Saw a blurb that US funding of IMLS will be fully restored, presumably by court order. Thank fucking god for a little good news at least. #Libraries #IMLS #Doge #AmericanLibraryAssociation #legalnews

Court Permanently Blocks Trump’s Executive Order to Dismantle Federal Agency for America’s Libraries – Public Libraries Online

Court Permanently Blocks Trump’s Executive Order to Dismantle Federal Agency for America’s Libraries

by Kathleen Hughes on November 21, 2025

Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The decision was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the Attorneys General of 21 states.

Editor’s Note: The text PDF of the ruling is inserted below.

ALA President Sam Helmick said,

“Today’s court decision is a powerful affirmation of what libraries mean to America. It restores everything that the executive order tried to take away: shared access to books in rural and remote areas, essential virtual learning tools, children’s reading programs and the countless library services available to anyone who walks into a public, school or academic library. This isn’t just a win for the 21 states who filed the case–it’s a win for every library user and every American in every state and territory.  

“Convincing a federal judge that shuttering a supposedly obscure agency would have an immediate and devastating impact on millions of Americans is no small feat. Libraries also strengthen local economies by supporting jobseekers, small businesses and community learning. Protecting these resources matters. ALA is proud to be in the company of dozens of library workers, associations, Friends of libraries, parents, educators, leaders at every level of government and every American who showed up for our libraries.  

“This victory belongs to all of us, and we build the future of our libraries together. As we celebrate this decision, ALA invites everyone to keep using and speaking up for libraries. Your voice makes a difference, and your community leaders need to hear it.”

IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to the nation’s libraries and museums. On March 14, President Trump issued Executive Order 14238, which directed the elimination of the agency. Subsequently, the Trump administration began mass termination of the agency’s grants, dismissed all members of the IMLS board, halted crucial data collection and research, and intended to lay off nearly all of the agency’s staff. These actions left IMLS unable to fulfill its duties required by federal law and interrupted library services across the country.

Today’s court ruling found that those actions were arbitrary and capricious and contrary to federal law that established IMLS and directed it to carry out programs, including funding for libraries and museums across the nation. The ruling nullifies the Administration’s actions to dismantle IMLS and permanently prohibits the Administration from taking such actions in the future. The ruling has immediate nationwide effect.

ALA also has led efforts in Congress and the courts to preserve IMLS, in parallel to the states’ litigation. ALA filed its own lawsuit challenging the Administration’s actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which remains ongoing. In May, ALA’s lawsuit won a temporary restraining order, which prevented the mass layoff of nearly all IMLS employees, days before it was scheduled to take effect.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Court Permanently Blocks Trump’s Executive Order to Dismantle Federal Agency for America’s Libraries – Public Libraries Online

#ala #americanLibraryAssociation #courtBlocksTrump #dismantleFederalAgency #executiveOrder #forAmericasLibraries #imls #instituteOfMuseumAndLibraryServicesImls #november212025 #pdfRuling #publicLibrariesOnline #uSDistrictCourtOfRhodeIsland

ALA Announces Shortlist for 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals

American Library Association Announces Shortlist for 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals, including several books in translation.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/11/ala-announces-shortlist-for-2026-andrew-carnegie-medals/

#AgustinaBazterrica #AmericanLibraryAssociation #BrianGoldstone #CarnegieMedals #HanKang

Why we must fight attempts to undermine our freedom to read
In 1953, at the height of the McCarthyist red scare, the #AmericanLibraryAssociation & the Association of American Publishers issued a #Freedom to #ReadStatement The organizations expressed concerns about the rising public sentiment that it was worth violating core First Amendment freedoms to keep certain ideas from reaching American readers
The statement, last updated in 2004, begins: “The freedom to read is essential to our #democracy

Wyoming library director wins $700,000 after being fired for defending LGBTQ+ books

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.advocate.com/news/wyoming-library-director-wins-settlement

Sparking Young Minds with Forensic Science and Storytelling

Guest Blogger

Sparking Young Minds with Forensic Science and Storytelling

September 29, 2025| Guest Contributor

What do fingerprints, footprints, and fiber analysis have in common?

