Katie’s parents never told her “no” when she asked for a book, which was the start of most of her problems. She has an MLIS from the University of Illinois and works full time as a Circulation & Reference Manager in Illinois. She has a deep-rooted love of all things disturbing, twisted, and terrifying and takes enormous pleasure in creeping out her coworkers. When she’s not at work, she’s at home watching the Cubs with her cats and her cardigan collection. Other hobbies include scrapbooking, introducing more readers to the Church of Tana French, and convincing her husband that she can, in fact, fit more books onto her shelves.
Twitter: @kt_librarylady
View All posts by Katie McLain Horner
It’s time for another library news round up, and this week the updates are all across the emotional spectrum. We have some key censorship wins, some notable censorship setbacks, innovative programs, and hilariously unhinged videos from libraries on social media.
Let’s dive in.
Library News Updates
- Barnes and Noble, Follett, and Mackin are all entering the public library market after the collapse of Baker & Taylor.
- ALA announces staffing reductions, including Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the longtime director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom.
- The Enoch Pratt Free Library (MD) will no longer offer digital downloads via Hoopla due to rising costs.
- The Harvard librarian fighting to change the cost of eBook contracts for public libraries.
Cool Library Updates
- The Toronto Public Library is doing innovative work on a couple of fronts: they launched an initiative to combat loneliness among senior citizens, and offered an accessible job expo specifically geared towards neurodivergent people and people with autism.
- Singapore’s National Library Board opened a popup Star Wars library at the Changi Airport, which will be open until January 24, 2026.
- Libraries are sharing hilariously unhinged videos on social media.
Check Your Shelf
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- A federal judge has ruled that Texas’ book ratings law (aka Texas House Bill 900) is unconstitutional.
- New Braunfels ISD (TX) voted to shut down all but the elementary school libraries in the district in order ensure their collections are compliant with the state’s Senate Bill 13, which requires that school libraries remain free of “harmful material,” “indecent content,” and “profane content.” The libraries have since reopened after removing 80+ books and creating a portal for parents to challenge books.
- Another judge chips away at the First Amendment rights of library patrons with the recent decision in the lawsuit against the Escambia County school district (FL).
- Related: Despite budgetary pressures, Escambia County School District spends big bucks on banning books.
- A Virginia district judge has ordered the Department of Defense to restore all banned books to department school shelves.