Advocacy Archives | Page 45 of 46 | American Libraries Magazine

Author Sarah Vowell Closes Public Librarians Conference in Portland

March 27, 2010

"Education is telling the truth to students," said author and contributing editor to National Public Radio's This American Life Sarah Vowell at the closing of the Public Library Association conference in Portland today. "You have the goods," she added. "You have the places where that person can find that truth." Vowell was responding to a … Continue reading Author Sarah Vowell Closes Public Librarians Conference in Portland →

Singer Natalie Merchant, Journalist Nicholas Kristof Applaud Public Librarians in Portland

March 24, 2010

The Public Library Association conference in Portland, Oregon, opened today with a surprise appearance by singer Natalie Merchant, performing songs from a new CD of poems set to music and titled Leave Your Sleep. The special twist was that Merchant had selected a number of fairly obscure poets from the late 19th and early 20th … Continue reading Singer Natalie Merchant, Journalist Nicholas Kristof Applaud Public Librarians in Portland →

Pink Slips – and Rumors – Fly in L.A.

March 17, 2010

The state of fiscal emergency in many libraries, school districts, and academic campuses has lent credence to recent media reports that officials of the Los Angeles Unified School District have approved the dismissal of every certificated teacher-librarian systemwide. According to California School Librarians Association President Rosemarie Bernier, however, the truth is far less dire. Bernier … Continue reading Pink Slips – and Rumors – Fly in L.A. →

Ridiculous, Meet Sublime

March 16, 2010

Remember the old saying assuring us that even fools come in out of the rain? My new corollary is: Even naysayers need shelter from the storm—especially when the naysayers don't realize it. There's one particular naysayer I have in mind: Tommy Wayne Kramer, columnist for the Ukiah (Calif.) Daily Journal. Yesterday, I found myself combing … Continue reading Ridiculous, Meet Sublime →

Congress Extends Library Provision of Patriot Act to 2011

By Beverly Goldberg | February 26, 2010

The U.S. House of Representatives sent Pres. Obama a bill extending three often-contested provisions of the Patriot Act on the evening of February 26, two days before the sections were due to expire. Approved by a vote of 315–97 the night after the Senate passed the bill by voice vote, H.R. 3961 extends until February … Continue reading Congress Extends Library Provision of Patriot Act to 2011 →

Passing the (Library) Buck in Michigan

February 24, 2010

What was thought last fall to be a reprieve for the Library of Michigan has turned out quite differently, as evidenced by the reaction in some quarters to a February 12 status memo about the downsizing of the Library of Michigan. Such memos are often received as innocuous blips on a given organization's radar screen—documentation … Continue reading Passing the (Library) Buck in Michigan →

Florida Man Sues Two Libraries for Religious Discrimination

By Beverly Goldberg | February 17, 2010

A Florida man has filed a religious-discrimination lawsuit against Volusia County Public Library, Director Lucinda Colee, and the county, claiming that VCPL’s New Smyrna Beach branch declined his request to conduct a seminar called “Is Religion Alive in America?” there because library policy bans use of the meeting room for sectarian programming. The February 4 … Continue reading Florida Man Sues Two Libraries for Religious Discrimination →

A Chance to Show Off: Library Snapshot Day

February 5, 2010

The concept of Library Snapshot Day originated in New Jersey, when librarians at the State Library and the New Jersey Library Association put their heads together and dreamed up a clever way for libraries of all types in every part of the country could show off what happens in a single day. To help spread … Continue reading A Chance to Show Off: Library Snapshot Day →

LSSI Loses Challenge to Florida Rule Mandating Full-Time Directors

By Gordon Flagg | February 3, 2010

A judge has dismissed a legal challenge brought by Library Systems and Services (LSSI) against a proposed rule that would require Florida’s public library systems to be administered by a full-time librarian employed by the library’s governing body. Proposed by the Florida Division of Library and Information Services as an amendment to the State Aid … Continue reading LSSI Loses Challenge to Florida Rule Mandating Full-Time Directors →

A New Deal for Privacy?