Picture a group of kids huddled over a table in your library, dusting for “mystery” fingerprints they just read about in a story. Their eyes widen as the patterns appear! It’s discovery, excitement, and learning all at once.

Fingerprints, footprints, and fibers found at crime scenes are types of forensic trace evidence. They help solve mysteries and uncover what happened at a location. Kids love solving mysteries—and they love playing detective. These clues can spark curiosity and imagination while introducing cause and effect.

From Crime Labs to Library Tables

My background in biotechnology and forensic science, combined with my passion for STEMM education, has shaped how I bring science to life for children. Kids of all ages are naturally curious, especially when they’re solving mysteries or exploring the world around them.

I asked myself: How can I capture the thrill of scientific discovery in a way children can enjoy and understand?

The answer came by blending playful storytelling with hands-on science activities. Each letter of the alphabet became a chance to introduce a real-world forensic concept—from “A is for Analysis” to “Z is for Zero Contamination.” One of the biggest challenges was taking complex science and translating it into language kids could understand, without losing its meaning.

Librarians face similar challenges. Turning complicated ideas into age-appropriate, engaging content is a powerful way to bring STEMM into storytime and library programming. Whether it’s exploring forensic mysteries with fingerprint kits after reading a picture book or hosting a scavenger hunt for “evidence,” these science activities can be both fun and educational.

Why Forensic Literacy Matters in Early Education

Forensic science isn’t just about solving crimes—it’s about developing observation, reasoning, and ethical thinking. Introducing these skills early can help children become thoughtful problem-solvers for life.

By bringing forensic science activities into early
education, we give children tools that go beyond
the lab. These hands-on lessons encourage logical
reasoning, attention to detail, and critical thinking,
all while turning science into a fun and interactive
experience.

Simple Forensic Activities for Library Programming

Looking for easy ways to bring forensic science into your programs? Try these:

• Fingerprint Fun: Have kids “dust” for their own fingerprints using pencils, tape, and paper. Pair this with a mystery-themed picture book.
• Fiber Detective: Provide small fabric samples and magnifying glasses. Kids can compare fibers to guess which “suspect” they came from.
• Animal Track Hunt: Hide paper animal tracks around the library and challenge kids to match them to the right animals.
• Fruit DNA Extraction: For older children, extract DNA from strawberries—a simple way to connect biology to real-world science.
• Invite a Local Expert: Host a Q&A with a forensic scientist or local law enforcement to help inspire future investigators.

These activities support inquiry-based learning and align with science standards in fun, meaningful ways!

Encouraging Lifelong Curiosity

During a recent STEMM demo, a child looked up at me wide- eyed and asked, “Can I be a scientist too?” That moment reminded me why early exposure matters. Children often see themselves in the roles we show them—whether that’s a storyteller, an explorer, or a scientist.

Librarians can open those doors. Every mystery solved during
storytime, every question encouraged in a program, helps build a
generation of critical thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers.

Continue/Read Original Article: https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2025/09/sparking-young-minds-with-forensic-science-and-storytelling/

#2025 #ALA #ALSC #America #AmericanLibraryAssociation #Books #Children #Coaching #Education #ForensicScience #History #Librarians #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #PlayResearcher #Reading #Storytelling #Teaching #TheAssociationForLibraryServiceToChildren #UnitedStates #YoungMinds #YoungPeople

School bus internet, library Wi-Fi lending could end with FCC vote

Referral Shoutout: Thanks to…Library Link of the Day
http://www.tk421.net/librarylink/  (archive, rss, subscribe options)

The FCC is expected to end a Biden-era rule change that allowed nearly 200,000 schools and libraries to loan out Wi-Fi hotspot devices.

By Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY

It could soon be harder for students to access the internet on school buses and for the public to borrow mobile internet hotspots from libraries.

In a Sept. 23 letter, a coalition of school and library advocacy groups urged the Federal Communications Commission to protect the programs that have allowed schools and libraries to lend out hotspot devices.

