Articles for Public Libraries

"Reading builds empathy": The case for saving America's libraries
2 days, 18 hours ago

"Reading builds empathy": The case for saving America's libraries

Salon  

The American Library Association has a Bill of Rights, adopted on June 19, 1939, as a response to book burnings in Nazi Germany. As director and narrator Dawn Logsdon describes in her documentary “Free for All: The Public Library,” these horrors inspired America's librarians to codify their unifying principles into a document. She adds that their library influences them as …

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Over 33,000 villages in state have no libraries: RTI
1 week, 1 day ago

Over 33,000 villages in state have no libraries: RTI

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai: While the recent Marathi literary conference in New Delhi attracted participation from top politicians in the state, most students and residents of rural Maharashtra lack access to public libraries, shows information obtained through the Right to Information Act by activist Abhay Kolarkar. Out of 44,738 villages in the state, at least 33,588 villages do not have a single government-subsidised …

Maharashtra State Public Libraries Libraries Book Kolarkar
Karnataka woman at rural public library reads about Sunita Williams, image goes viral
1 week, 3 days ago

Karnataka woman at rural public library reads about Sunita Williams, image goes viral

Hindustan Times  

A heartwarming image of an elderly rural woman engrossed in a newspaper article about NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has gone viral, drawing widespread appreciation on social media. The image, shared by Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner of Karnataka, Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta, captures the woman reading at Arivu Kendra, a free public rural library in Karje, Udupi. One user shared …

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Where can L.A. immigrants go for help under Trump? Try the public library
1 month ago

Where can L.A. immigrants go for help under Trump? Try the public library

LA Times  

Librarian Michelle Soong, left, Ramón Hernández of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and Madeleine Ildefonso, managing librarian for the Office of Civics and Community Services, confer last month at a New Americans Center inside the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles. Demand for the public library’s free immigration services has shot up since the return of President Trump, who …

Immigration Library Rights Citizenship Trump Ice City
{Public libraries in dire straits} 26 of 28 librarian posts vacant in Punjab
2 months ago

{Public libraries in dire straits} 26 of 28 librarian posts vacant in Punjab

Hindustan Times  

The 14 public libraries in the districts across Punjab are in crisis due to a shortage of librarians. The MM Central State Library in Patiala, one of the most significant knowledge centres in the state, has seven sanctioned librarian posts, but all are vacant. An official with the director public instructions, who didn’t wish to be named, said since 2014, …

Library State Patiala Punjab Public Public Libraries Librarians
O.C. readers spend Lunar New Year with author Kevin Kwan
2 months ago

O.C. readers spend Lunar New Year with author Kevin Kwan

LA Times  

Author Kevin Kwan laughed as he shared his mother’s concern for the turnout of his special appearance in Orange County, since the event fell on Lunar New Year. Kevin Kwan, author of “Crazy Rich Asians,” discussed his latest book, “Lies and Weddings,” and other upcoming projects with journalist Jennifer Tanaka at the Norma Hertzog Community Center in Costa Mesa. If …

Singapore Hollywood Rich Author Kwan Costa Mesa Crazy
Is there a lesson for the public library system in these community libraries? - The Hindu
2 months, 1 week ago

Is there a lesson for the public library system in these community libraries? - The Hindu

The Hindu  

Every morning, Sonu, a vegetable seller in Mirzapur’s Mukeri Bazaar, has one important task besides setting up his tiny roadside stall. “A library is more than just books; it’s a transformative space for nurturing reading habits,” says Poonam Garg, country director. “Most can also be overwhelming for first-generation learners who may be hesitant to step inside because of these rules.” …

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Access to libraries as critical element of social justice
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Access to libraries as critical element of social justice

The Hindu  

The midmorning sun beats down on the 40-odd people alighting from a bus and fanning across the quiet interiors of the Mythic Society library housed in the Daly Memorial Hall on Nrupathunga Road, a gorgeous heritage building constructed in 1917. “The idea is to voice the concerns of building public institutions like libraries, which would be more heard, seen and …

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New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries
3 months, 3 weeks ago

New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Phil Murphy signed a law Monday to prohibit public …

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New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries
3 months, 3 weeks ago

New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries

Associated Press  

PRINCETON, N.J. — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law Monday to prohibit public and school libraries from banning books in the state and to enshrine protections against civil and criminal charges for librarians who comply with the law. Murphy signed the bill at Princeton’s public library, a short walk from Princeton University’s ivy-draped campus and cast the …

Books School Libraries New Jersey State Public Book
New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries
3 months, 3 weeks ago

New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries

LA Times  

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law Monday to prohibit public and school libraries from banning books in the state and to enshrine protections against civil lawsuits and criminal charges for librarians who comply with the law. Murphy signed the bill at Princeton’s public library, a short walk from Princeton University’s ivy-draped campus and cast the legislation in …

Books School Libraries New Jersey State Public Murphy
Think tank report highlights China's efforts to secure cultural access for visually impaired
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Think tank report highlights China's efforts to secure cultural access for visually impaired

China Daily  

Xinhua Updated: 2024-12-04 A student from the Beijing School for the Blind touches a sand table model of the Palace Museum at Sensory Experience Gallery of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 1, 2024. BEIJING -- A Chinese think tank report released on Tuesday highlighted China's continuous efforts to secure cultural access for individuals with visual impairment …

China Access Cultural Report Chinese Individuals Accessible
Rosalie Stewart is the anti–book banning public policy manager at Penguin Random House.
55 years, 3 months ago

Rosalie Stewart is the anti–book banning public policy manager at Penguin Random House.

