Politics

Egyptian President Closing Libraries

Submitted by birdie on December 5, 2017 - 12:35pm
From The Atlantic.
Topic: 
Censorship
International
Libraries
Politics

Librarian explains why she rejected books donated by Melania Trump

Submitted by birdie on September 28, 2017 - 5:47pm
Via CBS News.

The Dr. Suess books were rejected by a librarian at the Cambridgeport Elementray School Library in response to President Trump's selection of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education among other factors. What's your opinion on the rejection of the gift?

UPDATE: FLOTUS office fires back a reply to the rejection of the Dr. Suess books: via FoxNews (what else?)

'To turn the gesture of sending young students some books into something divisive is unfortunate.' - FLOTUS

Topic: 
Children
Libraries
Politics
School Libraries

Libraries Clear First Budget Hurdle in DC

Submitted by birdie on July 19, 2017 - 6:34pm
From Publishers Weekly:

Last week, a House Appropriations subcommittee voted to recommend level funding for libraries in FY2018, which would mean roughly $231 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), $183 million for the Library Services and Technology Act, and $27 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program.

The vote comes after President Trump in May doubled down on his call to eliminate IMLS and virtually all federal funding for libraries, as well as a host of other vital agencies, including the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities.

ALA president Jim Neal called the subcommittee vote “one important step in the lengthy congressional appropriations process,” but a development that nevertheless shows that “elected officials are listening to us and recognize libraries’ importance in the communities they represent.”

Topic: 
Libraries
Money Issues
Politics

Ivanka Trump Gets Schooled by Librarians

Submitted by birdie on April 19, 2017 - 9:48am

From the Huffington Post:

When the first daughter tweeted about applauding librarians last week, she was not met with much praise. As we know, her father has slashed library budgets wherever he could (and doesn't seem to want to read any books).

Ivanka: This #NationalLibraryWeek, we honor our libraries and librarians for opening our eyes to the world of knowledge, learning and reading!

One of hundreds of responses:

"Defunding libraries as proposed in your dad's budget hurts hardworking Americans," the nonprofit EveryLibrary tweeted back at Trump, before adding, "Cuts to federal funding for libraries are absolutely unconscionable, cruel, and unnecessary. #saveIMLS #library."

Topic: 
Libraries
Politics

There's a New Congress in Town

Submitted by birdie on January 10, 2017 - 9:52am
...and a new POTUS on the horizon.

If you want to keep current with what legislation each house is considering, don't forget the wonderful resource, the Library of Congress which will report what is taking place sans spin (unlike Breitbard, Fox, National Review, etc.).

Here's a particularly interesting bill in process, S. 65: A bill to address financial conflicts of interest of the President and Vice President. Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 01/09/2017) Cosponsors: (23) Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Latest Action: 01/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (All Actions)

For assistance with your research from a Law Library of Congress reference specialist, ask a Law Librarian.

Topic: 
Library Of Congress
Politics

Koch Brothers Anti-Library Stance

Submitted by birdie on December 28, 2016 - 9:30am
Via Wonkette:

When you think of Charles and David Koch and their dreams of remaking America into a libertarian paradise, you generally associate them with campaigns to elect rightwing candidates.

And now they’re going after public libraries, because if people want access to books and videos and computers and children’s story hours and public meeting spaces, they should damn well pay for them themselves, not leech taxpayer dollars for the “good” of the “community.”

Topic: 
Libraries
Money Issues
Politics

Donald Trump walks into your local library. What next? Librarians speak out

Submitted by Blake on July 28, 2016 - 10:25am
Reassuringly professional on the whole Not all the answers fit—my favorite outside-the-rules response to the hypothetical patrons was, “Webster’s Dictionary. Dropped from a great height”—and I would have welcomed more mention of ebooks and audiobooks. Still, most of the answers were reassuringly professional in the opinion of this nonlibrarian. My favorite was from D.W., a retired librarian and prolific commenter within the LinkedIn group:
From Donald Trump walks into your local library. What next? Librarians speak out
Topic: 
Politics

New Bill Will Require Library of Congress to Continue Use of ‘Illegal Alien’ in Subject Headings

Submitted by Blake on April 13, 2016 - 9:37am
“The Library of Congress’s decision is blatant capitulation to political correctness — replacing the correct term ‘illegal alien’ with terms that are both factually and legally incorrect,” the letter, obtained by TheBlaze, read. “Simply, it is inappropriate for the Library of Congress to unilaterally replace accurate, legal terms with inaccurate, generalized terms in the name of political correctness,” the letter continued.
From Exclusive: New Bill Will Require Library of Congress to Continue Use of ‘Illegal Alien’ in Subject Headings | TheBlaze.com
Topic: 
Politics

Koch Brothers Anti-Library Robocalls In IL

Submitted by Blake on March 12, 2016 - 11:34am

The Koch Brothers have finally launched their attack on libraries. 

On Thursday, the Koch Brother's super PAC "Americans for Prosperity" started robocalls against the Plainfield IL library referendum. They have targeted the library for defeat as part of their anti-tax agenda. "Americans for Prosperity" is good at quoting facts that don't exist and slinging mud at the common good. We need your help to answer this Koch funded anti-library smear campaign now, and your help in future to build a defense against their anti-library agenda. 

From Kochbrothers - EveryLibrary

Topic: 
Politics

New York seeks smoking ban outside libraries

Submitted by Blake on March 11, 2016 - 10:29pm

moking outside of public libraries in New York may soon be banned.

State lawmakers have introduced a bill to add libraries to the restriction put in place in 2012 that prohibits smoking within 100 feet of school entrances or exits.

“Today, I am proud to extend that smoke-free protection even further to include the entrances and exits of our state’s libraries,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx, in a statement. He's sponsoring the bill with Sen. Gustavo Rivera, D-Bronx.

From New York seeks smoking ban outside libraries

Topic: 
Politics

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