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 and start over with a clean account. The results were astonishing: 3,098 customers had their overdue fines wiped during the amnesty period and returned 21,245 items-$425,000 worth of books and other materials. HPL cleared patron accounts with balances as high as $1,000 and even received three books checked out in 1992. Amazing!
Julie Mintzer, deputy assistant director of HPL, told Houston Public Media that many patrons were surprised to learn that their fines had been removed from their accounts.
“A lot of people didn’t believe it, they were so thrilled,” Mintzer said. “Some people accrued fines on their accounts for different reasons, whether it be a family member who checked items out, whether they have lost things during a storm or other natural disasters-so they were shocked.”
Mintzer said eliminating the fines has led to an increase in patron visits to HPL: 850 customers who returned materials during the amnesty period are actively using the library again.
“What we realized … is that, when you can take away that financial barrier, more people will come and utilize the resources,” she said. “For the folks who had their accounts blocked, and they couldn’t check out items-once their accounts were cleared, they’re coming back to the library and they’re coming back strong, and we’re thrilled.”
To fine or not to fine
Librariesacross the country are eliminating fines for overdue materials, but it is a controversial topic nonetheless. Some libraries have halted the practice, citing concerns that fines keep patrons away, while others have kept them in place as needed revenue streams. Some libraries also use fines to teach personal responsibility, while others consider that lesson outside the realm of librarianship.
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 to remain anonymous to protect their jobs, but they are both degreed librarians who work extensively with the public, including young people, at a medium-sized library in the Midwest. “V” is a librarian and “F” is their supervisor.
Thank you for agreeing to talk to me. I know this is a wild time to be working with the public. Let’s start with a little background. How has the past year or so been different for you in terms of materials challenges?
V: Historically, I have observed maybe one or two challenges per year. This past year the number of challenges has significantly increased, and the original challengers have not been satisfied with the verdicts, so they then appeal the challenges and become publicly adversarial. There’s also an added organized political element (the misleadingly named Moms for Liberty, Moms for Libraries) getting involved, which definitely doesn’t help in conducting civil and rational discourse with the challengers and agitated community members.
F: I’ve worked in various library systems both small, very large, and medium; typically, even in the very large system, there would be maybe one challenge a year. Most of these challenges (which were again very few) were LBGT-focused and were “hot button” controversial titles that appeared on social media. For this library’s size, we have gotten more than 10 times the normal number of challenges. Many of the challenges are alleging that the library is full of pornography and its librarians are selecting that pornography to endanger minors.
What was the procedure for book challenges before? Are folks following that procedure?
F: Procedures for challenging books were consistent. Patrons who wanted to challenge a book received a form that they would then fill out explaining why they believed the material should be removed from the specific section and/or library. That form would then go to a staff committee who would take a deeper dive into that challenge. Most patrons who are adamant about the challenge will follow the process, as that’s the only way it can possibly be changed. Sometimes this process deters folks from formally challenging and they are satisfied with just being heard by staff members.
If you are selectors, has this new environment of challenges/selection policy changed how you select books, especially for young people?
V: I am not a selector, but every time I encounter a book, a display, a potential program opportunity at my library, a part of me is starting to look at it through a lens of “What problem will this cause for us? Will I get myself/my supervisor/my department/my admin in trouble?” I fear I’m beginning to preemptively censor things for self-preservation and institutional survival.
F: I too am not a selector but work very close with the selectors. I would say that this has caused delays in materials being selected, especially in our teen collection, because we are under such high scrutiny that we cannot afford to make a “mistake”-which I put in quotations because it’s not that we make a mistake on the professional level in selecting materials for all, but in the eyes of the very conservative board majority and public minority. Unfortunately, it feels like we must make our choices based on that public minority rather than the whole community, just so that we stay out of trouble with the board.
Are you getting challenges to programs as well, or just materials?
F: Programs that are being challenged are in regards to book clubs.
V: We are having to be more cautious about potential programs, too. We’ve had a few youth programs about health and bodies that our admin, in an abundance of caution that I absolutely understand, have nixxed. I’m not sure I am using the term correctly, but it’s beginning to feel as though all of these challenges and the ignorance/hostility of the board is starting to have a “chilling effect” on our future program plans.
What kind of support do you get from your administration or library board?
F: I will say that the majority of the library board does not “support” us in the way that would typically happen from a board. Part of this is in their demeanor. When community members are representing the board’s views, they pay attention; when community members don’t, they will scoff and/or not pay attention. Sometimes lack of support from the board does take the form of the materials being relocated against the judgment of library professionals, professional reviewers, etc. On the flipside, there are board members who are very much in support of us as library professionals who know how to do their jobs. Most of our board members are new members within the last year. I would also point out, while there have been these challenges towards materials, the majority of people who attend the board meetings are in support of the library.
