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LibrariesThe Week in Libraries: August 25, 2023
Among the week's headlines: bomb threats are made against librarians in Illinois and Oklahoma; Texas leaves the ALA, with Wyoming headed that way, too; and Washington State Librarian Sara Jones offers a powerful defense of librarians.
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Publisher News
Judge Stays Escambia County Book Banning Lawsuit to Consider Dismissal
The order comes after lawyers for the school district filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on several grounds, including that a policy change that went into effect on July 1 effectively moots the litigation.
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Libraries
New PEN America Report Documents Surge in ‘Educational Intimidation’ Bills
A new wave of legislation is leading to censorship in schools and libraries by creating a climate of fear and uncertainty for educators.
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Libraries
Judge Sets Second Hearing on Motion to Block Texas Book Rating Law
In the initial round of oral arguments over whether to block Texas's controversial book rating law, federal judge Alan D. Albright primarily challenged the state's position, and said he would issue a ruling before the law's September 1 effective date.
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Publisher News
The Week in Libraries: August 18, 2023
Among the week's headlines: libraries and schools face multiple challenges in Texas; a library administrator in Missouri is warned to stay 'politically neutral' or face discipline; a library in Washington state faces closure for making diverse books available; and Jay-Z juices library card signups at the Brooklyn Public Library.
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Publisher News
Stakes Are High as Judge Hears Motion to Block Texas Book Rating Law
A federal judge in Texas is hearing oral arguments on a high stakes motion filed by a coalition of booksellers and book industry advocates to block the state’s controversial new book rating law from taking effect on September 1. Attorneys for the state of Texas are asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit entirely.
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Publisher News
Judge Approves Final Injunction in Publishers, Internet Archive Copyright Case
After more than three years of litigation, it took judge John G. Koeltl just hours to sign off on the parties’ negotiated consent judgment—but not without a final twist.
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Publisher News
Judgment Entered in Publishers, Internet Archive Copyright Case
More than four months after a federal judge found the Internet Archive liable for copyright infringement, the parties have delivered a negotiated agreement for a judgment to be entered in the case. A final resolution could still be years away, however, as the Internet Archive has vowed to appeal.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: August 11, 2023
Among the week's headlines: librarians, educators, and publishers grapple with new state book banning laws; bestselling author John Green responds to having his books pulled from library shelves; a proposed judgment has been filed in the Internet Archive copyright case; and PEN America publishes a report on self-censorship in the publishing industry.
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Libraries
As New Law Looms, Follett Asks Publishers to Help ‘Rate’ Their Own Books for Sale in Texas
With a lawsuit pending to block a controversial new "book rating" law from taking effect in Texas, publishers and industry groups are balking at a request from the nation's largest school distributor to help rate their own titles for sale in the state.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: August 4, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a major victory for freedom to read advocates in Arkansas; a motion to block Texas's new 'book rating' law gets a speedy hearing date; the Michigan Library Association recruits advocates for its freedom to read initiative; and a look at the Brooklyn Public Library's teen council.
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Publisher News
Judgment Phase of Internet Archive Copyright Case Appears Imminent
More than four months after finding the Internet Archive liable for copyright infringement, the next phase in the litigation appears to be close. In a July 28 order, judge John G. Koeltl gave the parties until August 11 to deliver recommendations for determining a judgment in the closely watched copyright case, adding there will be "no more extensions."
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Publisher News
Judge Finds Revived Amazon E-book Monopoly Suit Should Proceed
A magistrate judge in New York has once again recommended that a lawsuit accusing the Big Five publishers of colluding with Amazon to fix e-book prices should be dismissed. But in a twist, the court suggested a monopolization claim against Amazon be allowed to proceed.
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Libraries
Federal Judge Blocks Parts of Arkansas ‘Harmful to Minors’ Law
Judge Timothy L. Brooks's 49-page opinion and order concluded that the law would "permit, if not encourage, library committees and local governmental bodies to make censorship decisions based on content or viewpoint," thus violating the First Amendment.
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Publisher News
Judge Temporarily Blocks Montana’s Drag Law from Taking Effect
In a July 28 ruling, federal judge Brian Morris found sufficient evidence to grant a temporary restraining order blocking the law so that Montana Pride, which began on July 30 and will run through August 6, can proceed without legal risk.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: July 28, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a coalition of booksellers and publishing industry groups sue Texas over the state's new book rating law; a judge in Arkansas is set to rule on a motion to block that state's 'harmful to minors' law from taking effect; and a Houston school district's plan to replace its libraries with 'discipline centers' draws criticism from city leaders.
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Publisher News
Booksellers, Industry Groups File Suit to Block Texas Book Rating Law
The 28-page complaint claims that the law—which is set to take effect in September—would impose sweeping, vague, and unconstitutional content-based restrictions and unduly burden booksellers.
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Publisher News
NYCLU's Lee Rowland to Succeed Chris Finan as NCAC Executive Director
The National Coalition Against Censorship has named Lee Rowland, currently policy director at the New York Civil Liberties Union, to replace the retiring Christopher Finan as its executive director.
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Libraries
The Week in Libraries: July 21, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Barack Obama offers his support to librarians; Missouri's Jay Ashcroft is now taking aim at ALA; a Utah poll finds voters oppose book banning; and the protest at U.C. Berkeley's anthropology library has ended.
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Libraries
DPLA Launches ‘Geo-targeted’ Banned Book Club via Palace E-book App
The new program utilizes GPS-based “geo-targeting” to show readers the books that have been banned in their area, making e-book versions available to borrow digitally.
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