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The American Library Association (ALA) released new data today documenting 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 757 challenges reported in 2021. A record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship, a 38% increase from the 1,858 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2021. Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color. -
Joshua Kim writes: “Mary Jane Petrowski, associate director of ALA’s Association of College and Research Libraries, reached out in regard to my piece on academic library staffing trends. In that piece, I shared some Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) findings that seem to demonstrate a steep drop in academic library staffing since 2012. As Petrowski is ideally positioned to unpack academic library staffing trends, she agreed to help us figure out what is going on.” Petrowski answers whether IPEDS data is adequate for telling the story of staffing trends, contextualizes staff reductions, and shares ideas for how nonlibrarians can be allies to academic librarians. -
Maggie Laurel Boyd writes: “What happens when time doesn’t heal us the way we expect? Is healing possible in the terms we have laid out for it? This reading list features eight books published in the last 20 years, plus one book published 50 years ago (it’s worth the trip back in time, though, I promise) that challenge traditional healing narratives. In the COVID-19 pandemic, discussions about health and healing remain all too relevant; many of us are realizing that illness permeates many of the spaces we exist within, and still more of us are reckoning with our vulnerability to illness. Reading these texts helps us recognize that if our arc of recovery deviates from the template, then at least we’re in good company.”
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ALA’s Reference and User Services Association will host its second-annual RUSA Virtual Forum March 28 and March 30. Under the theme “Reference and User Services Reimagined,” the forum’s two nonconsecutive days of programs will showcase best practices for library workers in reference, user services, adult readers advisory, collection development, resource sharing, genealogy and archives, business reference, and reference technology. The opening keynote will be delivered by Nicole A. Cooke, Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and associate professor at University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science. Early bird registration ends March 11. -
Paisley Rekdal, Peter Bromberg, and Rebekah Cummings write: “Utah is the latest state hit by the national wave of bills targeting public education. A new public school curriculum bill introduced in the Utah legislature (House Bill 427) would ‘prohibit the use of instructional materials and classroom instruction inconsistent with the principle of inalienable rights, equal opportunity, and individual merit.’ Vacuous as this description might seem, the bill is hardly empty of meaning. If passed into law, this bill would effectively shelter students from the past, spoon-feeding them versions of the world that make no one feel uncomfortable about anything, least of all actual facts. It’s not only a paternalistic attitude, but one that would stultify the classroom.”The Hill, Feb. 24; The Guardian (US), Feb. 14; Utah State Legislature
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Jodi Fortino and Kate Grumke write: “The ACLU of Missouri is challenging a new state law that bans ‘sexually explicit material’ from schools and has resulted in districts pulling hundreds of books from their shelves. The suit, filed on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association, asks the circuit court in Kansas City to find the law unconstitutional. The ACLU filed the lawsuit against Jean Peters Baker in her capacity as the Jackson County Prosecutor and on behalf of all county prosecutors in Missouri. In its lawsuit, the ACLU argues that the law violates educators’ due process rights because it uses vague language that invites government overreach and does not differentiate school employees’ official capacity from their personal capacity.”
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ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall writes: “Having visited, worked or consulted for, and spoken at hundreds of libraries, I don’t believe there is any educational or public service institution that more ably facilitates personal growth and community access than libraries. They place the acts of discovery and changemaking within reach of everyone. The library’s proven ability to stimulate people and ideas into action is what fueled ALA’s new Civic Imagination Stations project, a pilot supported by the Estée Lauder Companies’ Writing Change program, a three-year initiative designed to advance literacy as a pathway to equality, access, and social change.” -
Shannon Cole, Tim Rockey, and Lex Yelverton report: “Part of the roof of the Palmer (Alaska) Public Library collapsed Wednesday night. Palmer Fire and Rescue Chief Chad Cameron said that everyone inside the library self-evacuated, including a family of four and three staff members. Library occupants did not suffer any injuries. Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington warned residents to stay away from the library while the Matanuska-Susitna Borough is considering next steps while the library is out of service.” Donations are being collected for Palmer Public Library through ALA’s Disaster Relief Fund. -
This March marks three years since COVID-19 brought the country to a standstill. In those early days, libraries grappled with the same issues as everyone else: closed buildings, plans put on hold, and diminished access. With this special report, American Libraries takes a look at some libraries’ behind-the-scenes decisions to keep their communities connected and missions fulfilled. Stories cover the early-pandemic adaptations and innovations made by libraries; how those in the profession have changed their approach to fundraising and advocacy; and the unique obstacles faced by communities simultaneously coping with COVID-19 and the effects of natural disasters. (For a deeper understanding of how libraries were affected by COVID-19, read AL’s archived and ongoing coverage.) -
Daniel Liou and Kelly Deits Cutler write: “Books written by and about women and people of color are disproportionately targeted for complaints and removal. Due to mounting political pressures, harassment, and even death threats, some teachers and administrators have had to recalibrate their curriculum plans and determine if such texts will be viewed as unpatriotic, anti-police, pornographic, or anti-white. Through our research, we developed a critical inclusivity framework with five concurrent leadership practices to reclaim contested curriculum materials. This framework aims to prepare education leaders to handle ongoing book challenges and navigate the constant political pressures forcing schools to put curriculum about diversity, equity, inclusivity, and social justice on the back burner.”Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Feb. 1
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Core invites applications for its 2023 PR Xchange Awards, recognizing the best public relations materials produced by libraries in the past year. Awards categories include external communications; advocacy, fundraising, annual reports, and strategic plans; special events and exhibits; reading programs; and materials promoting collections, services, and resources. Entries will be evaluated on content, originality, and design by an expert panel, and prizes will be given across five operating budget ranges. Applications are due by April 15. -
Alison Doherty writes: “Unit sales of romance novels grew 41% in 2021, and July 2022 marked the high point of romance novel sales. Most reporting on romance novels’ popularity highlight two big causes of this trend: the pandemic and BookTok.” Doherty looks at some of the current trends in romance, including romcoms, traumatic storylines, LGBTQ romance, and stories with diverse historical characters.
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