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Marshall Breeding writes: “Despite measures to continue operations and preserve pending contracts with libraries, the book distributor Baker & Taylor (B&T), a longtime fixture in the library technology industry, will shutter.
The closure follows a failed acquisition by publisher and distributor
ReaderLink Distribution Services, which had signed a letter of intent September 6 to acquire B&T’s assets and continue its operations.
The purchase, scheduled to close on September 26,
fell apart that day. This business closure represents an extraordinarily disruptive event for public libraries, which will have lost one of their major channels for acquiring materials.”...
American Libraries Online, Oct.
8; Library Technology Guides, Sept.
11; Publishers Weekly, Sept.
26
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Lucy Podmore writes: “Three years ago, after a difficult state legislative session in Texas that aimed to restrict access to books and disparage the work of librarians, I recognized the urgency of helping my community understand how our libraries operate.
In 2023, I created the Freedom Walk—an interactive program that takes place in the courtyard of my high school campus.
The Freedom Walk explores the ideas behind our freedom to read and the critical role everyone plays in protecting that freedom.
Instead of celebrating what we can’t read, we celebrate our right to read.”...
American Libraries Online, Oct.
6
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Greg Landgraf writes: “In 2023—as book challenges, relocations, and removals in the state’s public and school libraries were reaching unprecedented levels—then–16-year-old Iris Mogul started the all-ages Banned Books Club in Coral Gables, Florida, to read and discuss titles like James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain and Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. Now a first-year student at University of California, Santa Cruz, Mogul has been named youth honorary chair of this year’s Banned Books Week. Mogul spoke with American Libraries about her activism, her conversation with fellow Banned Books Week Honorary Chair
George Takei, and practical anticensorship steps teens can take.”...
American Libraries Online, Oct.
7; American Libraries Trend, July/Aug. 2019
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Amy Brownlee writes: “After attending a National Endowment for the Humanities summer institute designed to equip K–12 educators to effectively teach using comics and graphic novels, I was excited to implement what I learned with students.
As a pre-K–12 librarian and 6th-grade reading teacher, I have a lot of freedom in what I teach, and I came back brimming with ideas on how to use comics and graphic novels to ramp up relevance and engagement in my libraries.” Efforts included a visit from author and cartoonist Grant Snider, book clubs, comic-style biographies, and other activities....
Knowledge Quest, Oct.
2
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Phil Morehart writes: “Librarian
Amanda Jones has been named to the
Time100 Next list, Time magazine’s spotlight on the world’s most influential rising stars.
Jones has become a national voice for intellectual freedom and democracy.
After making a speech against book censorship at her local library board in July 2022, Jones received death threats and experienced harassment, bullying, and more.
Facing the fight head-on, she became one of the first librarians in the US to file a defamation lawsuit against her detractors.”...
I Love Libraries, Oct.
3; American Libraries feature, Sept./Oct. 2023
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Emilee Mathews and María Evelia Emerson write: “Throughout the literature review, case study, and survey, we explored evolving contemporary zine librarianship practices.
The literature review documents even more libraries ready to take on the challenge of collecting zines and, overall, libraries that do so experience a positive impact.
In our own case study, the Social Justice Zine Collection has positively impacted our work, while also being full of challenges that keep us experimenting, discussing, and collaborating.
With more information sharing, more students and patrons will have opportunities to engage with these exceptional materials.”...
Library Resources and Technical Services, Vol.
69, No. 4 (Oct.)
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Par Kermani writes: “A conference focused on censorship was canceled Thursday at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
The conference, ‘Redacted: Navigating the Complexities of Censorship,’ was going to include a screening of the documentary Banned Together, a panel discussion, and workshops.
The conference, however, was canceled due to recent shifts in diversity initiatives at colleges and universities in Utah.” Weber State Vice President of Student Access and Success Jessica Oyler
sent an email to the conference committee
limiting conference content and citing
Utah HB 261, a 2024 law that “defines and prohibits policies and procedures related to personal identity characteristics.” The committee
canceled the conference in response....
KSL-TV (Salt Lake City), Oct. 2; Adventures in Censorship, Oct.
1
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Jasmine Plott writes: “I love teaching legal research; it’s my favorite part of my job.
However, I’m not always great with boundaries, and this realization came to me in the spring 2025 semester. I was juggling being a new mother, teaching legal research, and, if I had the time, taking care of myself.
I overextended myself in many ways: late nights, communicating with students at all hours, and experiencing overwhelming feelings of burnout and stress.
How could I still show up for my students while also taking care of myself? I saw a solution in creating more effective boundaries.”...
RIPS Law Librarian Blog, Oct.
2
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John Mark Ockerbloom writes: “As has now been widely reported, the White House has sent a number of universities a set of terms it wants them to agree to, which indicate that not doing so may mean they ‘forego federal benefits.’ Now, they’re coming back for more.
I am happy to see that a number of our faculty have been
quick to call attention to the proposal’s threats to the academic freedom it claims to champion.
But it isn’t just university faculty and research centers that would be muzzled by the agreement.
The libraries would be too.”...
Everybody’s Libraries, Oct. 3; The Daily Pennsylvanian (Philadelphia), Oct. 3
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“I have a colleague who has always inspired me by her unbreakable poise.
Her ability to stay calm and cool under pressure was put to the test when she was lambasted at a public meeting.
I knew she was nervous, but instead of jumping to offense, she took these perfectly timed pauses, lowered her volume, and leaned into the matter with heart.
There’s strength in poise and calm that many people miss or misread.
I am always paying attention to these moments.
They never fail to wow me.”...
Leading Without a Net, Oct.
6
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“Jane Goodall, primatologist and humanitarian, was a fierce advocate for hope.
Her groundbreaking work studying chimpanzees confirmed the creation and use of tools by non-human animals, literally changing how we define being human.
She revolutionized the field and broke barriers for other scholars, all while learning to be a passionate champion for animals and the environment.” Find lists of books by and inspired by Goodall from
Indianapolis Public Library,
Traverse des Sioux Library System in Minnesota,
Sno-Isle Libraries in Washington,
Las Vegas–Clark County Library District,
Daniel Boone Regional Library in Missouri,
Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library,
Johnson County (Kans.) Library,
Leighton Township (Mich.) Library, and
Toledo–Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library....
Indianapolis Public Library, Oct.
2; Traverse des Sioux Library System (Minn.); Sno-Isle Libraries (Wash.), Oct. 1; Las Vegas–Clark County Library District, Oct.
1; Daniel Boone Regional Library (Mo.), Oct. 1; Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library, Oct.
1; Johnson County (Kans.) Library, Oct. 2; Leighton Township (Mich.) Library, Oct. 1; Toledo–Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library, Oct.
1
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