“One in five households in our country still do not have access to reliable home broadband. Hotspots are not a permanent fix, but they’ll make sure students, jobseekers, veterans and seniors don’t get left behind,” American Library Association President Sam Helmick said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.

The FCC is scheduled to vote at its Sept. 30 meeting to undo a 2024 rule change made by the Biden administration that allowed schools and libraries to lend out hotspots and provide Wi-Fi on buses as part of the existing E-Rate program, which allows schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband.

When schools and businesses were closed during the pandemic, Congress allocated $123 million to the FCC to purchase hotspots for schools and libraries. The Biden FCC vote in 2024 came after authority to spend that money ended.

Schools and libraries in every state have already had contracts approved and money has already been spent. In fiscal year 2025, which ends Sept. 30, schools and districts requested a total of $27.5 million for Wi-Fi hotspots.

According to a Sept. 3 FCC news release, the company that runs the program, called E-Rate, would be ordered to “deny pending funding year 2025 requests for E-Rate funding for the off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi on school buses as these services will be determined to be ineligible.”

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: School bus internet, library Wi-Fi lending could end with FCC vote

#2025 #ALA #America #AmericanLibraryAssociation #DonaldTrump #ERate #Education #FCC #FederalCommunicationsCommission #Health #History #Internet #Lending #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #SchoolBus #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #WiFi

Our new books address such urgent professional issues as AI management, student volunteer empowerment, and trauma-informed service. You’ll also find resources to strengthen digital literacy, improve workplace well-being, and explore critical approaches to information literacy. https://alastore.ala.org/FW26catalog

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #library #LibraryWork

Legendary Actor/Author/Activist George Takei Named Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week 2025

Here’s the Full Text of Today’s Announcement From the American Library Association (ALA):

Pioneering actor, author, and activist George Takei has been named honorary chair of Banned Books Week, which will take place October 5 – 11, 2025. Takei will be joined in leading the annual event by youth honorary chair Iris Mogul.

“Books are an essential foundation of democracy,” said Mr. Takei. “Our ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’ depends on a public that is informed and empathetic, and books teach us both information and empathy. Yet the right to read is now under attack from school boards and politicians across America. I’m proud to serve as honorary chair of Banned Books Week, because I remember all too well the lack of access to books and media that I needed growing up. First as a child in a barbed-wire prison camp, then as a gay young man in the closet, I felt confused and hungry for understanding about myself and the world around me. Now, as an author, I share my own stories so that new generations will be better informed about their history and themselves. Please stand with me in opposing censorship, so that we all can find ourselves — and each other — in books.”

Mr. Takei is recognized as an award-winning actor, outspoken civil rights activist, social media icon, and New York Times–bestselling author. He has leveraged his popularity as a star of the Star Trek franchise and a social media influencer to advocate for several causes, including the rights of Japanese Americans and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

His award-winning New York Times bestseller “They Called Us Enemy” (Top Shelf Productions, 2019) uses both words and images to depict Mr. Takei’s childhood as one of 125,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned in concentration camps by the U.S. government during World War II. This graphic memoir has been targeted by censors multiple times since publication, most recently in Monroe County School District in Tennessee, where it was among nearly 600 titles removed in an attempt to comply with the state’s vaguely-worded Age-Appropriate Materials Act.

Mr. Takei’s latest acclaimed graphic memoir “It Rhymes With Takei” (Top Shelf Productions, 2025), which Publishers Weekly described in its starred review as challenging “Americans to look to how past humanitarian injustices speak to current political debates,” has not appeared on banned books lists yet. But the memoir’s depiction of Mr. Takei’s life as a closeted gay man and decision to come out at the age of 68 will likely meet resistance in places where state and local laws target the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ materials in schools and libraries.
In addition to Mr. Takei, youth honorary chair Iris Mogul will also raise awareness about censorship threats throughout Banned Books Week. Ms. Mogul is a Florida teen who started a banned books club in her community after the state implemented laws that resulted in the removal of hundreds of books about race, history, and sexuality from schools. Ms. Mogul continued her advocacy work as a student leader in the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Student Advocates for Speech and received an honorable mention from the Miami Herald Silver Knight Awards in May 2025..