V: Perhaps mine has been an unusual experience, but the boards at the past libraries I’ve worked at have been extraordinarily supportive of the library directors and the ways in which they run things-the boards have been very trusting and respectful. People in the communities challenged things at those libraries, but the boards really supported the directors’ decisions. This current environment, however, seems to be up-ending things. Of course we expect challenges and concerns from the community; that’s no surprise. What is surprising is that now, not only is the majority of the Board not supporting the library staff in their decisions, they seem to be creating challenges themselves. Censorship and book banning? Although it’s definitely on the rise, ultimately nothing new there. Hostile and disconnected library boards joining in on the nonsense? That’s a new one, at least for me.
How has this new environment of challenges/selection policy affected your day-to-day work life?
V: On a practical level, the added work and problems that have arisen from all of the challenges have really impacted our ability to pursue many of the projects that we want to take on to serve the community. It’s pretty discouraging to realize how much taxpayer money is being wasted as a result of these attempts at censorship. On a mental and emotional level, I’m discouraged and afraid; I’m beginning to hear rumors of library workers being doxxed, to say nothing of character assassination and the threats to our careers and livelihoods. You can imagine the impact this has on our mental and emotional health.
F: I absolutely agree with everything that D said. Large library-wide initiatives have had to move to the back burner to make capacity for changes with the selection policy as well as challenges. Each book that is challenged has to be read in its entirety by a committee of staff members, thorough research done surrounding age-appropriateness, etc., which pulls staff from other projects. The library is a place for all and because of the vocal minority, initiatives and projects that would bring resources and support to other community members gets pushed back. For me, mentally, I feel like I am constantly having to be on guard and feeling like Big Brother is watching over me. It’s taxing, has forced me to attend more therapy sessions, has taken me away from normal interactions with staff just so I can do the other new projects that have come up because of this.
F, as a supervisor, how do you help your employees feel empowered to do their work in the face of such challenges?
F: I let my employees know that my door is open any time that they need to talk or work through new board created/modified policies. I try my best to detail and operationalize the policies that the board creates in a way that can be accomplished by staff. It’s important to be as open and honest as one can be, especially in the wake of challenges both by patrons and board members, when it goes against everything you’ve been taught about best practices in librarianship. At the end of the day, we are doing what we can to best serve the community and remain a place for all.
Susan Maguire is senior editor, collection management and library outreach, at Booklist.
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 us understand the world and its diverse voices.
Photo: Celeste Ng at ALA’s 2022 Annual Conference. By EPNAC.
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 are some of the most prestigious awards an author or illustrator can aspire to.
The 2023 Youth Media Awards were announced Monday morning, January 30, during ALA’s LibLearnX conference in New Orleans.
Enjoy exploring this collection of wonderful titles at your library or local book store. There’s something for every interest and taste.
Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust and administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. Learn more about the Alex Awards.
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting, by Sophie Irwin, published by Pamela Dorman Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution, by R. F. Kuang, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins
Chef’s Kiss, by Jarrett Melendez, illustrated by Danica Brine, published by Oni Press, an imprint of Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group
Daughter of the Moon Goddess, by Sue Lynn Tan, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy, published by Simon & Schuster (9781982185824)”Solito: A Memoir,” by Javier Zamora, published by Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House
Solito: A Memoir, by Javier Zamora, published by Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House;
The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere, written and illustrated by James Spooner, published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Kaiju Preservation Society, by John Scalzi, published by Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group
True Biz, by Sara Nović, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House
Wash Day Diaries, by Jamila Rowser, illustrated by Robyn Smith, published by Chronicle Books
Children’s Literacy Legacy Award
Administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, the Children’s Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. Learn more about the Children’s Literacy Legacy Award.
Award Winner: James E. Ransome
James E. Ransome’s award-winning works include Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, which won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, 1994 and The Creation, recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 1995. In addition, Ransome has received the IBBY Honor Award for The Creation, and the NAACP Image Award for Let My People Go.
Coretta Scott King (Author) Award
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award is sponsored by ALA’s Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART). Learn more about the CSK Author Award.
Medal Winner:Freewater, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson, published by JIMMY Patterson/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Honor Books:
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler, written by Ibi Zoboi and published by Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House;
The Talk, written by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; and
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Award
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK Illustrator Award.
Medal Winner:Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual, illustrated by Frank Morrison, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Honor Books:
Me and the Boss: A Story about Mending and Love, illustrated by April Harrison, written by Michelle Edwards and published by Anne Schwartz Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House;
Swim Team, illustrated and written by Johnnie Christmas and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award
The John Steptoe New Talent Award is established to affirm new talent and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration which otherwise might be formally unacknowledged within a given year within the structure of the two awards given annually by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK/John Steptoe New Talent Award.
Author Award:We Deserve Monuments, written by Jas Hammonds, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Illustrator Award:Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Janelle Washington, is the Steptoe illustrator award winner. The book is written by Angela Joy and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
The annual award is presented in even years to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of their published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution. In odd years, the award is presented to a practitioner for substantial contributions through active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading related activities/programs. The award is sponsored by CSKBART. Learn more about the CSK-Virginia Hamilton Award.
