News and Updates

A still from Persepolis (left), Marjane Satrapi (right)

Marjane Satrapi, author of ‘Persepolis,’ dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French author of the acclaimed graphic novel “Persepolis” and director of the film adaptation which was nominated for an Oscar in 2008, died June 4 at age 56. Her work documented personal, cultural, and institutional struggles and was an unintended player in the fight for the freedom to read.

Booklist Reader: Holy Whodunits!

Some detectives seem to have a divine calling to solve mysteries. Join ALA’s Booklist as they highlight a wide assortment of excellent mystery books built around religious themes set in interesting places and times.

banned books map 3.24.23

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.

Galter Health Sciences Library and Kristi Holmes

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.

National Recording Registry 2026 inductees graphic

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.

Under the Falls cover detail

Book Review of the Week: ‘Under the Falls’

For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Carol Haggas’s review of “Under the Falls” by Richard Russo.

How I Library epsiode 33 with daniel kraus

‘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.”

Three Sisters book cover detail

Book Review of the Week: ‘Three Sisters’

For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, ALA’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Jessica Durham’s review of “Three Sisters” by David Macinnis Gill.

Revolutionary Mary cover detail

Booklist Reader: ‘Before, During, and After: The American Revolution’

As young readers confront the meaning of America’s 250th birthday this year, it’s important to allow them to see the wider picture beyond the familiar roster of “founding fathers” that fill the pages of history textbooks. ALA’s Booklist has selected 16 books that offer a rich variety of perspectives on the decades leading up to the American Revolution, the important events of America’s fight for independence, and the early days of the new nation as it wrestled with what life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness mean in practice.

The Star Wars Anniversary Program at the Clearwater (Fla.) Public Library's Main Library 8/4/07.

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.

A still from Persepolis (left), Marjane Satrapi (right)

Marjane Satrapi, author of ‘Persepolis,’ dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French author of the acclaimed graphic novel “Persepolis” and director of the film adaptation which was nominated for an Oscar in 2008, died June 4 at age 56. Her work documented personal, cultural, and institutional struggles and was an unintended player in the fight for the freedom to read.

Booklist Reader: Holy Whodunits!

Some detectives seem to have a divine calling to solve mysteries. Join ALA’s Booklist as they highlight a wide assortment of excellent mystery books built around religious themes set in interesting places and times.

banned books map 3.24.23

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.

Galter Health Sciences Library and Kristi Holmes

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.