Since 2021, the American Library Association and PEN America have tracked a sharp escalation in the attempts to ban books, with thousands of unique titles targeted annually. Books by or about LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of color make up nearly half of those titles. The majority of book censorship attempts now originate from organized movements. According to ALA, pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members, and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries in 2024.

Since it was founded in 1982, Banned Books Week has drawn attention to attempts to remove books and other materials from libraries, schools, and bookstores. Now in its 43rd year, the theme for Banned Books Week 2025 is “Censorship is so 1984. Read for Your Rights.” George Orwell’s cautionary tale 1984 serves a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship, and this year’s theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.

Let Freedom Read Day, a day of action, will be observed on October 11. Everyone is encouraged to take at least one action to fight censorship — all you need is 5 minutes! For information about ways to participate and resources, visit bit.ly/LetFreedomReadDay.

Visit BannedBooksWeek.org for information about events, ways to participate, and promotional materials. Follow Banned Books Week on social media (@BannedBooksWeek on Bluesky, Facebook, and X, @banned_books_week on Instagram) for the latest updates.

About George Takei

George Takei is a civil rights activist, social media superstar, Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author, and pioneering actor whose career has spanned six decades. He has appeared in more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television roles, most famously as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek. He has used his success as a platform to fight for justice on a wide range of issues, particularly those facing the Japanese American and LGBTQIA+ communities. His advocacy is personal: during World War II, Takei spent his childhood unjustly imprisoned in United States incarceration camps along with 125,000 other Japanese Americans. He also spent the first 68 years of his life closeted, finally coming out as gay in 2005 to become a tireless advocate for marriage equality. His books include the autobiography To the Stars, the award-winning graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy, and the children’s picture book My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story. In 2025, he reunited with the team behind They Called Us Enemy for a new graphic memoir reflecting on his life on both sides of the closet door, titled It Rhymes With Takei.

About Iris Mogul

Originally from Miami, Florida, Iris Mogul is determined to resist censorship from her state’s legislators and around the country. As a high schooler, Iris started a banned books club in her community after the state passed laws to remove hundreds of books about race, history, and sexuality from schools. She continued her advocacy work as a student leader in the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Student Advocates for Speech where she spoke and wrote about topics like book banning, political censorship in AP US History curriculum, and the failing humanities education in Florida. Last Banned Books Week, she joined the Miami bookstore Books & Books for their musical Sing for Freadom event!

Now a freshman at the University of California Santa Cruz, Iris finds joy in music, reading, writing, and learning. She envisions a life of working towards collective liberation for all people through the vehicle of fighting mass incarceration and criminalization.

Read original article: Read More

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #BannedBooks #BannedBooksWeek #Books #Censorship #democracy #FreedomOfSpeech #GeorgeTakei #HonoraryChair

Creating a library leadership program is within reach! Complete with a plethora of customizable forms, templates, and tools that you can modify to suit your own needs, this book offers a roadmap: https://alastore.ala.org/fromLtoL

#ALA
#AmericanLibraryAssociation
#LIS
#MLIS
#libraries
#librarianship
#InformationScience
#schoollibraries

In a new podcast, Dr. Nicole A. Cooke talks about the important legacy of black women in #librarianship and how the profession can become ever more diverse and community centered: https://circulatingideas.com/2025/09/02/296-the-legacy-of-black-women-in-librarianship-when-they-dared-to-be-powerful-by-nicole-a-cooke/

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #InformationScience #history #library #LibraryWork

Circulating Ideas chats with Michael Hanegan and Chris Rosser about why librarians should play a central role in shaping an ethical future of AI. https://circulatingideas.com/2025/08/20/295-generative-ai-and-libraries-by-michael-hanegan-and-chris-rosser/

