City of Library Love | ALA Annual 2025 Preview By LJ Staff Conferencegoers may want to take a cue from our cover and check out Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted by the Founding Fathers, or the Liberty Bell. But there are many other historic and literary sites to visit, and some fine dining for those who want to venture beyond Reading Terminal Market. And, of course, the conference itself promises to have an abundance of speakers, programs, and events for every interest. | Library Is a Contact Sport | Editorial By Hallie Rich I played basketball from the time I was about nine years old until a knee injury sidelined me in high school. The game features in some of my happiest memories from growing up—from my dad coaching our undefeated rec league team to summer open gym sessions to laughing with my teammates at pre-game dinners and post-game bus rides. I enjoyed playing basketball, but what I really loved was being part of a team. I was reminded of teamwork as I began to prepare for the American Library Association Annual Conference this year. | SPONSORED BY CLARIVATE | EX LIBRIS Moving Libraries Forward in an Ever-Changing World Libraries are once again at the forefront of change, continuously adapting to meet the shifting demands of their communities and institutions. From harnessing the power of emerging technologies to redefining the role of physical spaces, libraries are evolving into vibrant, multifunctional hubs of innovation, collaboration and learning. Read more>>> | Call for Nominations: LJ's 2025 Marketer of the Year Award Library Journal will honor one library staffer or a library team with its annual Marketer of the Year award in its October 2025 issue. The award, sponsored by Library Ideas, comes with a $2,000 cash prize. The award recognizes the importance of innovative approaches to marketing of library services, the role of marketing in building library engagement, and the value of quality marketing collateral to help build a vibrant sense of the library and define its relevance in the community. | NCAC and Brooklyn Public Library Launch Teen Advocacy Institute | News Bites By SLJ Staff The National Coalition Against Censorship and Brooklyn Public Library are launching a new Teen Advocacy Institute over the summer; a read-in is scheduled during American Library Association's Annual conference to support the push for librarians in Philly schools; the lawsuit against Lucy Calkins is dismissed; and the winners of the Children's History Book Prize and Youth Choice Award are announced; and more in this edition of News Bites. | “If there are no limitations to curation and removal decisions in a public library, what does that look like when taken to its logical conclusions? If the county authorities are divided on specific books, whose opinion counts? If a county judge removes a book without going through the appropriate process, can it be returned? Can citizens just go and cull the shelves of anything with which they disagree and pay a nominal fine? Where would the checks of power be?” –From: Library Collection Decisions Not Protected by First Amendment Says Fifth Circuit Court | Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Tops Holds Lists | Book Pulse By Kate Merlene Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere leads holds this week. Also in demand are titles by James Patterson and Bill Clinton, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Molly Jong-Fast, and Claire Lynch. People’s book of the week, A Family Matter by Claire Lynch, is also the June Read with Jenna pick. New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association announces its Book of the Year awards. Judy Blume is presented with the Women’s National Book Association Award. The Anthony Awards nominees are revealed, as are Audiofile’s June 2025 Earphones Award winners. In The Guardian, Ben Okri remembers Kenyan novelist and scholar Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who has died at the age of 87. | From the Pages of infoDOCKET... | WEB-FIRST REVIEWS OF BOOKS AND MEDIA | JFK: Public, Private, Secret is a starred biography by J. Randy Taraborrelli. "Bestselling biographer Taraborrelli provides a unique perspective on JFK’s character and evolution, making this a riveting exploration for the millions of readers still fascinated by the Kennedy family’s dynamics and legacy." Jamal Watson's The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency is a starred education selection. "Watson’s research reveals how it has become it nearly impossible for poor and even middle-class students to attend college without taking on debt, thanks to the promotion of loans for degrees with little economic value, predatory private loan management, and tremendous increases in college costs. Personal stories of struggle with debt and of successful post-loan forgiveness add to readers’ understanding of the crisis." And Clay McLeod Chapman's Wake Up and Open Your Eyes is a starred fiction title. "A tale for fans of socially conscious horror, as well as those seeking the grisliness of possession and psychological horror." See All Reviews››› | Job Zone utilizes unique job matching technology to help you find the perfect job (and employers find the perfect candidate), whether you’re actively seeking or just keeping an eye out for your possibilities. Log on today and check out our newest features, including automated job and candidate matches, and email alerts. JOB OF THE WEEK
Durham County is seeking a Library Director. | |