No Book Left Behind, by Alice-Catherine Carls Essay [email protected] Mon, 10/09/2023 - 15:35 Photo by Alexander Grey / UnsplashWelcome news to those of us in the “Flyover Zone”: our reading habits are healthy and well served. The Jackson Madison County Public Library in Jackson, Tennessee, is one such example. Possessing 115,799 physical items and over one million electronic books, it is one of the larger West Tennessee libraries, and it purports to encourage communicating information, developing technology literacy, and connecting people. It has a total physical circulation of 216,807 and 71,885 patrons (Madison County has a little over 100,000 residents). Digital circulation has gone up since Covid and stands today at 143,709. The library has a northern branch, a Tennessee Room archive, and five “Little Free Libraries” across the city of Jackson. Its 2022 budget was $217,447 for digital and print materials, with $95,159 for print books and $111,115 for digital, $11,137 of which went to cassettes and DVDs that are still popular among patrons with less advanced technology. Dinah Harris, the library director since 2000, states that print books are slow to disappear and remain a vital part of the library. The use of electronic resources has only gone up by 15 percent since Covid and is plateauing at 40 percent. Printed books have a long and happy life in the flyover zone. Libraries, whether located in the flyover zone or not,... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2023-10-09 20:35:50 UTC ]
I decided to become a volunteer at my local anarchistic bookstore during the pandemic. This is what it's like. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-08 10:35:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble finally has a direct answer to Amazon's purchase of Audible. The bookseller has launched a B&N Audiobooks service in the US that lets you either buy recordings or pay $15 per month for a subscription that offers one recurring monthly credit. You'll have access to more than... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-04-07 16:21:47 UTC ]
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These are the 10 books the American Library Association reports as being the most banned or challenged titles of 2021. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-05 14:07:04 UTC ]
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Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, plans to hold a hearing April 7 to examine the wave of attempted book bannings in schools and libraries across the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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729 formal book challenges were reported to the American Library Association in 2021, which is likely only 10% of total challenges. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-04 17:35:10 UTC ]
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ALA kicked off National Library Week with the release of its annual State of America's Libraries report, and its "Top 10 Most Challenged Books" list. The 729 challenges tracked by ALA in 2021 represent the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling its list 20 years ago,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New Yorkers still tell stories of browsing at Harlem’s Liberation Bookstore or spending the afternoon at Scribner’s. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-04-01 09:03:09 UTC ]
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The 2022 Public Library Association conference drew nearly 5,000 in-person attendees to Portland, Ore., last week, marking a significant step toward a return to major library conferences. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A rite of spring, the White House budget proposal officially kicks off the congressional appropriations cycle each fiscal year. And this year, library advocates have their work cut out for them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The decision in New York City set off a wave of returns, accompanied by bashful notes of apology and gratitude. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-03-31 14:46:31 UTC ]
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At Slate, Maia Kobabe discusses writing Gender Queer, a memoir about self-acceptance and understanding, which has been challenged in schools and libraries across the country in recent months. “What I’m learning is that a book challenge is like a community attacking itself,” Kobabe says. “The... Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2022-03-30 20:30:51 UTC ]
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Opening these libraries up promises to re-balance the continent’s place in world history when it comes to its intellectual life. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2022-03-29 16:12:23 UTC ]
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Libraries can provide joy and relief by offering a chance to play. Here are some of my favorite ways to include play in the school library. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-03-28 10:30:00 UTC ]
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With more than 4,000 library workers and advocates expected to attend, library leaders say this week's Public LIbrary Association conference, the largest in-person library gathering since February 2020, feels like a sign of renewal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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As London Public Library in southwestern Ontario commits to adding a full-time addiction and mental health specialist to its staff, experts say more social work training and support is exactly what urban libraries need. Continue reading at CBC
[ CBC | 2022-03-16 19:33:18 UTC ]
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The five bookstore finalists and five sales rep finalists have been announced in PW's annual award program. Winners will be announced at PW's U.S. Book Show set for May 23-26. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In March 2020, I happened to be working at a library for the first time (shoutout to my friends at BPL), and got to witness up-close how quickly the staff pivoted their services to respond to the pandemic: shifting programming online and expanding their virtual presence; starting a delivery... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-03-09 19:43:39 UTC ]
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The new coalition aims to inform and organize Texans who oppose efforts to ban books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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After opening its first bookstore with much fanfare in November 2015, Amazon is closing all of its 24 physical bookstores as well as its 4-star and pop-up stores, which carry a mix of items, including some books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
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