Award Winner: Dr. Claudette McLinn
Dr. McLinn is the founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL). She is a retired district supervising librarian for the LA Unified School District with over 34 years of experience, a former bookseller and a much sought-after book award juror/presenter
John Newbery Medal
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by ALSC to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Learn more about the Newbery Award.
Medal Winner:Freewater, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson, published by JIMMY Patterson/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Honor Books:
Iveliz Explains It All, written by Andrea Beatriz Arango and published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House;
The Last Mapmaker, written by Christina Soontornvat and published by Candlewick Press; and
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, written by Lisa Yee and published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal. Learn more about the Edwards Award.
Award Winner: Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds’ books include: Long Way Down, Ghost, All American Boys, and When I Was the Greatest, among other titles.
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas, school librarian who was a long-time active member of YALSA. The award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by Booklist, a publication of ALA. Learn more about the Printz Award.
Award Winner:All My Rage, written by Sabaa Tahir, published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Honor Books:
Scout’s Honor, written by Lily Anderson and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group;
Icebreaker, written by A.L. Graziadei and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group;
When the Angels Left the Old Country, written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; and
Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality, written by Eliot Schrefer and published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
This award, established in Mildred L. Batchelder’s honor in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. The award is administered by ALSC. Learn more about the Batchelder Award.
Award Winner:Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II, originally published in Italian as “Una bambina e basta. Raccontata agli altri bambini e basta,” written by Lia Levi, illustrated by Jess Mason, translated by Sylvia Notini and published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Honor Books:
Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War, published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., written by Mónica Montañés, illustrated by Eva Sánchez Gómez and translated by Lawrence Schimel;
Dragonfly Eyes, published by Candlewick Press, written by Cao Wenxuan and translated by Helen Wang; and
João by a Thread, published by Elsewhere Editions, written and illustrated by Roger Mello and translated by Daniel Hahn.
Odyssey Award
The Odyssey Award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. The award is jointly given and administered by ALSC and YALSA and is sponsored by Booklist. Learn more about the Odyssey Award.
Award Winner: Stuntboy, in the Meantime, is the 2023Odyssey Award winner for children, produced by Taryn Beato for Simon & Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds, and narrated by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock and Angel Pean with a full cast
Award Winner:The Honeys, produced by Melissa Ellard for Scholastic Audio, is the 2023 Odyssey Award winner for young adults, written by Ryan La Sala and narrated by Pete Cross.
Honor Audiobooks:
The Three Billy Goats Gruff, produced by Melissa Ellard and Paul Gagne for Weston Woods Studios and Scholastic Audio, retold and narrated by Mac Barnett;
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel, produced by Steve Wagner and Michelle Altman for Macmillan Young Listeners, an imprint of Macmillan Audio, written by Leigh Bardugo, adaptation by Garet Scott and narrated by Ben Barnes and a full cast;
Inheritance: A Visual Poem, produced by Caitlin Garing for Quill Books, an imprint of HarperAudio, and written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo; and
The First Helping (Lunch Lady Books 1 & 2), produced by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Lauren Klein; Executive Producer Nick Martorelli for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, written Jarrett J. Krosoczka and narrated by Kate Flannery, the author and a full cast.
Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Award Winner:Frizzy, written by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra and published by First Second, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Honor Books:
The Coquíes Still Sing, written by Karina Nicole González, illustrated by Krystal Quiles and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group;
The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border, written by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Magdalena Mora and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; and
Tumble, written by Celia C. Pérez and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Award Winner: Burn Down, Rise Up, written by Vincent Tirado, published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks.
Honor Books:
Breathe and Count Back from Ten, written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;
High Spirits, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; and
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, written by Sonora Reyes and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by REFORMA, ALSC, and YALSA. Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award.
Where Wonder Grows, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, written by Xelena González and published by Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.
Honor Books:
The Coquíes Still Sing, illustrated by Krystal Quiles, written by Karina Nicole González and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group;
A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS;
Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land, illustrated and written by Mirelle Ortega and published by Cameron Kids, an imprint of Cameron + Company, a division of ABRAMS;
Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, illustrated by Loris Lora, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers;
Srta. Quinces, illustrated and written by Kat Fajardo, translated by Scholastic Inc. and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and
Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando, illustrated by Magdalena Mora, written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.
Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by ALSC to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Learn more about the Caldecott Medal.
Medal Winner: Hot Dog, illustrated and written by Doug Salati, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Honor Books:
Ain’t Burned All the Bright, illustrated by Jason Griffin, written by Jason Reynolds and published by Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing;
Berry Song, illustrated and written by Michaela Goade and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.;
Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Janelle Washington, written by Angela Joy and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; and
Knight Owl, illustrated and written by Christopher Denise and published by Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award. Learn more about the Sibert Award.
