U.S. Book Challenges Update: May 2026 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This update includes news from Tennessee, Arizona, and Texas, and a passionate reaction to book bans from a Today show cohost.

The Books They Read: ALA’s Library War Service During WWI

This Memorial Day, as the U.S. remembers those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, we’re reflecting on how the American Library Association (ALA) responded during World War I. As tragedy and despair spread across the world during those wartime years, ALA worked to brighten the spirits of wounded soldiers by providing them with books and reading materials.

An ALA Revolution: The Association at 150

2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the American Library Association. It’s a milestone that invites everyone across the country to imagine the libraries of tomorrow, to advocate fiercely for open access to knowledge, and to invest in the infrastructure, both digital and human, that makes libraries a foundation of thriving communities.

Chicago-Area Librarian Named 2026 Medical Librarian of the Year

Kristi Holmes, PhD, associate dean for knowledge management and strategy and director of Northwestern University’s Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center, has been named the 2026 Medical Librarian of the Year by the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, a nonprofit devoted to increasing public awareness and use of the National Library of Medicine. The award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and sustained contributions to the advancement of health sciences librarianship at the local, national, and international levels.

Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry Inducts Tunes by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Go-Go’s, Weezer, and More

On May 14, Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen announced the latest round of recordings that will join the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for 2026. The 25 acts were selected as audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical, or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.

‘How I Library’ Episode 33: Daniel Kraus

In episode 33 of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel Kraus about his latest book, “Partially Devoured: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World.”

May the 4th Be With Your Library

This Star Wars Day we’re listening to one of our favorite past episodes of American Libraries’ podcast that’s devoted to all things Star Wars. The show features conversations with three individuals who occupy a unique place in the Star Wars universe, revealing how the franchise has become a force with galactic influence.