January 16, 2010

“We need a New Deal about privacy,” said Hal Niedzviecki, author of The Peep Diaries, at the Office for Intellectual Freedom's kickoff for Choose Privacy Week, which will be first observed May 2–8, 2010. Niedzviecki discussed his flirtation with what he called “Peep Culture”—the willingness of people to share and consume the details of each … Continue reading A New Deal for Privacy? →

Washington Office Update, part 1

January 16, 2010

The Washington Office covered a number of topics in its Midwinter update. Due to a scheduled interview on the MCCA/ALA Haiti Relief Fund, I was able to attend the first hour only; Pamela Goodes will be writing about topics discussed after I left. Patriot Act “It’s back, and it’s not real great news, said Lynne … Continue reading Washington Office Update, part 1 →

State Associations Join Call for End to Patriot Act’s Library Provision

By Gordon Flagg | December 9, 2009

As the December 31 deadline for reauthorization of three provisions of the USA Patriot Act approached, more than 30 state library associations had passed resolutions calling for Congress to allow Section 215, which permits the Justice Department to conduct searches of library and bookstore records, to expire. Many state library associations also voiced opposition to … Continue reading State Associations Join Call for End to Patriot Act’s Library Provision →

Latest Library Links

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Matt Witkos and Kallista Cory write: “Patmos Library in Jamestown Township, Michigan, gained national attention for facing tension over books featuring LGBTQ+ topics. And it faced potential closure because of a lack of funding. It took three separate millage votes for funding to finally be renewed. Now the local community spot is closed” temporarily after five of eight staff members resigned last week. “The five shared with FOX 17 that they felt limited by the board in doing the jobs they were hired to do.” The majority of residents who attended the library’s board meeting May 12 expressed support for the staff.

WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.), May 9, May 13; Holland (Mich.) Sentinel, Nov. 8, 2023
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Lolita C. Baldor writes: “The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on May 9. It follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies [and schools]. The memo says that educational materials at the libraries ‘promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the department’s core mission.’ By May 21, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list.”

Associated Press, May 9; Apr. 1; ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office and American Association of School Librarians, Feb. 14
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Anne Ford writes: “With total earnings of $426,600, Adriana Harmeyer, archives and special collections assistant professor and archivist for university history at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, is the winningest library professional ever to have appeared on Jeopardy! On May 14, she seeks to further cement that title, as she aims for the quarterfinals of the 2025 Jeopardy! Masters Tournament. Harmeyer—who holds the 11th longest consecutive winning streak of any player on the show—spoke with American Libraries about her longtime love of the game, her least favorite category, and how she blazed her path to the Masters.”

American Libraries Trend, May 12
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Leslie Burger writes: “We have all been impacted in both anticipated and unpredictable ways following the sweeping changes in Washington, D.C., since the January inauguration. ALA has always done its best to avoid partisan politics, choosing instead to work across the aisle to develop partnerships and relationships with individuals and organizations that share our values and support the important work of libraries. Libraries are inherently nonpartisan institutions. But this time a different approach may be needed.”

American Libraries column, May; AL: The Scoop, Apr. 8
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On May 12, ALA President Cindy Hohl released a statement criticizing President Trump’s May 10 dismissal of Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter. Perlmutter was fired two days after the Trump administration fired Carla Hayden, head of the Library of Congress, which oversees the US Copyright Office. Perlmutter’s termination came shortly after her office issued a report questioning the legality of training artificial intelligence systems on copyrighted works. According to Wired, Paul Perkins, who claimed he was new acting director of the Copyright Office, and Brian Nieves, who identified himself as the new deputy librarian, attempted to enter the Copyright Office May 12, but left after a discussion with Capitol Police.

AL: The Scoop, May 12; Associated Press, May 11; Politico, May 10; United States Copyright Office, May; Wired, May 12
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Chase Ollis writes: “The 2025 recipients of the I Love My Librarian Award are 10 standout librarians. They include a bookmobile librarian serving a community in crisis, a school librarian bridging gaps for low-income students, a youth detention facility librarian creating a more inviting and inclusive space, and other notable community figures. ALA presented the awards on January 24 as part of the LibLearnX conference in Phoenix (watch a video of the ceremony). Among the recipients were four academic librarians, three public librarians, and three school librarians, each nominated by community members for their expertise, dedication, and impact.”

American Libraries feature, May
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ALA, along with other members of the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband Coalition, expressed strong disappointment following the Senate’s passage of S.J. Res. 7, a Congressional Review Act joint resolution that overturns the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to allow E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi hotspot lending by schools and libraries. The resolution now heads to the House of Representatives. If enacted, it would eliminate a critical tool that community anchor institutions use to provide broadband access to students and library patrons who rely on hotspots for education, employment, and health care. Over 800 school and library districts have requested approximately 200,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to loan out this year to students and library patrons.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, May 8, July 18, 2024; Universal Service Administrative Company

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