Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a storyteller, author, and curandera who presents frequently around the country on traditional healing practices, culinary medicine, folk herbalism, and Native American food sovereignty. We sat down with her to discuss her picture book for kids, “Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita,” her work as a curandera, book bans, and her love of libraries.
In episode 26, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with award-winning author and illustrator Grace Lin. She joins the show to discuss her new book (and her first novel in nine years), “The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon” and its influences, her work as an illustrator, her podcasts, book bans, and of course, how she libraries.
During Banned Books Week this year, longtime supporter of libraries Cards Against Humanity offered presales of its new, special edition product, Cards Against Humanity Explains the Joke, and 100% of the net proceeds from the preorder will be donated to the American Library Association.
Hennepin County (Minn.) Library (HCL) has released a new library card to honor the iconic musician Prince, who lived in Chanhassen, Minnesota, until his death in 2016. The new card corresponds with the opening of the new Prince musical, “Purple Rain.”
Bullying can impact individuals in any environment, but it can be particularly devastating in an educational setting. Students and a school librarian in Montana decided to address the issue directly with help from an American Library Association grant.
Author Raj Tawney (“Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience,” “All Mixed Up”) finds new friends and community amongst his peers at the 2025 Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge.
Native women have been leaders throughout history. From ballerinas to congresswomen and from tribal leaders to scientists, these strong role models have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations. The following picture books and early-reader chapter books compiled by ALA’s Booklist offer a glimpse into the strength, courage, tenacity, and fierce compassion embodied by this broad range of people.
In a special Halloween episode of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with Jerry Drake, author of “Hazel Was a Good Girl: Solving the Murder that Inspired Twin Peaks.”
Libraries in the U.S. are full of ghosts, from the famed Grey Lady who haunts Evansville (Ind.) Public Library and the spectral nun who appears in the library of Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra, California, to the plethora of spirits who inhabit Peoria (Ill.) Public Library and George and Helen Mahon Public Library in Lubbock, Texas. Let’s explore them and more from the safety of home.
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 report includes news from Utah, California, Texas, and a victory in the fight to get books returned to schools on U.S. military bases.
Penguin Random House and Online Ceramics are donating 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of select items to ALA to help in the fight against book bans and to help librarians across the country.
In episode 24 of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with one of today’s leading creators of scary literature, author Joe Hill—just in time for Halloween! Hill joins the show to discuss his first novel in nine years, the scary epic “King Sorrow.”
Carnegie Libraries across the United States started October 22 with incredible news—they will each receive a $10,000 gift to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through a special initiative by Carnegie Corporation of New York.
It’s National Friends of Libraries Week! Now in its 20th year, this weeklong celebration recognizes all the incredible things that volunteer Friends groups do for their local libraries. Want to get involved? We have you covered!
A Wyoming librarian who was fired from her job for refusing to remove books from the library that some in the community found objectionable has been awarded a $700,000 settlement in a lawsuit over her termination.
In episode 23 of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with actor, activist, and modern-day icon—and honorary chair of Banned Books Week 2025—George Takei about his new graphic novel, “It Rhymes with Takei,” his life and career, and, of course, how he libraries.
Stephen King is many things: bestselling author, screenwriter, musician, actor. And now he can add “most banned author in U.S. schools” to his resume based on new data released this month.
It’s Banned Books Week, an annual observation started more than 40 years ago in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Sound familiar? Sadly, book censorship has remained an unfortunate spectre since Banned Books Week’s founding in 1982, which makes this observance as vital and important as ever.
Librarian Amanda Jones has been named to the Time100 Next list, Time magazine’s spotlight on the world’s most influential rising stars, for her work fighting censorship and book bans.
Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a storyteller, author, and curandera who presents frequently around the country on traditional healing practices, culinary medicine, folk herbalism, and Native American food sovereignty. We sat down with her to discuss her picture book for kids, “Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita,” her work as a curandera, book bans, and her love of libraries.
In episode 26, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with award-winning author and illustrator Grace Lin. She joins the show to discuss her new book (and her first novel in nine years), “The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon” and its influences, her work as an illustrator, her podcasts, book bans, and of course, how she libraries.
During Banned Books Week this year, longtime supporter of libraries Cards Against Humanity offered presales of its new, special edition product, Cards Against Humanity Explains the Joke, and 100% of the net proceeds from the preorder will be donated to the American Library Association.
Hennepin County (Minn.) Library (HCL) has released a new library card to honor the iconic musician Prince, who lived in Chanhassen, Minnesota, until his death in 2016. The new card corresponds with the opening of the new Prince musical, “Purple Rain.”
Bullying can impact individuals in any environment, but it can be particularly devastating in an educational setting. Students and a school librarian in Montana decided to address the issue directly with help from an American Library Association grant.
Author Raj Tawney (“Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience,” “All Mixed Up”) finds new friends and community amongst his peers at the 2025 Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge.
Native women have been leaders throughout history. From ballerinas to congresswomen and from tribal leaders to scientists, these strong role models have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations. The following picture books and early-reader chapter books compiled by ALA’s Booklist offer a glimpse into the strength, courage, tenacity, and fierce compassion embodied by this broad range of people.
In a special Halloween episode of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with Jerry Drake, author of “Hazel Was a Good Girl: Solving the Murder that Inspired Twin Peaks.”
Libraries in the U.S. are full of ghosts, from the famed Grey Lady who haunts Evansville (Ind.) Public Library and the spectral nun who appears in the library of Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra, California, to the plethora of spirits who inhabit Peoria (Ill.) Public Library and George and Helen Mahon Public Library in Lubbock, Texas. Let’s explore them and more from the safety of home.
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 report includes news from Utah, California, Texas, and a victory in the fight to get books returned to schools on U.S. military bases.
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