I’m back with another smorgasbord of Florida library news and censorship updates. There’s obviously more happening with book bans and censorship nationwide right now, but many of the biggest updates are centered around there.

Let’s dive in.

Library News

• A look at the proposed legislation that would improve library access to eBooks (including lowering costs).
• Related: libraries are feeling the cost burden of eBooks.
• ALA leadership addressed the importance of libraries on a global scale as part of the United Nations 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
• ALA released its new strategic plan, which focuses on advocacy and activism.
• The Boston Library Consortium announces the launch of a new digital lending toolkit, which is designed to be “a comprehensive resource designed to support libraries and consortia in navigating the evolving landscape of digital resource sharing.”
• Funding for Indiana’s Dolly Parton Library is unclear, but signups are still open statewide.
• All school library positions at the Anglophone West School District in New Brunswick were eliminated, and further investigation reveals that district administrators never did an impact assessment for the decision.
• The Internet Archive is now considered a federal depository library, but what does that mean?
• Library startup Briet wants to revolutionize eBook sales, not licensing.
• Four Kentucky libraries are launching new programs to help keep children out of foster care.
• A new Ohio law will prohibit all government entities (including public libraries) from stocking menstrual products in men’s restrooms. Truly, I cannot understand what this is supposed to accomplish. If you don’t require access to menstrual products, just…go about your day.

Cool Library Updates

• The Seattle Public Library has received a $450K grant to expand their English-language class offerings.
• Stacks on screen: documentary films turn the camera towards libraries.
• Partnerships between libraries and media organizations are on the rise to help combat misinformation and media literacy.
• How a public library’s summer game took over Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Worth Reading

• On leading with joy.
• Embracing collection maintenance with enthusiasm.
• “I don’t think librarians can save us”: The material conditions of information literacy instruction in the misinformation age.
• Upselling in the library.
• Why writers need libraries.

Censorship Updates

• The Smithsonian removed an exhibit about Trump’s impeachments. Apparently, that means they never happened?
• The lie of local control as Texas and Florida signal what’s next in book censorship.
• Fearing legal action by the state, Florida school districts in nine different counties removed hundreds of books from libraries before the start of the school year.
• Oh, and the Florida Department of Education is demanding book removals via Twitter.
• Ope, more news from Florida: Florida’s concerned about Beanstack, a library app that allows users to track their reading. If you’re unfamiliar with Beanstack, it does not offer its own content. Libraries customize Beanstack challenges so their patrons can log reading activity. Apparently, this is a problem.

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