Award Winner:Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration, written by Elizabeth Partridge and illustrated by Lauren Tamaki, is the 2023 Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Chronicle Books.
Honor Books:
Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, written by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group;
A Seed Grows, written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis and published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House;
Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, written by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; and
The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, written by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Schneider Family Book Award
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The award is donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider. Three annual awards are presented for the best Teen, Middle School, and Children’s Book. ALA administers the Awards, and each recipient receives $5000 and a framed plaque. Learn more about the Schneider Family Book Award.
Young Children Winner: Listen: How Evely Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion, written by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Middle Grade Winner:Wildoak, written by C.C. Harrington and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Teen Winner: The Words We Keep, written by Erin Stewartand published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Young Children Honor:
In the Blue, written and illustrated by Erin Houriganand published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.Middle Grade Winner:
Middle Grade Honor:
Honestly Elliott, written by Gillian Dunn,and published by Bloomsbury Children’sBooks, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.
Hummingbird, written by Natalie Lloyd,and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Teens Honor:Breathe and Count Back from Ten, written by Natalia Sylvester,and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award
Award Winner Children’s Literature:Love, Violet, written by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Award Winner Young Adult Literature:When the Angels Left the Old Country, written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido, is the 2023 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards-Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award.
Honor Books for Children’s Literature:
In the Key of Us, written by Mariama J. Lockington and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group;
Kapaemahu, written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House;
The Real Riley Mayes, written and illustrated by Rachel Elliott and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and
Strong, written by Rob Kearney & Eric Rosswood, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Honor Books for Young Adult Literature:
I Kissed Shara Wheeler, written by Casey McQuiston and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group;
Kings of B’more, written by R. Eric Thomas and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House;
Man o’ War, written by Cory McCarthy and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; and
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jen Ferguson (Métis/white) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. Winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. ALSC administers the award. Learn more about the Geisel Award.
Award Winner: I Did It!, written and illustrated by Michael Emberley, is the 2023 Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Holiday House.
Honor Books:
Fish and Wave, written and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;
Gigi and Ojiji, written and illustrated by Melissa Iwai and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;
Owl and Penguin, written and illustrated by Vikram Madan and published by Holiday House; and
A Seed Grows, written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis and published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House.
William C. Morris Award
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. The award is administered by YALSA. Learn more about the Morris Award.
Award Winner:The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, written by Isaac Blum, published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Award Finalists:
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jen Ferguson (Métis/white) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books;
Wake the Bones, written by Elizabeth Kilcoyne and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group at Macmillan;
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, written by Sonora Reyes and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and
Hell Followed with Us, written by Andrew Joseph White and published by Peachtree Teen, an imprint of Peachtree Publishing Company.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 to October 31 publishing year. The award is administered YALSA. Learn more about the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction.
Award Winner:Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company.
Award Finalists:
Abuela, Don’t Forget Me, written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company;
American Murderer: The Parasite that Haunted the South, written by Gail Jarrow and published by Calkins Creek;
A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome, written by Ariel Henley and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; and
Unequal: A Story of America, written by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Sydney Taylor Book Award
Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature. Gold medals are presented in three categories: Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Honor Books are awarded silver medals, and Notable Books are named in each category. A Body-of-Work Award is given periodically for significant contributions to the genre of Jewish children’s literature. Learn more about the Sydney Taylor Book Awards.
Picture Book Winner:The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.;
Middle Grade Winner:Aviva vs. the Dybbuk, by Mari Lowe and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.
Young Adult Winner:When the Angels Left the Old Country, by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.
Picture Book Honors:
Big Dreams, Small Fish, written and illustrated by Paula Cohen and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido;
The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda, by Shoshana Nambi, illustrated by Moran Yogev and published by Kalaniot Books, an imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing Company; and
Sitting Shiva, by Erin Silver, illustrated by Michelle Theodore and published by Orca Book Publishers.
Middle Grade Honors:
Honey and Me, by Meira Drazin and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.;
Black Bird, Blue Road, by Sofiya Pasternack and published by Versify, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and
Ellen Outside the Lines, by A. J. Sass and published by Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Young Adult Honors:
My Fine Fellow: A Delicious Entanglement, by Jennieke Cohen and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;
Some Kind of Hate, by Sarah Darer Littman and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and
Eight Nights of Flirting, by Hannah Reynolds and published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
The goal of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit. Learn more about the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
The Picture Book Winner:From the Tops of the Trees, written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Rachel Wada and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.
Children’s Literature Winner: Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, written by Lisa Yee and published by Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Youth Literature Winner:Himawari House, written and illustrated by Harmony Becker and published by First Second, an imprint of Macmillan.
Picture Book Honor:Nana, Nenek & Nina written and illustrated by Liza Ferneyhough and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Children’s Literature Honor:Troublemaker, written by John Cho, with Sarah Suk and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Youth Literature Honor:The Silence that Binds Us, written by Joanna Ho and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.