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #AL

Now shipping! A must-have resource for every school librarian’s shelf, this guidebook offers practical advice in a friendly, conversational tone on an incredible breadth of topics rooted in AASL best practices. Both new and experienced school librarians will feel like they’re getting guidance from a trusted friend or mentor. https://alastore.ala.org/slgtae

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #schoollibraries #schoollibrarians

Show Up for Our Libraries | American Library Association – ALA

ALA

Advocacy & Issues

Show Up for Our Libraries

Libraries are among the most trusted institutions in America. From cradle to grave, libraries provide opportunity and enrichment for everyone in their communities. Yet in recent years, libraries have been facing unprecedented challenges – bans on library materials and programs, threats to cut local funding, and state legislation that would criminalize librarians for doing their jobs. Now the federal government is moving to cut off its modest but effective support for libraries, from withdrawal of funding for broadband to the elimination of the only source of federal funding for our nation’s 125,000 libraries, the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Libraries are here for us – in schools, on campuses, in cities, in small towns, and beyond. Here are ways we can Show Up #ForOurLibraries:

If you have 5 minutes:

1. Call Your Members of Congress.

Use this form to make a call in support of federal library funding. Enter your address in the form, and then click the blue “Start Call” button to receive a phone call that connects you with your elected officials. Visit this page for details on how much your state receives from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Call on Congress to protect IMLS

2. Email Your Members of Congress.

Use this form to email your members of Congress. Enter your address in the form, and then click the “Send email” button to contact your elected officials. Please customize your email if possible – tell your library story!

Email Congress to protect IMLS

3. Help spread the word on social media or in person.

Follow this link for social media graphics and sample social posts to help get the word out! Use our print resources below to help spread the message in person!

Social Media Toolkit

If you’re asking why you should contact Congress in more than one way: The truth is that legislators get thousands of messages each day. The more they get on any one issue, the higher their staff puts them on their priority list—especially when it comes to phone calls.

Print Resources

Use these customizable Canva templates to educate your patrons about the importance of federal library funding.

Bookmark 1
Bookmark 1 with white background

Bookmark 2
Bookmark 2 with white background

Flyer
Flyer with white background

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Show Up for Our Libraries | ALA

#2025 #ALA #America #AmericanLibraryAssociation #Books #ForOurLibraries #History #Librarians #Libraries #Library #Reading

Our author Rebecca Hass leads a conversation with librarian and literary ambassador Mychal Threets at #ARSL2025 in Albuquerque. In a time when life (and library work) can feel especially heavy, Mychal and Rebecca will explore how we can intentionally center joy, care, and mental health in our professional lives. Register now! https://www.arsl.org/2025-conference

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #librarywork

Now shipping! Speaking directly to library workers, this book demonstrates the power and fulfillment that comes from actively participating in shaping both the conditions under which they labor and the conditions that govern the library itself. https://alastore.ala.org/oryrlib

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #librarylife #unions

Libraries are more than just book depositories—they are vibrant community hubs, one of the last free public places where anyone is welcome. "Psychology Today" looks at how librarians play a role in addressing trauma, mental health and more. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/well-read/202507/the-role-of-libraries-in-mental-health

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #mentalhealth #trauma

Six ALA Editions | Neal-Schuman authors - who are among the world's leading experts in information and evidence literacy - answer commonly asked and new questions for scholars and working librarians in this webinar. Check it out!

https://youtu.be/xbshBHTxY-4?si=rplWMLvfy628t0WW

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #librarylife #informationliteracy #libraryinstruction

Check out our cool July #playlist along with all our latest news!

https://shorturl.at/2jgAx

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #library #librarywork #libraryWorkers

"The former Librarian of Congress abruptly fired by President Donald Trump has found a new position with the country’s largest philanthropic supporter of the arts."

💜📚💜

https://apnews.com/article/carla-hayden-library-of-congress-mellon-foundation-9db128ac035982ecaa6b339dbe8b7276

#LibraryOfCongress #librarian #antifascism #bookbans #librarians #AmericanLibraryAssociation