A majority of this year’s finalists at the national book awards made a collective statement calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war at the ceremony in New York on Thursday, amid a storm behind the scenes as sponsors pulled out in anticipation.
War Sows Disruption at the National Book Awards
Thanks Robin!
Pella voters keep library independent by slim margin following failed 'Gender Queer' challenge
In a tense battle over book censorship, Pella residents voted Tuesday to protect the local library board’s independence.
About 51% of voters cast ballots against a measure to give City Hall officials oversight of the library’s actions and budget, according to unofficial results. The non-binding referendum reached the ballot after some residents petitioned the library board to remove a graphic novel about gender fluidity, mirroring a national debate driven by conservatives over what books taxpayer-funded libraries should carry.
Just 87 votes separated the two sides, according to unofficial results.
Thanks Robin !
The Buchanan County party leader threatened not to allow city council members to run as Republicans if they approved the appointment of a gay pastor to the city’s library board. The controversy has created a push for broader change in St. Joseph.
In St. Joseph, local GOP pressured lawmakers to block approval of gay library board member
“This transgender and homosexual propaganda is pure evil, It is designed to destroy the family, to undercut traditional American values and our way of life, and ultimately institute governmental control that will undermine our city, county, state, and nation.”
His Preface, “The Freedom of the Press” was omitted from the first edition of the book, then disappeared, and was not rediscovered until 1971. From it, we learn that Orwell had considerable difficulty getting his fable published. That wasn’t principally because of wartime issues. There was a shortage of books and his was highly readable. Rather, British intellectuals of the day did not wish to hear any criticism of Stalin or allusions to his atrocities…
A Warning From the Unpublished Preface to Orwell’s Animal Farm
And he ends his Preface on a high note,
I know that the English intelligentsia have plenty of reason for their timidity and dishonesty, indeed I know by heart the arguments by which they justify themselves. But at least let us have no more nonsense about defending liberty against Fascism. If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
Book battles are raging across the nation, but none have carried the kind of stakes as the one here in Dayton, a one-stoplight farming community in the southeastern corner of Washington.
For the county%u2019s only library, the battle has turned, quite literally, existential: Voters will decide in November whether to shut it down.
Texas Revamps Houston Schools, Closing Libraries and Angering Parents
As part of a state takeover plan, libraries in underperforming schools are becoming spaces for disruptive students to watch lessons on computers.
https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/opposing_attempts_policy_brief_2023
The EverLibrary Institute is releasing a new Policy Brief “Opposing Attempts to Criminalize Libraries and Education Through State Obscenity Laws” to help state library associations anticipate this legislation and prepare properly to oppose unnecessary politicized changes to settled state law.
School librarians and media specialists across Central Florida have to undergo an hour-long training session to help them understand new rules on what can and can’t be in school libraries.
Those rules came about as part of a wave of legislation that Gov. Ron Desantis said are about more transparency in education. That includes the Parental Rights In Education Act and the governor’s so-called “Stop WOKE” Act.
But some Central Florida media specialists think the training, which has to be completed by July, needs to be redone.
“This is a safe space. It should be a safe space no matter what we face with the mandates in the pandemic,” said librarian Jessica Elias
Librarians in Boston united in solidarity on Saturday, holding a rally to push back after several incidents that they say have disrupted staff and library patrons.
Staff and supporters gathered in front of the main branch in Copley Square in a sign of unity and kindness.
“This is a safe space. It should be a safe space no matter what we face with the mandates in the pandemic,” said librarian Jessica Elias.
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/boston-librarians-hold-rally-after-workers-harassed-by-anti-mask-protesters/2649967/
An FCC advisory committee is holding a virtual workshop on August 3rd to examine the role of libraries relative to broadband adoption. Submissions from the public will be accepted in written form. Details on connecting are contained in their press release PDF.
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