The library world is converging in New Orleans at the end of January for a new breed of library conference. And if you work in the library profession, you should be there.
Rising from the ashes of the American Library Association’s (ALA) now-defunct Midwinter gatherings, LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (held January 27-30, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans) has all of the amenities that people expect and love at ALA conferences-excellent speakers from the literary world and beyond; plentiful education sessions; an exhibit hall marketplace full of library tech vendors and book publishers; a top-notch host city for afterhours wining, dining, and sightseeing; and much more.
You may be asking yourself, “But I’m not a librarian. Can I go to LibLearnX?” The answer is a resounding, “YES.”
LibLearnX has a wealth of activities and amenities for everyone, and even offers a special registration rate for library professionals who aren’t ALA members. Here are 5 reasons why everyone should attend this year.
The speakers
ALA is known for the incredible speakers it attracts to its conferences-everyone from politicos like Michelle Obama, Cory Booker, and Hillary Rodham Clinton; actors and filmmakers such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Sally Field, and Ken Burns; authors like Margaret Atwood, Jason Reynolds, and R.L. Stine and more. LibLearnX is no exception.
Joining the 2023 festivities are author and professor Ibram X. Kendi and writer Nic Stone, who will discuss How to Be a (Young) Antiracist, a collaborative reimagining of Kendi’s international bestseller, How to Be an Antiracist; Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, political activist, feminist icon, and bestselling author Ani Di Franco, who will talk about her debut children’s picture book, The Knowing; Brian Selznick, author and illustrator of Caldecott Medal-winning New York Times bestseller, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was adapted into Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning movie Hugo. Selznick will discuss his upcoming work, Big Tree; and Indigenous author Carole Lindstrom and Indigenous illustrator Steph Littlebird, who will share their children’s picture book, My Powerful Hair, an empowering story about family history, self-expression, and reclaiming your identity.
Also at LibLearnX this year: artist and author Willie Mae Brown, who will share her debut book, My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement; Clint Smith, author of the narrative nonfiction book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, who is bringing his upcoming poetry book, Above Ground, to discuss; and science fiction novelist, journalist, and technology activist Cory Doctorow, who will talk about his new book about cryptocurrency shenanigans, Red Team Blues.
And in the panel discussion, Inclusivity in Entertainment: Uplifting Black Voices, photographer and author Carell Augustus; author, director, educator, and popular culture historian Caseen Gaines; actor and author Eriq LaSalle; attorney and author Jorge Redmond; and filmmaker and author Ali Biko Sulaiman Kamanda will discuss the creation of Black-centered content, the increasing availability of diverse stories, and what representation of identities means across genres in book publishing.
The programs
LibLearnX offers a plethora of educational programs for library professionals. Here are a few of our favorites, as described by American Libraries in their always-thorough LibLearnX 2023 conference preview (see preview for dates and times of each session):
Sensory Spaces and Creative Programming to Reach Your Diverse Community
The goal of a sensory space is to provide an environment where children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder, cerebral palsy, memory loss, dementia, and sensory processing disorders can feel safe and welcome. Panelists from Ocean County (N.J.) Library will share the story of their sensory space, which opened in 2021.
The Reading Culture Podcast Live with Ellen Oh
The Reading Culture podcast will record a live session with We Need Diverse Books cofounder Ellen Oh. Podcast host and Beanstack cofounder Jordan Lloyd Bookey will interview Oh about her revolutionary work and her journey as an author.
Engaging with Native and Indigenous Heritage: Guide to Indigenous Maryland
Learn how Maryland’s public libraries collaborated to develop an educational mobile app and website to engage the public with local Native and Indigenous heritage and culture.
Beyond the Book: Using Archives to Enhance School and Library Education
Learn how to discover resources available in historic and contemporary children’s archives and how to use online archival materials with students from the curators of historic children’s literature collections, including the renowned Kerlan Collection at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, and the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Collection at University of Florida in Gainesville.
Embracing Teen Voices through Authentic Publication at the Library
New York Public Library’s (NYPL) young adult services department has leveraged print and digital media and the library’s own platform to show teens that their voices matter and their ideas deserve a broad audience. In this session, discover how NYPL has created innovative publication opportunities for teens and how attendees can do the same at their libraries.
Cooking by the Book: Tips for Using Video to Promote Food Literacy
Join the creators and hosts of the Cooking by the Book YouTube series, designed and recorded at Baltimore County (Md.) Public Library. Make the best use of your cookbook collection by creating short YouTube videos and adjacent programming to help patrons become more proficient in the kitchen.
Navigating Challenging Topics with Graphic Novels and Manga
Graphic novels and manga provide a nuanced visual narrative where readers can connect with characters and immerse themselves in their lives. Speakers will discuss some of their favorite graphic novels and manga and focus on the ways they help readers talk about important, and perhaps difficult, topics.