Slate  

While it’s not unusual for other industries to dedicate staff to influencing or changing public policy, it’s virtually unheard of in the relatively sleepy world of book publishing. Rosalie Stewart, however, has just been hired as Penguin Random House’s senior public policy manager, a new position that will fight the recent explosion in book-banning campaigns at schools and public libraries. …

Library Books School Public Policy Legislation Texas Iowa
Influencer stokes controversy for her take on asking kids their pronouns: 'The world has gone mad'
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Influencer stokes controversy for her take on asking kids their pronouns: 'The world has gone mad'

Daily Mail  

An aspiring mummy vlogger has sparked controversy after she criticised public libraries in Victoria for asking children what their pronouns are. Mum-of-three Montana Older took to TikTok with her infant daughter last week to slam the move, saying the 'world has gone mad'. Mum-of-three Montana Older took to TikTok with her infant daughter last week to slam the move, saying …

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Access to knowledge is a right, not a privilege
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Access to knowledge is a right, not a privilege

Hindustan Times  

Growing up, not everyone had the opportunity to explore public libraries, learning centres or cultural institutions where books were readily available, discussions were hosted, and reading sessions were organised. Visionaries like Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, who established the public library system in erstwhile Baroda, SR Ranganathan, who drafted a dozen public library bills for various states, PN Panicker in Kerala, …

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As LGBTQ library material comes under fire, California may ban book bans
7 months, 3 weeks ago

As LGBTQ library material comes under fire, California may ban book bans

Raw Story  

This story originally ran at Cal Matters. Last November, Brandau led Fresno County in creating one of California’s first citizen review committees for library books, which could soon decide whether to move material with “sexual references” and “gender-identity content” to a restricted area where it could only be checked out with a parent’s permission. Clovis City Councilmember Diane Pearce posted …

Children Books Gender Identity Review County Committee Public
MCD to open new public libraries, name them after deceased UPSC victims
7 months, 4 weeks ago

MCD to open new public libraries, name them after deceased UPSC victims

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi Three UPSC aspirants drowned in a basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle during heavy rainfall on July 27. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will establish four public libraries in student hubs and name them after the four victims of waterlogging and electrocution deaths that took place in two separate incidents over the past month, mayor Shelly Oberoi said. …

Libraries Upsc Public Oberoi Mcd Public Libraries Rajendra Nagar
"Doesn’t feel like a coincidence": John Oliver alarmed over right-wing efforts to censor libraries
10 months, 3 weeks ago

"Doesn’t feel like a coincidence": John Oliver alarmed over right-wing efforts to censor libraries

Salon  

John Oliver during Sunday evening's edition of "Last Week Tonight" highlighted that libraries are "in trouble because they’ve become another front in the ongoing culture war." "The American Library Association documented efforts to censor over 4,200 unique book titles last year in schools and libraries, the highest level they’ve ever recorded, with the number of titles targeted for censorship at …

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Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
11 months ago

Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians

LA Times  

Alabama lawmakers this week advanced legislation that could see librarians prosecuted under the state’s obscenity law for providing “harmful” materials to minors, the latest in a wave of bills in Republican-led states targeting library content and decisions. It also expands the definition of prohibited sexual conduct to include any “sexual or gender oriented conduct” at K-12 public schools or public …

Law Library Alabama Republican Democrat Public Bill
Children aged 7 to 9 among most active users at public libraries
11 months, 1 week ago

Children aged 7 to 9 among most active users at public libraries

China Daily  

A public library in Shanghai. Children between the ages of 7 and 9 were the most active young users at public libraries in Shanghai, followed by those in the age brackets of 10 to 11 and 5 to 6, respectively, according to a report released on Tuesday on the World Reading Day. There were altogether more than 284,000 active users …

Children Library Shanghai Public Libraries Reading Report
'It's Been Devastating': A Q&A With The Top Librarian Fighting The GOP's Book Bans
11 months, 3 weeks ago

'It's Been Devastating': A Q&A With The Top Librarian Fighting The GOP's Book Bans

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING It’s that time of year again: National Library Week! HuffPost recently caught up with American Library Association President Emily Drabinski to talk about what is going on with these attacks, if the nation’s librarians are doing OK, and how she and others who care about kids having access to a diversity of books are pushing back. In …

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Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report
1 year ago

Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Bannings and attempted bannings of books soared again in the U.S. last year, continuing to set record highs, according to a new report from the American Library Association. On Thursday, the ALA announced that 4,240 works in school and public libraries had been targeted in 2023, a substantial hike from the then-record 2,571 books in 2022 and …

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Coimbatore’s public libraries turn study hubs for students preparing for board exams
1 year ago

Coimbatore’s public libraries turn study hubs for students preparing for board exams

The Hindu  

It’s the annual board examinations time, and students from government and corporation schools in the city are turning to public libraries for concentrated study sessions. S. Priya, a Class XII student gearing up for her English exam on March 5, said, “At home, there are too many distractions, like television and family members speaking loudly. However, since February, the numbers …

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In Georgia, a bill to cut all ties with the American Library Association is advancing
1 year, 1 month ago

In Georgia, a bill to cut all ties with the American Library Association is advancing

NPR  

In Georgia, a bill to cut all ties with the American Library Association is advancing Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Savage/AP Claire Savage/AP Those who've been trying to remove certain books from childrens' sections at public libraries are now taking aim at what they see as a source of the problem: the American Library Association. But Walker's more sweeping …

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