Proposed Ohio budget eliminates Public Library Fund, limits access to LGBTQ+ books

Don't Cut Ohio Libraries logo from Ohio Libraries Council Natalie Fahmy and David Rees write: “[Ohio] House Finance Committee members folded countless provisions last week into House Bill 96, legislation meant to outline Ohio’s budget for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. [Included in the bill is a provision that requires] public libraries to place material ‘related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of the persons under the age of 18.’” The proposed budget also eliminates the state’s Public Library Fund, which receives 1.7% of Ohio’s general revenue fund, and replaces it with a line item appropriated each year.

WCMH-TV (Columbus, Ohio), Apr. 8, Apr. 1; Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, Apr. 8

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Cindy Hohl writes: “Our profession, and our humanity, are in jeopardy. As we saw with the White House’s executive order calling for the Institute of Museum and Library Services to be eliminated, libraries—and everything we value as information professionals—are under attack. Make no mistake: The American people need to brace for more waves of uncertainty and oppression. And in our role as stalwart information warriors, we shall hold the front lines of democracy to ensure that intellectual freedom and the First Amendment are held in the highest regard.”

American Libraries column, May
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Marshall Breeding writes: “The library technology industry showed its maturity in 2024. Businesses have become increasingly stable and robust products delivered rich functionality. But decades of consolidation have created a narrower slate of competitors, resulting in a smaller number of products available for each type and size of library. The marketplace is seeing more specialized solutions but fewer options. Companies continue to tailor products to the diverging service needs and collections of public, academic, school, and special libraries. Library services platforms designed for academic libraries, for example, are not well suited for public libraries. This stratification further narrows customers’ choices.”

American Libraries feature, May
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“On May 1, ALA announced that the US District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as directed by a March 14 executive order. The temporary restraining order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by ALA and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union representing library workers. ALA’s full statement regarding the court’s temporary restraining order reads as follows.

AL: The Scoop, May 2
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Charlie Osborne writes: “As a professional photographer, I know that photo editing software is critical to my workflow to bring out the best in my images, whether to make changes to exposure and add bokeh [the aesthetic blurring of out-of-focus areas] or other creative effects. Adobe Lightroom is the gold standard for many photographers, but many alternative online photo editors are also excellent options. Among my favorites are Pixlr, Adobe Lightroom, and Canva. We have a great selection of options for you to test out, depending on your online photo editing needs.”

ZDNet, Apr. 28
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Veronica Fu writes: “At first glance, libraries might appear to be unaffected by Trump’s tariffs. The official list of exempt items released by the White House includes [printed books]. But the reassurance this offers libraries is limited. For libraries that depend on international vendors to supply books, serials, and media, the ripple effects of Trump’s tariffs could include disrupted shipping routes, rising logistics costs, customs slowdowns, and a growing pile of administrative red tape. Above all, this is a moment in which libraries must lead with intention.”

Katina, Apr. 24
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Jennifer Peterson writes: “In my time as a youth services librarian, I visited with thousands of school children each school year in the fall and spring months to promote books, reading, literacy, the library, and of course, summer reading! Here are my top five tips I can offer as you get ready to promote your summer reading program to students this spring.”

ALSC Blog, Apr. 26
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Hannah Weinberg writes: “This week marks 100 days since President Trump’s January 20 inauguration. It has also been approximately 45 days since Trump signed the March 14 executive order that called for stripping the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) down to its ‘non-statutory and component functions.’ Censorship attempts persist, IMLS staffers have been placed on leave, previously granted IMLS funding has been canceled, and library staffers continue to make difficult decisions about how to best maintain services for their communities. Following is American Libraries’ update on the challenges libraries and librarians continue to fight under the Trump administration.”

American Libraries feature, Apr. 30

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