Beyond Fake News: Updated Strategies in Digital Literacy, Misinformation, and Bias Instruction
Attendees will hear a case study from University of Utah and Granite School District in South Salt Lake City, Utah, about their digital literacy collaboration, which has provided learning experiences for young people and adults to identify, find, evaluate, and apply information.
The awards
Books, literacy, and librarians will be celebrated in outstanding fashion at LibLearnX this year. Here are a few of the must-catch ceremonies that you can be a part of if you attend:
I Love My Librarian Awards, Friday, January 27
These awards recognize the impact and accomplishments of outstanding public, academic, and school librarians. Ten winners will share their inspiring stories, and the ceremony will be streamed on ALA’s YouTube channel. A celebration of the winners will follow.
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance and Sunrise Celebration, Sunday, January 29
This conference tradition commemorates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and recognizes the connection between his life’s work and the library world.
RUSA Book and Media Awards, Sunday, January 29
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) annually recognizes the year’s best in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, audiobook narration, and reference materials. At this prerecorded event, RUSA, in coordination with cosponsor Booklist, will announce the winners of the 2023 Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.
Youth Media Awards, Monday, January 30
More than 20 awards recognizing outstanding books, videos, and other materials for children and teens will be announced, including the Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, and the Michael L. Printz, Pura Belpré, Stonewall, and Schneider Family awards. The ceremony will be livestreamed on ALA’s Facebook page and on Unikron.
The LibLearnX marketplace. ALA conferences are legendary for their exhibit halls-a sprawling assemblage of book publishers large and small, library tech vendors, comic book artists, and more who attend to promote and educate about their wares. Some book publishers give out free copies of upcoming titles (called advance reader copies or ARCS) and other book swag, which is a major draw for conference attendees.
New Orleans!
New Orleans is one of our favorite cities in the world. The music, the history, the revelry, the sightseeing, the FOOD!
Whether you love crawfish etouffee and oyster po’ boy sandwiches or fresh, sugary beignets, New Orleans is a culinary paradise. In its new issue, American Libraries has a dining guide detailing some of the city’s best-and most affordable-restaurants and food trucks, compiled specially for LibLearnX attendees by the author of the popular travel guide, Frommer’s EasyGuide to New Orleans. Just reading it will make your mouth water.
LibLearnX 2023 promises to be an extraordinary time in an extraordinary city. Visit the YouTube channel to learn more about everything the event has to offer-and don’t forget to take advantage of special non-ALA member registration rates! And if you can’t attend in person, more than 40 specially curated live and on-demand LibLearnX sessions will be available through the LLX Digital Experience. Registration includes access to this exciting content through February 28, 2023.
We can’t wait to see each and every one of you in New Orleans, January 27-30-or virtually at the LLX Digital Experience. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
John Cho has lit up the small and big screen for almost 30 years in hit films like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Searching, and Star Trek and TV series Cowboy Bebop and Selfie, among many others. The Korean American actor recently added “author” to his impressive resume with his debut novel, Troublemaker(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022), which follows the 1992 Los Angeles riots and events surrounding it through the eyes of a 12-year-old Korean American boy living in LA.
Written for young adults, Troublemaker celebrates and provides an intimate look at Korean American family life, while also exploring socio-economic issues like racism and classicism that plagued Los Angeles and the U.S. in the 1990s. It’s a must-read book for both kids and adults alike.
Cho visited with I Love Libraries last June at the American Library Association’s 2022 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., to share his thoughts on the importance of libraries and of representation in books for kids. Watch below:
Photo: John Cho at the American Library Association’s 2022 Annual Conference. By EPNAC.
Book challenges and bans are increasing in libraries and schools throughout the United States. To help spread the word about these activities and efforts to combat them by librarians, parents, students, politicians, and concerned citizens, I Love Libraries will frequently highlight several stories on the current crisis. This roundup includes news from Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, and a report of the surge of conservative groups driving book bans.
Louisiana launches tip line to report librarians for “sexualizing children”
The attorney general of Louisiana has launched an online form encouraging state residents to report librarians who they suspect of stocking sexually explicit books, reports The Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the tip line in a Facebook post. In the post, Landry said he met with residents of Slidell, Louisiana, who “want to protect the children” in St. Tammany Parish. Cory Dennis, a spokesperson for Landry’s office, told The DailyAdvertiser in an email statement:
“[Landry] spoke with parents and grandparents who are concerned about specific books of a sexual nature that are not age-appropriate yet remain accessible to young children within public libraries…. Our submissions portal was created to give parents across the state a voice in this matter, and we look forward to future discussions.”
Dennis did not answer questions from The Daily Advertiser about how the tip line will be monitored, how a complaint will be deemed credible, or what actions would be taken as a result of a tip being submitted.
