Tennessee library director refuses order to relocate books

Angele Latham writes: “Rutherford County (Tenn.) Library System Director Luanne James is facing discipline after refusing to move 132 books from juvenile shelves, saying the board did not following proper removal procedures and that the action violates the First Amendment. The books come from a previous list of over 3,000 books that were flagged as part of a state-instigated collections review in October.” In an email to the board, James said “I am professionally and ethically bound to uphold the First Amendment of the US Constitution.” The board recently removed the Library Bill of Rights and other ALA documents from its policy manual. The board will meet March 30 to address the situation.

Nashville Tennessean, Mar. 23; Nashville Scene, Nov. 10; The Advocate, Mar. 21; Book Riot, Mar. 23; WKRN-TV (Nashville), Mar. 19

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Lydia Tang writes: “The first National Library Week was launched on March 16–22, 1958. Citing a 1957 survey showing that only 17% of Americans polled were reading a book, the inaugural National Library Week slogan was ‘Wake Up and Read!’ The National Library Week initiative was the first nationwide effort to promote literacy for personal and national improvement, to celebrate the role of libraries in making reading materials accessible to everyone, and to highlight the varied career opportunities available within the library profession.”

ALA150, Apr. 20
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On April 20, the American Library Association (ALA) released its State of America’s Libraries 2026 report, an annual snapshot of library trends. The report is published during National Library Week, this year taking place April 19–25. As in recent years, the 2026 report documents censorship in libraries from the previous year. In 2025, ALA recorded 713 attempts to censor library materials and services, of which 487 attempts targeted books. The report includes a list of the 11 Most Targeted Titles in 2025, led by Sold by Patricia McCormick.

AL: The Scoop, Apr. 20
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Elyse H. Fox writes: “Librarians are used to being generalists, able to research all kinds of questions. But when someone seeks help filling out a form or understanding their rights, those same staffers may be wary of crossing the line from legal reference to unauthorized practice of law. Moreover, public library collections often have few legal resources for patrons. Within these limitations, though, library workers can develop their legal reference skills and provide appropriate referrals.”

American Libraries column, Apr. 20
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Kelly Greig writes: “The century-old library in Stanstead, Quebec, that straddles the Canada-US border now has a new door so Canadians can get in after the US limited entry to the building last year. For decades, people in Stanstead were allowed to walk around the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, but last year the US limited access, [forcing potential Canadian users] to drive down the street and go through a border crossing just to get in the front door.” The newly installed door cost nearly $600,000.

CTV News (Toronto), Apr. 9; American Libraries Online, Apr. 14, 2025
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Sydney Butler writes: “Believe me, I know the pain of troubleshooting 3D prints to the point where I just feel like throwing my printer in the garbage and buying a new one. Tracing print issues back to specific printer problems can be a nightmare, but there are a few likely issues you should check before turning your printer into scrap.”

How-To Geek, Apr. 11
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Allen Jones and Sae Ra Germaine write: “Interlibrary lending and document delivery have never been neutral technical layers. They are shaped—sometimes constrained—by the platforms libraries choose to implement. Over the last 25 years, two broad models have emerged: centralized networks and regional or distributed networks. Against this backdrop, the National Library of Australia explored a third path: a national network of networks, which includes libraries of all types—academic, public, special, and corporate.”

Katina, Apr. 8
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William Bishop writes: “Digital books have grown in popularity over the past decade, but more Americans still read books in print than in digital formats. Overall, 75% of US adults say they have read all or part of at least one book in the past 12 months, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025. Much smaller shares say they have read an ebook or listened to an audiobook in the past year. While book reading is widespread, the survey also shows that participation in book clubs is much less common.”

Pew Research Center, Apr. 9

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