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Chase 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
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Beloved 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
23h

On 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
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Andrew 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
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Araceli 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.
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Kate 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
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The 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