Malorie Blackman fears for the future of libraries. The celebrated British author who served as the UK’s Children’s Laureate from 2013-2015 told attendees at the 2023 Hay Festival, a literature and arts fest held in Wales May 25-June 4, that libraries should be “ringfenced and protected” to ensure that all children have access to books.
Libraries Must Be Protected, Says Former UK Children’s Laureate Read More »
Booklist and PBS Books kicked off their new collaboration last week with a perfectly seasonal conversation—about beach reads and summer reading! Heather-Marie Montilla, national director of PBS Books, hosted Susan Maguire, senior editor, collection management and library outreach at Booklist, for a fascinating discussion about the definition of “beach reads,” Booklist-recommended summer-reading faves across multiple genres, their favorite libraries, and more!
Surf, Sand, and Beach Reads: Book Recommendations for Summer 2023 Read More »
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an annual celebration of the historical and cultural contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States. To commemorate, The 19th spoke with librarians, scholars, bookstore owners, and book lovers—including American Library Association (ALA) President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada—about themes that resonate with them
Book Recommendations for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Read More »
PBS Books and Booklist, the book review journal published by the American Library Association (ALA), have joined forces to create the ultimate reading experience for book lovers of all ages everywhere. Beginning this month, PBS Books content will be featured in Booklist Reader. This new partnership adds a multimedia dimension to the publication, including author interview videos,
PBS Books Partners with Booklist for the Ultimate Reading Experience Read More »
The American Library Association (ALA) is giving an honorary lifetime membership to Dolly Parton! The award-winning singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist is receiving the honor for her longstanding support and commitment to inspiring a love of books and reading. Honorary membership is the highest honor given by ALA and conferred upon a living person whose
Librarians Love Dolly! Read More »
Judy Blume’s 1970 book, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. is a classic of young adult literature that follows an 11-year-old girl as she navigates puberty, religious questions, moving to a new city, and other big-life changes, all with Blume’s characteristic humor and warmth. And it’s now on the big screen in a new
Going fine-free can pay off—just ask Houston (Texas) Public Library (HPL). In January, Houston City Council voted to eliminate fines at HPL to encourage residents to use the library after seeing a decline in users. HPL held an amnesty period from January 18 to February 17 to allow users to return overdue books and materials
Library Eliminates Fines and Receives More than $400,000 Worth of Returns Read More »
This is a tough time to be a librarian. Materials and programs are being challenged, and core library values of inclusivity and freedom of information are at stake. I spoke to two librarians on the front line of the struggle to find out what it’s really like and how they are holding up. They asked
Notes from the Field: Library Work in an Environment of Book Banning Read More »
Celeste Ng, the author of Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts, was a guest speaker at the American Library Association’s 2022 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., and she visited with I Love Libraries before her talk to share her thoughts on the vital role that books play in helping
Celeste Ng Believes in the Power of Books Read More »
The annual announcement of the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards is the biggest event of the year in the world of children’s publishing—20 separate awards for books and media, all chosen by librarians. And who knows children’s literature better than librarians? The Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King, and other Youth Media Awards
ALA Unveils the 2023 Youth Media Award Winners Read More »
