Standing up for intellectual freedom | American Libraries Magazine

Photo of Librarian's Library columnist Andy Gooding-Call With book challenges on the rise across the country, columnist Andy Gooding-Call recommends six titles for libraries experiencing all types of challenges.

American Libraries column, June

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“Utrecht (Netherlands) University Library owns as many as about 900 books printed between 1450 and 1500, the first decades of printing in Europe. These so-called incunabula (books printed before 1501) will all be digitized in the coming years. Their catalog descriptions will also be improved and enriched, with a special focus on the material features of each individual book such as the binding, annotations, and former owners who wrote their names in the book. The project started in early 2025 and the first scans are now online.”

Utrecht University Library, Mar. 5
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Seth M. Porter writes: “As libraries navigate an era of rapid disruption—cultural shifts, institutional closures, mergers, relentless budget reallocations—adaptation is not optional. Those who fail to evolve with strategy and purpose will survive as a shell of themselves—if they survive at all. In this article, I’ll explore the balance between innovation and operational excellence and argue that both are essential for survival and sustained success. My approach integrates two core principles: the ‘borderlands of innovation,’ and a venture capital approach to betting on the future while maintaining operational excellence.”

Katina, Mar. 6
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Emily Young writes: “Each year, Beardsley and Memorial Library in Winsted, Connecticut, collects prom dress donations (from patrons and boutiques), and on three Saturdays in the spring, we put out racks of dresses for students in grades 11 and 12 to come in and ‘shop’ from, all for free! We also have purses, shoes, and jewelry from which they can choose. A hairstylist and makeup artist come in and give each of the girls a special makeover to inspire and teach them how to get ready for their prom night.”

Programming Librarian, Mar. 5
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Glen Benedict writes: “Patrons have a right to privacy in all interactions with their library. This includes book challenges, reconsideration requests, and similar services that libraries provide to their users. Publicly funded libraries, including those associated with public schools and universities, are government entities, and library users are entitled to petition under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. It is also important that libraries remain transparent about their processes and comply with laws regarding access to government information, such as the Freedom of Information Act or state open records laws.”

Intellectual Freedom Blog, Mar. 6
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Kelly Jensen writes: “The Moms For Liberty-affiliated review site BookLooks, which provides cherry-picked passages from novels so that members can lodge challenges of titles, is shutting down on March 23 [according to a March 10 notice on the site]. Whether or not this is a publicity stunt—there are more than a handful of institutions utilizing the site [including St. Francis (Minn.) Area Schools and Warren County (N.J.) Library]—is yet to be determined. But the announcement brings with it a load of questions in the broader context of book and curriculum censorship.”

BookRiot, Mar. 10, May 16, 2022; KMSP-TV (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Dec. 9, 2024; TAPInto Phillipsburg (N.J.), Nov. 25, 2024
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On March 7, ALA announced a change to the slate of candidates for 2026–2027 ALA president on the 2025 ALA election ballot. Andrea Jamison, assistant professor of school librarianship at Illinois State University in Normal, has withdrawn her candidacy for ALA president-elect and Intellectual Freedom Round Table director-at-large. Her name has been removed from the election ballot, which was sent to ALA members on March 10. ALA members may vote in the 2025 election from March 10–April 2. A recording of the March 7 candidates’ forum is available.

AL: The Scoop, Mar. 7
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Meaghan Darwish writes: “Abbott Elementary explored an important lesson on book bans in its March 5 episode, aptly titled ‘Books,’ which saw Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Ava (Janelle James), and librarian Ms. Inez (Cree Summer) combat the dangers of uninformed parents. While the series is always good about tackling topical issues, Abbott Elementary’s decision to address book bans in school libraries is especially appropriate, as more and more librarians are being forced to remove titles from the shelves across the country.”

TV Insider, Mar. 5

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