Ban on certain topics for library books in Texas town as “harmful implications”
On December 6, the League City, Texas, city council passed a resolution that bars the use of public money for purchasing, displaying, or stocking books in public libraries that fit certain categories, including those that “contain obscenity or other harmful content,” reports Axios. The resolution also enables the council to create a “community standards review committee” that will review and make determinations about objections to any materials in public libraries “for which the intended audience is under 18.” A majority of public comments during the meeting opposed the proposal.
Criticism mounts over proposed rule regarding age-appropriate material at public libraries
KMOV4 reports that thousands of comments have flooded into Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office over a proposed rule regarding age-appropriate material at Missouri’s public libraries. The newly proposed rule would require all state libraries to adopt a new policy establishing age-appropriate guidelines and also allow anyone to challenge the designation. The rule also states no state funding for any materials that “appeal to the prurient interest of any minor.”
The Missouri Library Association, the ACLU, and library districts throughout the state have all expressed opposition to the rule.
In a statement, St. Louis County Library wrote: “We are always sensitive to any possibility of censorship and restriction of equitable access to books and other vital Library materials. We believe parents and guardians should be arbiters on what is suitable for their own children, and are wary of any third parties-including the State of Missouri-to impose those choices on others.”
Kansas town’s library has lease renewed after months of debate about LGBTQ+ content
Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library in St. Marys, Kansas, is safe for another year, following community uproar and legal pressure from the ACLU of Kansas, reports The Kansas Reflector.
St. Marys City Commission voted to extend the library’s lease during a December 6. The lease renewal was up for debate because the library had refused to accept a renewal clause asking for the removal of all LGBTQ and socially divisive books. The clause stipulated that the library not “supply, distribute, loan, encourage, or coerce acceptance of or approval of explicit sexual or racially or socially divisive material, or events (such as ‘drag queen story hours’) that support the LGBTQ+ or critical theory ideology or practice.” The clause was discussed after a parent objected to the library offering Alex Gino’s book, Melissa, about a transgender middle-schooler.
A fast-growing network of conservative groups is fueling a surge in book bans
The New York Timeswrites: “Traditionally, debates over what books are appropriate for school libraries have taken place between a concerned parent and a librarian or administrator, and resulted in a single title or a few books being re-evaluated, and either removed or returned to shelves.
“But recently, the issue has been supercharged by a rapidly growing and increasingly influential constellation of conservative groups. The organizations frequently describe themselves as defending parental rights. Some are new and others are longstanding, but with a recent focus on books. Some work at the district and state level, others have national reach. And over the past two years or so, they have grown vastly more organized, interconnected, well funded-and effective.”
Take action
Alarmed by the escalating attempts to censor books? Here are five steps you can take now to protect the freedom to read.
1. Follow news and social media in your community and state to keep apprised of organizations working to censor library or school materials.
2. Show up for library workers at school or library board meetings and speak as a library advocate and community stakeholder who supports a parent’s right to restrict reading materials for their own child but not for all
3. Help provide a safety net for library professionals as they defend intellectual freedom in their communities by giving to the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund.
4. Educate friends, neighbors, and family members about censorship and how it harms communities. Share information from Banned Books Week 2021.
5. Join the Unite Against Book Bans movement to learn what you can do to defend the freedom to read in your community.
“Moments like these are not intended to shine a spotlight on one individual but rather to hold up a mirror that reflects all of the people and places that have contributed to what an individual has become. Tonight is a reflection of two groups of people that have lit a lifelong fire within me-people who read and people who fight for the right to read.”
American Library Association (ALA) Executive Director Tracie D. Hall was honored with the National Book Foundation’s 2022 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community on November 16 at a ceremony in New York City, and her acceptance speech was spectacular.
Following an introduction by professor and author Ibram X. Kendi, Hall thanked family, colleagues, librarians, fellow readers, and more for inspiring her love of reading and setting her on the path of lifelong learning. She also recognized those whose work helps instill a love of reading and literacy in others, as well as those yearning to read.
“This award goes out to our grandmothers and grandfathers, our neighbors and our friends, and all adults who long to read and to discover the freedom that comes from navigating the world as a reader,” she said.
Significantly, Hall dedicated her award to the countless readers, teachers, librarians, and ALA staff who work daily to protect the freedom to read for everyone.
“Let history show of this period that librarians and the writers whose work they protect from being removed or erased were on the frontlines in upholding our democracy,” Hall said.
Have you ever loved something that you’ve checked out from the library SO MUCH that you forgot to return it-for more than four decades?!
A cassette tape that was checked out 44 years ago from San Antonio Public Library’s (SAPL) Westfall branch was finally returned this month to SAPL. The tape (or “phonotape,” according to the packaging), which features an interview with John Lennon and Paul McCartney describing the “magic” of The Beatles, was left anonymously in the library’s return drop box.
SAPL posted about the miraculous reappearing tape on its Facebook page November 20, and the library is definitely having fun with it, making light of the return time and the hypothetical late fees that could have accrued if SAPL hadn’t eliminated fines in 2021.
