|
Sallyann Price writes: “A growing generation of young readers can stream the reboot of
Reading Rainbow on YouTube, hosted by children’s librarian Mychal Threets.
Threets broke through on social media in 2023 with heartwarming videos that balanced real talk about mental health with unwavering positivity, a message he’s now carrying over as honorary chair of
National Library Week (April 19–25), with the theme ‘Find Your Joy.’ He spoke with American Libraries about his path from hometown library to TikTok fame and beyond, and his debut picture book, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, with illustrations by Lorraine Nam (Random House, February).”...
American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.
| |
|
Sam Helmick writes: “Over the years, libraries have grown from community learning centers into dynamic civic infrastructure, serving as hubs that spark innovation, nurture talent, and strengthen local economies.
They are trusted partners in entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community prosperity.
And this growing role reflects a simple truth: The success of local businesses and the health of communities are deeply intertwined.
Libraries are embedded in every community and equipped with resources that many small businesses and entrepreneurs could not otherwise afford.
As a result, libraries serve as both launching pads and long-term support networks for entrepreneurs at every stage.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
| |
|
ALA employees announced the
start of their efforts to unionize with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in a March 2
open letter signed by 40 employees. If certified, the union—American Library Association Workers United/AFSCME—will represent more than 100 ALA workers. In the letter, employees say they’re forming their union to “protect staff’s work, well-being, and ALA’s future.” ALA Executive Director Dan Montgomery
issued a statement that read, in part, “We respect our employees' legal right to organize and will engage in this process thoughtfully and in good faith.”...
AFSCME Council 31, Mar. 2; Publishers Weekly, Mar.
3; ALA Communications and Media Relations Office, Mar.
3
| |
|
|
|
Introduced in the US House on February 24,
H.R. 7661 would modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by prohibiting use of funds under the act “to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes.” ALA President Sam Helmick issued a statement observing that “H.R. 7661 isn’t fundamentally about protecting kids.
It’s about giving politicians broad authority to restrict whose stories are allowed on our shelves.”...
ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Feb.
26
| |
|
Elizabeth Everett writes: “Storytime is more than reading aloud—it’s an opportunity to create an inclusive space where every child can see themselves reflected, practice language, and participate actively.
Whether it’s a weekly storytime or a special author visit, librarians can use intentional strategies to support multilingual learners, Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and all children in exploring stories, ideas, and concepts together.
This post focuses on practical ways to make storytime engaging, equitable, and accessible for every learner.”...
Knowledge Quest, Feb.
27
| |
|
ALA is seeking volunteers for two ALA Endowment Trustee positions.
Trustees serve a three-year term and are eligible to be reappointed for one additional three-year term.
Applications are due March 31; a
preview of the application is available for preparation.
Current ALA Endowment Trustees will review applications and make recommendations to the ALA Executive Board, which will select trustees at its spring meeting.
The successful applicants’ terms will begin after ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago, and will end after the 2029 Annual Conference....
ALA Governance Office, Mar.
2
| |
|
|
|
Jillian Forstadt writes: “The board of the Pine-Richland School District in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, voted Monday to advance a set of major revisions to its controversial library policy.
The changes, if given final approval, would reverse measures passed last year that expanded the board’s role in library book selection, broadened parental control over which books are part of the district’s collection, and prohibited librarians from acquiring any materials with ‘pervasive vulgarity or profanity’ or ‘explicit sexual content.’” A slate of Democratic candidates
won four seats on the board in November, flipping the district’s conservative majority....
WESA-FM (Pittsburgh), Feb. 24; American Libraries feature, Mar./Apr.
| |
|
Dianndra Roberts, Valarie Guagnini, and Devyani Mahajan write: “The implementation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace attempts to right historic wrongs.
For years, organizations have mistaken ‘niceness’ with kindness. They say the right things, yet often lack the action, accountability, and structural commitment needed.
Instead, they rely on people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and especially women to push the work forward without meaningful support, especially from those in power.
Organizations must break the pattern of looking to the most impacted people to protect them from criticism, explain the issues, or lead the healing.”...
The Scholarly Kitchen, Feb.
25
| |
|
Kelly Jensen writes: “Utah has added four more books to its list of titles banned from every public school in the state: Breathless by Jennifer Niven, The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley, The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood and illustrated by Renee Nault, and Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold. That brings the total to 27 books banned statewide under
H.B. 29, which bans books from all public schools in the state if those books have been deemed ‘objective sensitive material’ or ‘pornographic’ in at least three public school districts or two public and five charter schools statewide.”...
Book Riot, Mar. 3
| |
|
|
|
“Over the past few weeks, Iran has once again moved to the forefront of international attention.
With events moving quickly and several policy strands converging at once, having clear and reliable reference points is essential.
To support colleagues following these developments, the European Council Library has prepared a
dedicated library guide on Iran. It brings together key European Union (EU) documents, background material, books and articles, media sources, and external analysis in one structured place—helping to connect immediate decisions with the wider framework of EU-Iran relations.”...
European Council Library, Mar.
2
| |
|
Anne Cantrell writes: “As libraries grapple with how to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in responsible and ethical ways, Montana State University Library researchers are offering a new, free resource to help those institutions make decisions about AI that align with their values.
Viewfinder is a new toolkit designed to support librarians, researchers, and others as they consider whether and how to implement AI tools in their libraries and archives.
The toolkit invites users to identify stakeholders and consider which values are of concern.”...
Montana State University, Feb.
23
| |
|
Lorenzo Tondo writes: “Firefighters in Sicily have rescued about 400 rare books from the
private Angelo Marsiano library in Niscemi that hangs on the edge of a mudflow, after a devastating landslide in January tore away an entire slope of the town.
The library stands on the lip of the precipice gouged out by the landslide, with part of the building in effect hanging in mid-air. The library holds about 4,000 books of literature, history, and general nonfiction, including a number of rare editions dating from before 1830 on Sicilian history.”...
The Guardian, Feb. 27; Italian Library Association, Feb.
5
| | |
|
|
|
American Libraries Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Wednesday to personal members of ALA.
Editor, AL Direct: Greg Landgraf
Direct ad inquiries to: Melissa Carr
Send news and feedback: AL Direct
All links outside the ALA website are provided for informational purposes only. Questions about the content of any external site should be addressed to the administrator of that site. AL Direct FAQ.
American Libraries will not sell your email to outside parties, but your email may be shared with advertisers in this newsletter should you express interest in their products by clicking on their ads or content. If advertisers choose to communicate with you by email, they are obligated to provide you with an opportunity to opt-out from future emails in compliance with the CAN-SPAM act of 2003 and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation of 2018. Read the ALA privacy policy.
To manage your American Libraries email preferences, click here.
To unsubscribe from all ALA emails, click here.
American Library Association | 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300 | Chicago, IL 60601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg){kind=spacer}
