The American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 attempts to ban or restrict library resources in K–12, higher ed, and public libraries in all of 2021, targeting 1,597 unique titles—itself the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began keeping track of challenged books more than 20 years ago.
The EveryLibrary Institute, the companion organization of library advocacy group EveryLibrary, commissioned Embold Research, a nonpartisan research firm, to poll 1,223 U.S. voters on book banning. The survey found that nearly all (92 percent) have heard at least something about such censorship, and at least 75 percent will consider the issue of book banning when voting this November. Also in observance of Banned Books Week, intellectual freedom organization PEN America offered an update to its previous report, Banned in the USA: Rising School Book Bans Threaten Free Expression and Students’ First Amendment Rights, published in April.
Abstract: Many technological trends in library management were evident before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic significantly accelerated the pace of those changes. To boost agility, libraries are turning to SaaS solutions, analytics, digital transformation, open applications and their community of peers.
Abstract: Librarians are feeling the squeeze. As they seek to meet changing patron expectations and a dynamic technological environment, they are often simultaneously faced with budget cuts and leadership looking over their shoulder for evidence of institutional value.
Dion Graham is an Odyssey Award–winning narrator, an audiobook director and publisher, and a stage and screen actor who has also lent his voice to several video games. He talks with LJ about getting started as an audiobook narrator, finding a voice and style, and the challenges that he has faced during his narrating career.
"What we’re seeing now is a well-funded, well-organized campaign targeting particular kinds of books."
The 2022 National Book Awards for Nonfiction and Poetry longlists are out. The 2022 BBC National Short Story Award shortlist is also announced. LibraryReads has released the top ten books published in October. Conversations arrive with Javier Zamora, Mitch Albom, May-lee Chai, Elissa Bassist, Ling Ma, Jane Jensen (aka Eli Easton), Andrea Barrett, Buzz Bissinger, and Woo-kyoung Ahn.
Banned Books Week launches amid rising book challenges. The National Book Award longlists are announced along with the winners of the 2022 Ignyte Awards. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman tops holds this week. Six LibraryReads and seven Indie Next picks publish this week. Plus, People's book of the week is Solito by Javier Zamora.
Banned Books Week coverage continues. Rick Mercer wins the 2022 Stephen Leacock Medal. Jung Hae Chae wins Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize for Pojangmacha People. The 2022 British Fantasy Awards and 2022 McIlvanney Prize winners are announced. S. A. Cosby previews his forthcoming thriller, All the Sinners Bleed, due out June, 2023. Plus, Spotify looks to compete with Audible with its new pay-per-book audiobooks hub.
Rin Chupeco's debut novel Silver Under Nightfall is a starred SFF selection. "Readers who love sinking their teeth into an absorbing story of vampire politics along with the perils of romancing the undead will find much to savor in this adult debut from YA novelist Chupeco." Geiger, Gustaf Skördeman's starred debut mystery, is "part police procedural, part spy novel, and entirely captivating as normal life collides with ideology, nostalgia, and a reminder that perhaps the Cold War is not as settled as once believed. This debut will appeal to fans of Karin Slaughter, Kjell Eriksson, and Ragnar Jónasson." And in education, The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation About Education, Parenting, and Race, by Timothy L. Fields & Shereem Herndon-Brown, is a starred selection. "This excellent guide is highly recommended for any parent or student who is navigating the college admissions process, especially Black students and first-generation students. Readers may even learn some new things and trends."
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