“Can you believe this recording of The Beatles was checked out from Westfall Branch Library 44 years ago and returned to us recently?”
The post continued: “Imagine all the potential fines there could have been! Luckily, we have been fine-free since October 2021, so even if you have an item to return that’s a year late, a decade late, and even four decades late, we will still accept it at NO charge!”
A returning trend
Long-overdue items have been finding their ways back to libraries at an increasing rate lately.
Karen Rodricks, senior library services supervisor at the Lake Elmo branch of Washington County (Minn.) Library System, found a package waiting for her when she arrived at work on November 2. She opened it to find a carefully wrapped car manual, $200, and a letter stating:
“In the mid-1970s, I was living in Lake Elmo and was working on an old Mercedes Benz. I took out this book for reference. A few months later, I moved and apparently the book got packed up. Forty-seven years later I found it in a trunk with other interesting things from the ’70s. It’s a little overdue, but I thought you might want it back. My apologies to anyone in Lake Elmo who was working on an old Benz in the last 47 years.”
Rodricks told MPR News that the library was likely unaware that the car manual was missing, as it does not keep records dating back that far. Washington County libraries waived overdue fines last year, so the anonymous patron would only owe a replacement cost for the manual. Roderick says the $200 more than covers that and the funds will be used as a donation to the library.
Do you have any fun stories about overdue library books at your library-or ones that you’ve returned yourself? Email pmorehart@ala.org, and let us know! You can even request anonymity, if you’d like!
Photo: Beatles cassette and packaging that was returned to San Antonio Public Library after 44 years. Credit: San Antonio Public Library.
Searching for gifts for the book lovers in your life (or yourself) this holiday season? The American Library Association (ALA) has you covered, with everything from buttons, stickers, totes, and shirts proclaiming library love to posters featuring celebs and authors with their favorite books to journals and more.
Let’s get started!
As book bans and challenges increase throughout the U.S., let everyone know that you support the freedom to read with a Unite Against Book Bans shirt or hoodie. Available in men’s and women’s sizes and in a variety of colors.
Libraries ARE weird! In all of the best ways: They filled with incredible amounts of knowledge on just about everything and spaces to build, learn, gather, and be yourself. These shirts (available in men’s and women’s sizes in multiple colors) from the Public Library Association’s 2022 National Conference in Portland, Oregon, express how we feel about libraries in a perfectly succinct way.
We can ALL read more books. Spread the word in these snazzy unisex pajamas or with this adorable plush dog for the young reader (or reader to be) in your life.
Inspire early literacy while letting everyone know that your baby is on track to be a voracious reader with this very cute “Born to Read” bib.
Show your support for libraries-and your love of tattoos-with this classy mug emblazoned with a traditional tattoo design with a library twist.
With fake news, book bans, and other dystopian assaults on personal liberties on the rise in recent years, tell everyone where you stand with this truly sharp “Make Orwell Fiction Again” shirt, available in men’s and women’s sizes and in multiple colors.
*If you order any of the above shirts, totes, and more from the ALA Graphics Gift Shop from November 26 to December 2, you can take 15% off your order, plus free shipping! That’s right-they’re having a sale! Don’t miss out!
ALA’s Celebrity READ posters are iconic. Some of the world’s best-known faces have lent their support to the simple but powerful message-READ-on this prestigious line of posters. Everyone from David Bowie to Stephen Hawking to Taylor Swift to Yoda have appeared on these posters while holding their favorite books.
READ posters are the perfect gift for any book lover. Here are a few of our recent favorites.
This interactive recommended reading list presents readers with a different banned or challenged book to explore each week. The perfect gift for all bibliophiles and social justice activists, this journal is far more than a simple list of reads. Each recommended title features a synopsis, review, and prompt for reflection, drawing on the expertise of editors from the association and its book review magazine Booklist, delving into why the book was censored. The titles span categories and genres, from fantasy and graphic novel to nonfiction and romance, but all have been challenged or banned at some point.
Uncommon Quotes for Library Lovers includes 100 of the most insightful, thought-provoking, and uplifting aphorisms about books, the joy of reading, intellectual freedom, and librarianship. You’ll find quotes from authors such as Celeste Ng, Suheir Hammad, Azar Nafisi, Junot Díaz, and Ta-Nehisi Coates; entertainers like Ziggy Marley and Stephen Colbert; and leaders such as Malala Yousafzai-all highlighting the impact of libraries and librarians.
Fewer activities are more relaxing than taking crayons, pens, or colored pencils in hand to add a personalized splash of color to the pages in a coloring book. Peppered throughout Well Said: The Library Lovers Coloring Book of Quotes are inspiring quotes about literature, libraries, and library workers that will encourage and invigorate.
Thanks for giving the gift of literacy, learning, and library love! Happy holidays from everyone at I Love Libraries!
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