N.Y. Gov. Hochul vetoes library ebook bill | American Libraries Magazine

ebooks Andrew Albanese writes: “Just hours before it was set to become law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on December 29 vetoed New York’s library ebook bill. The bill is now back with the legislature, where it is tabled. The veto comes despite strong grassroots support: In June, the bill unanimously passed the New York Assembly 148–0, and passed the New York State Senate 62–1. But the Association of American Publishers’ December 9 federal lawsuit seeking to block a similar law in Maryland sparked concern in the governor’s office, and the bill was opposed by a cohort of powerful New York-based industry groups. The library ebook bills come after a decade of tension in the library ebook market, with librarians long complaining of unsustainable, nonnegotiable prices and restrictions on digital licenses.” ALA released a statement on Hochul’s decision January 3.

Publishers Weekly, Dec. 30, Dec. 9, June 11, 2021; ALA, Jan. 3

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Jennifer Sturge writes: “As I write this, for many of us, our school year is coming into the wind 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.”

Knowledge Quest, June 8
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Emily Durkin writes: “May 8, 2026, marked the one-year anniversary of the Trump Administration’s cancellation of the Digital Equity Act (DEA). The $2.75 billion DEA was a part of a coordinated effort to provide communities across the US with high-speed broadband and the skills and technology needed to thrive in our increasingly digital world. The abrupt cancellation of the DEA grants last year was a significant blow to digital inclusion programs nationwide, impacting millions of Americans.”

Public Libraries Online, June 5
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“Every year as the doors of the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition swing open, the exhibition hall comes alive—booths, banners, and brilliant minds all gathered in one place. It is a ritual that has been repeated, refined, and reimagined throughout ALA’s 150-year history. To mark this extraordinary milestone, we look back at the rich history of exhibitors at Annual—where it began, how it grew, and why, 150 years on, the exhibition floor remains one of the most vital spaces in our professional world.”

ALA150, June 3
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Dan Montgomery writes: “June brings a burst of anticipation to ALA. Colleagues and members put the finishing touches on our most important event of the year, our Annual Conference and Exhibition, which will be held June 25–29 in Chicago. I’m eager to meet many of you and make the most of those exciting, jam-packed days. While this is my first Annual as executive director, I attended the conference last summer and was blown away by the sheer number of participants, the depth of quality programming, and the infectious enthusiasm and energy from morning to night.”

American Libraries column, Summer
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As ICE has raided homes, businesses, and public facilities in communities across the country, public libraries are grappling with how to prepare staff, protect patrons, respond to incidents, and develop resources for in-the-moment de-escalation and long-term recovery. In February, the Public Library Association convened a webinar called “Responding to ICE at the Library: Real World Approaches” to address these timely concerns. Comments below are paraphrased from their presentation.

American Libraries feature, Summer
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David Nield writes: “More than 30 years after Adobe came up with it, the PDF file remains essential for archiving, sharing, and publishing. It’s no surprise that commercial PDF software tools are in high demand. But you don’t necessarily have to pay to process these documents, especially for basic editing operations. A host of PDF tools are available on the web that will let you quickly and easily manipulate your documents for free (with more advanced features and usage limits available for a price).”

Wired, June 2
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Roxy Van Ruiten and Darcy Ramirez write: “A display inside San Antonio’s Central Library is turning the city’s love for the Spurs NBA team into a celebration of reading, and it’s now getting national attention. San Antonio Public Library’s ‘Read Like Wemby’ display, inspired by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s well-known love of books, was recently featured in The New York Times. Staff said visitors are stopping to snap photos with the display, which highlights books connected to Wembanyama and his reading habits.”

KENS-TV (San Antonio), May 28

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