News and Updates

Millions of people are predicted to turn their gazes to the sky April 8 to witness an event that has captivated people since the dawn of humankind—a solar eclipse. And libraries across the U.S. are getting in on the action.

Communities across the U.S. will come together April 7–13 for National Library Week, the annual celebration of libraries and library workers. This year's theme, "Ready, Set, Library!" is more than just a catchy phrase—it's a call to action for Americans to rediscover the treasure trove of opportunities libraries offer. 

Austin (Texas) Public Library has launched a social network to help teens keep access to banned books. The "Save The Books Social Network" brings together teens who are passionate about fighting for the freedom to read and want to see themselves represented in books at the library.

Footage from an event at an Alabama library last week is going viral and proving that the library is definitely punk rock.

Join the American Library Association (ALA) and Chicago Today’s Banned Book Club for a discussion of Mikki Kendall’s “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot” on Tuesday, March 26.

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 Nebraska and Minnesota, as well as a look at the economic impact of book bans.

On April 8, also known as Right to Read Day, the New Republic is presenting a free discussion on banned and challenged books with authors Lauren Groff, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Ellen Hopkins, George M. Johnson, David Levithan, Ashley Hope Perez, Jodi Picoult, and Jacqueline Woodson, hosted by MSNBC's Katie Phang.

It's the first day of spring: What better time to clean, declutter, and refresh one's home, workplace, and life. Libraries are no exception. Did you know that librarians regularly remove books from libraries every year? It’s called “weeding,” and it’s an essential task for a successful, thriving library. Laura Mendez, principal librarian at Carlsbad (Calif.) City Library, explains.