Skip to main content
American Libraries Magazine Menu
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Issue Archive
    • Features
    • Trends
    • Columns
    • Newsmakers
    • Spotlights
    • By the Numbers
    • Bookend
    • People
    • Library Systems Report
    • Design Showcase
  • Trending
    • #alaac23
    • Intellectual Freedom
    • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Advocacy
    • Inside ALA
    • COVID-19
    • Jobs
    • Sustainability
    • Law and Legal Issues
    • Library Systems Report
  • AL Direct
  • The Scoop blog
  • Podcast
  • JobLIST
  • AL Live webinars
Cover of American Libraries May 2020

May 2020

Cover of the State of America's Libraries Report 2020

The State of America’s Libraries 2020

Cover of American Libraries March/April 2020

March/April 2020

Cover of American Libraries January/February 2020

January/February 2020

American Libraries November/December 2019 cover

November/December 2019

Cover of American Libraries Magazine, September/October 2019

September/October 2019

American Libraries July/August 2019 cover

July/August 2019

Cover of American Libraries June 2019

June 2019

Cover of American Libraries May 2019

May 2019

State of America's Libraries 2019 cover

The State of America’s Libraries 2019

American Libraries March/April 2019 cover

March/April 2019

American Libraries January/February 2019 cover

January/February 2019

Posts navigation

← Previous 1 2 3 4 … 13 Next →

Latest Library Links

  • 12h

    I Love My Librarian Award 2024 logoChase Ollis writes: “It’s finally September, which means summer is waning and fall is approaching. It also means only a few weeks remain to submit your nomination for the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award. More than 1,000 nominations are received for the award every year, so submitting a strong nomination is key to making your librarian stand out among the crowd. Here are a few tips for making your nomination the best it can be and giving your librarian their best shot at receiving the award.

    I Love Libraries, Sept. 5

  • 18h

    LeVar BurtonBeloved reading advocate, writer, and television and film star LeVar Burton will lead this year’s Banned Books Week, which takes place October 1–7.  Burton is the first actor to serve as honorary chair of Banned Books Week. He will headline a live virtual conversation with Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Da’Taeveyon Daniels about censorship and advocacy at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, October 4. The event will stream live on Instagram; see bannedbooksweek.org for more details. Burton also led a coalition of entertainers in signing a September 19 open letter against book bans.

    ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Sept. 20; The Hill, Sept. 19; MoveOn, Sept. 19

  • 20h

    Stack of five library books with a post-it note that reads Request for ReconsiderationOn September 19, the ALA announced findings that challenges to books and other library materials and services are on pace to set a record for the third straight year in 2023. The release reads, in part: “Between January 1 and August 31, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom reported 695 attempts to censor library materials and services. Those challenges included 1,915 unique titles—a 20% increase compared with the same reporting period in 2022. The vast majority of challenges were to books written by or about a person of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

    AL: The Scoop, Sept. 20

  • 2d

    Texas flagAndrew Albanese writes: “Federal judge Alan D. Albright [of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas] delivered a major victory for freedom to read advocates, issuing a substantive 59-page written opinion and order officially blocking Texas’s controversial book rating law, H.B. 900, from taking effect. The decision comes after Albright orally enjoined the law at an August 31 hearing. Signed by Texas governor Greg Abbott on June 12, H.B. 900 would have required book vendors to review and rate books for sexual content as a condition of doing business with Texas public schools.”

    Publishers Weekly, Sept. 19, Aug. 31; Office of the Texas Governor, June 12

  • 2d

    Araceli Mendez HintermeisterAraceli Méndez Hintermeister writes: “Libraries serve as important connectors for patrons navigating how to be active citizens in their communities. By providing knowledge and resources, libraries can play a role in social change and empower patrons to comprehend and tackle issues at large. These featured books underscore the various ways libraries can help cultivate stronger societies through civic engagement and community development.”

    American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

  • 2d

    Part of Columbia County Rural Library District's Dayton Library buildingKate Smith writes: “An initiative to dissolve the Columbia County (Wash.) Rural Library District has been temporarily blocked from appearing on the general election ballot. Columbia County Superior Court Commissioner Julie Karl granted the temporary order, saying there was substantial evidence of fraud [in the petition process] and good cause to temporarily block the measure to allow the claims to be investigated.” County Auditor Will Hutchens said ballots will not be printed until after the next hearing, which will be held the afternoon of September 20.

    Walla Walla (Wash.) Union-Bulletin, Sept. 11

  • 3d

    Montage of the National Book Award longlist for Young People's LiteratureThe National Book Foundation has released the longlists for its 2023 National Book Awards in five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. Each longlist includes ten works. Finalists in all categories will be announced October 3, and winners will be named at a ceremony November 15. Also at the ceremony, poet Rita Dove will receive the 2023 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and bookseller Paul Yamazaki will receive the 2023 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.

    National Book Foundation, Sept. 13–15

View more Latest Library Links

AL Live

al-live-logo@2x

AL Live screenshot with laptop










American Libraries Magazine

A publication of the American Library Association

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • Advertising
  • About
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscriptions
  • Submissions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright/Terms of Use Statement
  • Site Help
American Library Association
  • ALA Home
  • JobLIST
  • ALA News
  • ALA Store
  • Strategic Directions

225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601

1.800.545.2433

© 2009–2023 American Library Association