In January, the American Library Association (ALA) offered its recently reimagined winter event, LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience, in person for the first time. The inaugural LibLearnX, held in January 2022, was presented virtually to accommodate COVID restrictions and concerns. This year debuted a hybrid model: The live version, held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from January 27–30, was attended by 1,712 library workers and supporters and 757 exhibitors, authors, illustrators, press, and ALA staff. The LLX Digital Experience hosted 190 online attendees.
At the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in June 2022, much discussion in Council sessions involved the organization’s transformation—specifically, streamlining ALA’s structure and governance through the consolidation of its Constitution and Bylaws (see “Governance Transformation Picks up Steam”). At LibLearnX, the Special Session: ALA Bylaws Convention, convened on Friday, January 27 to consider and finalize the draft general revision of the ALA bylaws, took on the work that remained unfinished.
Occurring in April, Autism Acceptance Month recognizes the conscious shift away from the stigmatized term “autism awareness,” towards an inclusive attitude of respect, listening, parity, and empowerment. The following titles by scientists, teachers, romance novelists, memorists, and more offer great stories and a range of perspectives. Readers will find literary fiction, science fiction, and social science titles among these selections. The following books are currently in print and are ready to be shared far and wide.
In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, first recognized by the Biden administration in April 2021, this booklist celebrates the diverse experiences, cultures, and contributions of Arab American people. These works of fiction and nonfiction were written by authors who challenge notions of monolithic racial identities—there is no single Arab American person, but a multitude. The authors illuminate a wide range of topics, from gender identity and coming of age to politics, history, diaspora, romance, poetry, cooking, comedy, and so much more. These books are currently in print and are ready to be shared with friends, family, patrons, and readers everywhere.
School and youth services librarians are passionate about their jobs, but a lack of respect is damaging their job satisfaction and morale, according to the 2022 LJ/SLJ Job Satisfaction Survey.
The 2023 PEN America Literary Award finalists are announced. There is news coverage of the HarperCollins Union new ratified contract; Kristina Pérez’s new company, Pérez Literary & Entertainment; and the new partnership between APA and Europa. Author interviews expound on the knowledge of the likes of Kevin Jared Hosein, Reuven Blau, Graham Rayman, Mai Nardone, Sheila Liming, Tina Brown, Anthony Walton, Louise Hare, Ben Ramalingam, Chetna Maroo, and Greta Thunberg.
“Having this new experience allows us to be more iterative and intentional about what conferences look like in this new hybrid world that we’re living in. Over the next few years, we’ll continue to tweak and change things based on feedback, to make it what we need it to be.”
Oprah picks Susan Cain’s Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole as her new book-club selection. The 2023 Southern Book Prize winners are announced, along with the finalists for the 2023 Compton Crook Award. LibraryReads and LJ offer read-alikes for 3 Days To Live by James Patterson. José Olivarez and his new poetry collection, Promises of Gold, get buzz. Paramount restarts sales process for S. & S., and Tor launches Bramble, a new romantic imprint. Catapult is shuttering its online magazine and writing classes. Rachel Koller Croft’s Stone Cold Fox will get a TV series adaptation. Plus, a new report finds Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was poisoned.
The 2023 Wingate Prize shortlist is announced. Debuting at the top of the best-sellers lists are Encore in Death by J.D. Robb, Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes, Victory City by Salman Rushdie, Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman, People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account by Mark Pomerantz, and Bad Mormon by Heather Gay. There are author interviews with Davon Loeb, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Martin Wolf, Mark Jacobson, John Cribb, and Adam Brookes. There is adaptation news for N.K. Jemisin’s “Great Cities” series.
Featuring wildlife gardens, flowering houseplants, the basics of succulent care, and more, these are the 20 gardening titles that library patrons are seeking.
The Questions That Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom, by Jane Smiley, is a starred literature selection. "In this slim yet valuable book, Smiley gives educators, readers, and writers much to discuss. Highly recommended." Also in literature, Lives of the Wives: Five Literary Marriages, by Carmela Ciuraru, is a starred title. "A notable book about remarkable women that could have subsequent volumes. Recommended for readers interested in these authors or in 20th-century literature." And True Life: Poems, by Adam Zagajewski is a starred poetry selection. "Readers who enjoy W.S. Merwin, Mary Oliver, and Jane Kenyon will feel quite at home with Zagajewski’s poems; like those writers, he is never obscure or tentative but always luminous and alive. Essential for academic libraries and a worthy purchase for contemporary poetry collections in public libraries."
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