Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2025–26 presidential campaign opens March 11, and ALA members in good standing can cast their ballots through April 3. LJ invited candidates Sam Helmick, community and access services coordinator at Iowa City Public Library; and Ray Pun, academic and research librarian at the Alder Graduate School of Education, Redwood City, CA, to weigh in on some key issues.
To help break down the relevant library issues in this election year, LJ convened a roundtable of experts including John Chrastka of EveryLibrary; Nick Grove of Meridian Library District, ID; Jason Kucsma of Toledo Lucas County Public Library, OH; and Representative Ashley Hudson from the Arkansas House of Representatives. They covered everything from voter engagement strategies for libraries on the ballot to book ban advocacy in challenging districts to engaging the electorate in an important presidential election year.
West Virginia legislators recently advanced a bill that would remove criminal liability protections for public library, museum, or school employees accused of displaying “obscene matter to a minor." Under House Bill 4654, which passed the West Virginia House of Delegates on February 16, in an 85–12 vote mostly along party lines, any adult who knowingly and intentionally displays obscene matter to a minor could be charged with a felony, fined up to $25,000, and face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Access research from the International Monetary Fund looking at the intersection of law and economics. Scroll through resources on financial stability and international monetary law, including tax law, anti-money laundering, digital currencies and more. IMF eLibrary offers more than 25,000+ titles and statistical datasets going back to 1946 and other Essential Reading Guides.
As the 2024 election year heats up, positive framing will be increasingly important for libraries. I’m certainly guilty of falling into a “doom loop” of negativity when I think about what the future might hold for libraries—or even democracy itself. But we cannot be our smartest, most strategic selves if we focus only on negating anti-library rhetoric. We need to advance a positive pro-library narrative—one that is grounded in the history of our good work—to unite us as advocates and connect with voters across the spectrum.
Upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases to relish include a planetary documentary, an actioner starring Michelle Yeoh, and Bogie and Cagney living the bootlegger life in The Roaring Twenties.
This month’s key documentaries cover the life and times of Allen Ginsburg, the history of the American buffalo, sending messages to extraterrestrial life, and the dreams of a 24-year-old with cerebral palsy.
“All it takes is one person wanting to make a name for themselves and arresting their local librarian. Even if nothing is ever proven, that’s a huge knock to someone's reputation—even just the hint of that.”
These films to add to your queue include 1970s boarding school scenes, World War I as experienced by Scottish villagers, Éric Rohmer’s tangy trio, and a late-life romance amid Irish scenery.
Library Journal & AM developed the AV primary sources survey to learn the extent to which library audiovisual materials are being used in colleges and universities as primary sources for scholarly research.
The third edition of Lee & Low Books’ quadrennial “Diversity Baseline Survey” found that the publishing industry has made incremental progress in broadening its workforce. AudioFile shares the best audiobooks of February. British poet and novelist Alan Brownjohn has died at age 92. Plus new title best sellers.
The Hunter by Tana French leads holds this week. Also getting attention are titles by Lisa Unger, Elle Cosimano, Danielle Steel, and Holly Black. Jenna Bush Hager picks two books for her March book club: The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The Stella Prize longlist is announced. Nine LibraryReads and 11 Indie Next picks publish this week. People’s book of the week is Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. Mike Nichols: A Life by Mark Harris is being adapted for film.
Shortlists are announced for the J. Anthony Lukas Prizes, which honor the best in American nonfiction writing. Lucinda Riley has been posthumously awarded publisher Pan’s Golden Pan award. Lily Tuzroyluke, author of the novel Sivulliq: Ancestor, is USA Today’s Woman of the Year honoree from Alaska. The UK is seeing new interest in book clubs from Gen Z readers. Hachette’s parent company outlines plans to cut costs in the publishing division. Plus page to screen.
The Wedding People, by Alison Espach, is a starred fiction selection. "Witty dialogue is just a bonus in this engrossing read centering on complex women making life-changing decisions. Recommend to readers who enjoy Sally Rooney, Curtis Sittenfeld, or Elizabeth Berg." Also in fiction, Victor Lodato's Honey is another starred title. "Lodato (Mathilda Savitch) has written a stunning novel that begs for readers." And A Collection of Lies, by Connie Berry, is a starred mystery. "Berry’s fifth Kate Hamilton novel, following The Shadow of Memory, combines a cold case and contemporary murder in an outstanding traditional mystery. Fans of Kate Ellis and Jane K. Cleland will appreciate this book."
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