New York’s largest ICE detention center bans book deliveries

Stack of books Isabelle Taft writes: “The immigration detention center near Buffalo, New York, has banned book deliveries, reversing a longstanding policy that allowed detainees to obtain fantasy and romance novels, Sudoku puzzles, word searches, Spanish-language Bibles, and English textbooks. The Buffalo Federal Detention Facility stopped accepting personal book shipments for detainees in July, said Jason Koontz, a spokesperson for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which runs the facility. On October 8, Justice for Migrant Families, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and four other organizations sent a letter demanding the facility reinstate book deliveries and arguing that the prohibition violates detainees’ First Amendment rights.”

New York Focus, Oct. 8

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Dianndra Roberts, Valarie Guagnini, and Devyani Mahajan write: “The implementation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace attempts to right historic wrongs. For years, organizations have mistaken ‘niceness’ with kindness. They say the right things, yet often lack the action, accountability, and structural commitment needed. Instead, they rely on people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and especially women to push the work forward without meaningful support, especially from those in power. Organizations must break the pattern of looking to the most impacted people to protect them from criticism, explain the issues, or lead the healing.”

The Scholarly Kitchen, Feb. 25
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ALA is seeking volunteers for two ALA Endowment Trustee positions. Trustees serve a three-year term and are eligible to be reappointed for one additional three-year term. Applications are due March 31; a preview of the application is available for preparation. Applications will be reviewed by the ALA Endowment Trustees, who make recommendations to the ALA Executive Board, which will make its selection at its Spring Meeting. The successful applicants’ terms will begin after the ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago, and will end after the 2029 Annual Conference.

ALA Governance Office, Mar. 2
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George Eberhart writes: “On June 24, 2018, ALA Council passed a historic resolution that ‘apologizes to African Americans for wrongs committed against them in segregated public libraries’ and commends those ‘who risked their lives to integrate public libraries for their bravery and courage in challenging segregation in public libraries and in forcing public libraries to live up to the rhetoric of their ideals.’ Then-ALA President Jim Neal read the resolution later that day to an audience at the main New Orleans Public Library accompanied by four individuals who participated in sit-ins and protests at libraries in the South during the 1960s.”

ALA150, Mar. 2; Birmingham Public Library, June 25, 2018
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Jillian Forstadt writes: “The board of the Pine-Richland School District in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania voted Monday to advance a set of major revisions to its controversial library policy. The changes, if given final approval, would reverse measures passed last year that expanded the board’s role in library book selection, broadened parental control over which books are part of the district’s collection, and prohibited librarians from acquiring any materials with ‘pervasive vulgarity or profanity’ or ‘explicit sexual content.’” A slate of Democratic candidates won four seats on the board in November, flipping the district’s conservative majority.

WESA-FM (Pittsburgh), Feb. 24
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Elizabeth Everett writes: “Storytime is more than reading aloud—it’s an opportunity to create an inclusive space where every child can see themselves reflected, practice language, and participate actively. Whether it’s a weekly storytime or a special author visit, librarians can use intentional strategies to support multilingual learners, Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and all children in exploring stories, ideas, and concepts together. This post focuses on practical ways to make storytime engaging, equitable, and accessible for every learner.”

Knowledge Quest, Feb. 27
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Sam Helmick writes: “Over the years, libraries have grown from community learning centers into dynamic civic infrastructure, serving as hubs that spark innovation, nurture talent, and strengthen local economies. They are trusted partners in entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community prosperity. And this growing role reflects a simple truth: The success of local businesses and the health of communities are deeply intertwined. Libraries are embedded in every community and equipped with resources that many small businesses and entrepreneurs could not otherwise afford. As a result, libraries serve as both launching pads and long-term support networks for entrepreneurs at every stage.”

American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
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Introduced in the US House on February 24, H.R. 7661 would modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by prohibiting use of funds under the act “to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes.” ALA President Sam Helmick issued a statement observing that “H.R. 7661 isn’t fundamentally about protecting kids. It’s about giving politicians broad authority to restrict whose stories are allowed on our shelves.”

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Feb. 26

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