Pandemic-Caused Austerity Drives Widespread Furloughs, Layoffs of Library Workers
By Lisa Peet
As libraries approach their third month of closure, many institutions that had continued to pay employees—whether or not they were able to engage in active work—are now turning to layoffs or furloughs, often citing concerns about budget cuts.

Library Buildings, Closed For Coronavirus, Volunteer for New Services
By Kelli Brooks
A handful of shuttered library buildings across the country are temporarily providing workspace that allows essential workers and services to properly social distance amid the COVID-19 crisis.

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Covid-19 insurance rebates fall short of what consumers deserve

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What the HEROES Act Would Mean for Libraries
By Allister Chang
On Friday, the House of Representatives voted 208 to 199 for a $3 trillion aid package called the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. It includes proposals for new stimulus payments to individuals, hazard pay for first responders, rent and mortgage assistance, and more. 

Carnegie Mellon University Libraries Create Remote Book Delivery
By Andrew Mullins III
Carnegie Mellon University librarians have initiated a new service, Remote Book Delivery, which allows them to order print materials from vendors and have them sent directly to students whose workflow has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and who may not be able to find the books they need online.

Addressing eContent Issues in Times of Crisis | Opinion
By Kelvin Watson
As public libraries do more and more in times of crisis to fill gaps in our social safety net, it is time to rethink how publishers and content providers relate and do business with public libraries and their customers. How can those relationships be retooled and reimagined to provide outcomes that are more beneficial for all?

Don't Leave Workers Out of the Library Narrative | Opinion
By Callan Bignoli
There’s been a trend in articles coming out in major publications about how excited people are to get back to their libraries and how resilient libraries are. While they pay important attention to the needs libraries are still striving to meet, these narratives do nothing to expose the miserable realities that library workers are experiencing, or incite any kind of action to be taken in their defense.

Public Librarians Are Working, Making Plans While Facing an Unknown Future | SLJ COVID-19 Survey
By Kara Yorio
SLJ conducted the Youth Services in Public Libraries COVID-19 Response Survey from April 23 to May 5 and received responses from 570 public librarians. The survey queried respondents about how they are spending most of their time, collaborations with schools and outside organizations, material purchases, and plans for summer reading programs. 

The Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize | Call for Nominations
The Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize, developed in partnership between the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation and Library Journal, was created in 2019 to recognize the public library as a vital community asset. When libraries, civic entities, organizations, and the people they serve become close partners, their communities thrive. One winning library will receive $250,000 in unfettered grant monies from the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation. Deadline: July 15, 2020.

Miniseries, Baking Shows, Comfort & Discomfort Books | What We're Reading & Watching
By Liz French
Near the two-month mark of lockdown, themes are cropping up among the WWR/W crew. Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, and LJ staffers are getting into sweet reads and viewings, cat fiction and nonfiction, miniseries and maxiseries, women power, and the joys and sorrows of family and famiglia.

Barbara Rockenbach, Julie Garrison, Brian Hart, and More Library People News
By Lisa Peet
Barbara Rockenbach appointed Stephen F. Gates ’68 University Librarian at Yale University, Julie Garrison elected as ACRL Vice-President/President-Elect, Brian Hart is the new Director of the Forsyth County Public Library, NC, and more library people news.

Library Building Work Ramps Back Up, Paramus Applies for NJ Bond Funding, Library Construction Podcast | Branching Out
By Lisa Peet
Construction work is scheduled for the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, OH, and Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, MI; Paramus Public Library has applied for NJ Construction Bond funding; and yes, there's a podcast for everything—now, a new library construction podcast from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program.

The Hottest Summer Reads, Librarian Picks, and Who’s on NPR | Books in the News
By LJ Reviews
This week, EW releases their summer picks, the LibraryReads June list is out, and readers the world over are dying to dig into the Hunger Games prequel.

Grant Opportunities to Help Libraries, Educators Respond to Impact of COVID-19
By Kara Yorio
The National Education Association Foundation and Institute for Museum and Library Services are taking applications for grants to help respond to the unique challenges created by the pandemic.

Tananarive Due on Black Horror; Charlie Jane Anders Publishing Serialized Nonfiction | Book Pulse
By Neal Wyatt
Beach Read by Emily Henry leads holds this week. Tananarive Due talks about Black Horror. Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld gets a great deal of attention. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia tops the June LibraryReads list. Charlie Jane Anders is writing a nonfiction book about writing (and it is also a memoir), publishing online in serial fashion.

Hot Off the Presses: Light Reads, Edge-of-Your-Seat Thrillers, & a Novel That Imagines Hillary Persisting Without Bill
By LJ Reviews
Light reads, deep discussion-starters perfect for (virtual) book clubs, a novel that imagines what would have happened if Hillary Rodham never married Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden's senior advisor with an of-the-moment deep dive into 2020 Democratic politics.

Barack, Michelle Obama Read The Word Collector for Chicago Public Library | Book Pulse
By Neal Wyatt
Barack and Michelle Obama read The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds for the Chicago Public Library's "Live From the Library" series and discuss the new branch of the library that will open on the campus of the Obama Presidential Center. Bryan Washington wins the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize.

 Reviews

WEB-FIRST REVIEWS OF BOOKS AND MEDIA

Jennifer Worley's debut, Neon Girls: A Stripper’s Education in Protest and Power, is one of this week's starred nonfiction titles. "A fast-paced, engaging book that readers with an interest in feminist thought, memoirs, and labor activism will enjoy." In fiction, Julie Clark's The Last Flight is one of this week's starred selections. "Clark is an exceptional writer who has crafted a tale about disappearing in an age when technology makes it almost impossible. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and crime fiction.

See All  Reviews›››

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Prince George's County Memorial Library System (MD) seeks a Teen Services Specialist