizabeth Szkirpan writes: “Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming ubiquitous. Its integration is not just limited to our personal technology but now also includes library resources. Meanwhile, vendors are constantly introducing new tools or integrations into existing products, and we must measure emerging AI platforms against our library’s tried-and-true resources to gauge which ones truly bring a new perspective or added value to our collections. 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.” -
Donna Seaman writes: “Megha Majumdar lit up the book world in 2020 with her first novel, A Burning, a galvanizing tale of social media and tyranny. It became a bestseller, was named best book of the year by many publications, and was a finalist for ALA’s Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Her gripping second novel, A Guardian and a Thief, is set in a near-future Kolkata besieged by the ever-worsening climate crisis. It received this year’s Carnegie Medal, which will be presented to Majumdar on June 27 at ALA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.” -
Jen Lennon writes: “The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America held its 61st annual Nebula Awards June 6, celebrating the best sci-fi and fantasy writing from 2025. The awards cover a broad swath of mediums, including literature, film, television, and games writing. Stephen Graham Jones took home the top prize for his novel The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.” The same day, Jones’s book also took the Superior Achievement in a Novel prize at the Bram Stoker Awards, presented by the Horror Writers Association to recognize outstanding horror writing.Gizmodo, June 9; Nebula Awards, June 6; Bram Stoker Awards, June 7
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Najifa Farhat writes: “The US Department of Commerce reported in April that the current inflation rate is at a three-year high of 3.8%, up from March’s rate of 3.5%, and prompting many Americans to look for ways to reduce spending. As inflation continues to put pressure on household budgets, more Missourians are turning to public libraries for help with stretching their dollars. Librarians across Missouri say they are seeing increased demand for resources that help people save money, learn new skills, and access services they might otherwise pay for.” -
Kristen Johnson writes: “On June 5, Durham County (N.C.) Board of Commissioners ordered the immediate reversal of a decision that forced library staff to dismantle Pride Month displays. The initial order, sent by email from Durham County Public Library Director Dana Conners, required branches to take down all LGBTQ+ materials effective immediately June 4, citing federal action and executive orders that reject ‘illegal’ diversity, equity and inclusion actions in the workplace.” Supporters of the LGBTQ community gathered outside Durham’s main library June 5, including drag performer Stormie Daie, who read to children.Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, June 6; WRAL-TV (Raleigh), June 5
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Nina Heller writes: “House lawmakers passed a bill June 8 aimed at preventing future executive branch interference in some legislative branch agencies, a year after President Donald Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. It would allow House and Senate leaders to appoint the heads of both the Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office, removing that power from the president. The president would get new appointment authority over the register of copyrights. Now the bill heads to the Senate, where it would need enough bipartisan support to overcome a filibuster.” -
Kyle K. Courtney writes: “On May 28, Mayor Muriel Bowser officially signed B26-0490, the Library Ebook Pricing Fairness Amendment Act of 2025. The bill is now being prepared for remittance to Congress for the standard review period.” Readers First observes that the bill includes a trigger clause and will come into effect once 10 states with a total population of at least 50 million have similar laws in place. Connecticut passed a bill last year and several other states are considering similar legislation, including Rhode Island, where a bill passed out of its Senate committee June 4.Ebook Study Group, June 1; Readers First, June 5; Connecticut Mirror, May 15, 2025
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Hilary Craiglow writes: “The growing federal skepticism toward research infrastructure is forcing institutions to explain both their contributions and their costs. Libraries that cannot do so risk being sidelined in decisions that shape their future and the future of research. But they have an important tool at their disposal: cost transparency. Libraries are still often treated as general overhead, allocated using methodologies designed decades ago. Cost transparency doesn’t have to compromise library values. It can strengthen them.” -
Russell Michalak, Trevor A. Dawes, and Ava Wallace write: “Rather than advancing a single argument, the contributors present their perspectives in conversation, showing how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping discovery, access, and professional practice while also raising pressing ethical and equity concerns. The discussion is framed around three interlocking themes: innovation, equity, and responsibility. AI’s potential to transform discovery is real, but its impacts depend on how librarians choose to shape and guide its use.” -
Jennifer Sturge writes: “As I write this, for many of us, our school year is winding down. The students are looking forward to summer, classroom educators are counting down, and you are mentally preparing for your first morning where you can slowly sip your cup of coffee and read a book on the back deck. I wanted to spend some time in this blog post celebrating the school librarians who go above and beyond each and every day in their libraries and school communities but sometimes wonder if they are doing enough.”
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