George Takei named Banned Books Week honorary chair

Pioneering actor, author, and activist George Takei has been named honorary chair of Banned Books Week, which will take place October 5–11. Takei has leveraged his popularity as a star of the Star Trek franchise to advocate for several causes, including the rights of Japanese Americans and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Takei will be joined by youth honorary chair Iris Mogul, a Florida teen who started a banned books club in her community after the state implemented laws that resulted in the removal of hundreds of books about race, history, and sexuality from schools.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Sept. 22

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Todd Bishop writes: “The Microsoft Library in Redmond, Washington, has long been a quiet anachronism in the middle of the high-tech campus, a place where authors gave talks and employees checked out old-fashioned paper books, including titles recommended by CEO Satya Nadella and other execs. That chapter of the company’s history is now closing. The Verge [paywalled] broke the news January 15 that Microsoft’s traditional library is going away as part of what Microsoft described internally as a shift to a ‘modern, AI-powered learning experience.’”

GeekWire, Jan. 15; The Verge, Jan. 15
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Laurie Robinson writes: “A new national resource is available to help libraries prepare for major community emergencies—including pandemics, natural disasters, and societal crises—before they hit. Centering Community: Library Staff Responding to Crisis—A Field Guide, developed through the University of Maryland’s Ready NOW project, provides practical strategies and examples to help libraries support their communities before, during, and after disruptions of varying scale. The Field Guide introduces a set of nonsequential, iterative practices that libraries can revisit over time.”

University of Maryland College of Information, Jan. 14
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Daniel Pfeiffer writes: “Pew publishes two social media reports at the end of every year, one on American adults, and the other on American youth. The results aren’t altogether surprising, but they offer some guidance on social media strategy for library outreach, advocacy, and promotion for the coming year. Below are the findings that stood out to me: Facebook is still kicking, video platforms reign supreme, and Reddit and LinkedIn may be worth a try.”

Choice 360: LibTech Insights, Jan. 14
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Lisa Shin writes: “As someone who grew up being scared to present in front of an audience, even in front of family during holiday karaoke time, I never thought I would turn into an ambivert of sorts. Alone time is much appreciated; however, there is this heartwarming feeling that is so unique to meeting and connecting with people with similar interests, passions, and experiences. As I slowly wade into the winter semester of my first year as an academic librarian, I wanted to share some anecdotes in hopes of helping out a fellow introvert!”

ACRLog, Jan. 17
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Haley Cole and Tylar Kerstetter write: “Libraries are institutions that excel at both formal and informal learning. Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPG) lend themselves to supporting learning in a variety of ways. They can help with basic math skills, spatial awareness and tactics, how to properly use an index or appendix to efficiently find information, and even communication or conflict resolution. TTRPG players are often practicing soft skills, self-regulation, empathy, and problem solving while roleplaying. If you’re interested in integrating TTRPGs into your library or classroom, there are a number of resources out there to support you.”

ALA Games and Gaming Round Table, Jan. 19
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The ALA Presidential Candidates Virtual Forum offers an opportunity to learn about ALA presidential candidates Becky Calzada and Tamika Barnes and their visions for ALA. The forum will take place at 2 p.m. Central on February 9. Register to attend the forum. You may also submit a question in advance. Following the forum, ALA members will have the chance to participate in a virtual meet-and-greet with each candidate. The event will also be recorded and shared on ALA’s YouTube channel. Learn more about the candidates.

ALA Governance Office
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Each year ALA’s Youth Media Awards—including the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards—honor outstanding books, videos, and other materials for children and teens. The 2026 Youth Media Awards will be held on Monday, January 26, at 10 a.m. Central at the Hilton Chicago hotel. The event will be free and open to the public, but registration is required by Wednesday, January 21, for in-person attendance. The announcement will also be live streamed at ala.unikron.com and on the ALA Facebook page.

ALA Youth Media Awards

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