Library and Academic Institution Movements & the Law

The American Bar Association (ABA) is maintaining its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) despite intensified political pressure from the Trump administration and recent legal developments that have challenged the organization’s authority and policies. During a recent forum in Cleveland, ABA leadership reaffirmed the association’s belief that DEI is essential to the excellence and […]

Unraveling Equity: The Effects of Anti-DEI Legislation on Academic Law Library Workers This important discussion shines a light on the often-overlooked role ...

In the 2021-22 school year, RWU Law co-sponsored, along with the City University of New York School of Law and Jurist, an ongoing Integrating Doctrine & Diversity Speaker Series.

Has your favorite book been removed from local libraries? The restriction and removal of books in libraries and bookstores–including literary classics–have come front and center in the culture wars.

This work provides information to members and prospective members of the law librarian profession on the status, rights, and responsibilities of academic law li

Press Release: Taking the pulse: Share your voice on the state of libraries. Libraries today are navigating a landscape filled with opportunities and challenges. The rapid acceleration of AI is reshaping how information is discovered, accessed and understood. Open access scholarship is expanding the boundaries of knowledge sharing, while simultaneously challenging traditional publishing and acquisition models. All of this is unfolding under the weight of persistent budget constraints, staffing shortages and shifting institutional priorities.

Only one library book ban case has ever been decided by the U.S. Supreme Court: Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico (1982). In 1975, the Island Trees school b…

We know that the need for reliable internet access, digital skills training, and wi-fi-enabled technology persists. The DEA programs would have brought capacity-building resources to communities all over the United States; these devastating cancellations will hinder our progress toward closing the digital divide and ensuring that all Americans can thrive.

In Banned, readers are taken on a journey through the intense racial politics surrounding the banning of Mexican American Studies in Tucson, Arizona. This book details the state-sponsored racism that led to the elimination of this highly successful program, and the grassroots and legal resistance that followed. Through extensive research and firsthand narratives, readers will gain a deep understanding of the controversy surrounding this historic case. The legal challenge successfully overturned the Arizona law and became a central symbol in the modern-day Ethnic Studies renaissance. This work is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the power of community activism, the importance of fighting for educational equity, and why the example of Tucson created an alternative blueprint for how we can challenge states that are currently banning critical race theory.

The bills would have applied the state's obscenity laws to local libraries and allow counties and cities to terminate library board members.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on May 23 reversed a district court’s preliminary injunction and dismissed free speech claims in Little v. Llano County, a Texas case challenging the removal of 17 books from a public library.

Alt Text: White words on blue background stating “Rather than succumbing to helplessness, the response is to do something, take a step, find your work, and commit to it.” Allison Jennin…

I wrote this piece on libraries and possible educational responses as part of a longer contribution on the informational disciplines and the iSchool. A principal goal was to suggest that libraries present interesting and challenging research and educational questions, which cross disciplines.

Thomas Jefferson wanted to donate his personal collection of books to the Library of Congress. But critics thought those books were un-American.

Building Psychological Safety in Academic Libraries: Fostering Innovation, Well-Being, and Engaged Teams

In a thorough rebuke, federal judge John G. McConnell has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reverse the mass terminations of grants and staff at IMLS.

The Pentagon ordered military educational institutions to pull and review any books that promote what it called "divisive concepts and gender ideology" on Friday, in the latest move from President Donald Trump's administration against diversity, equity and inclusion.

A new poll shows a majority of U.S. adults disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of issues related to colleges and universities, as his Republican administration ramps up threats to cut federal funding unless schools comply with his political agenda.

From Politico: President Donald Trump continued a firing spree at the Library of Congress on Saturday when he dismissed the top copyright official in the nation — a position traditionally overseen by the legislative branch. The White House contacted Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter Saturday afternoon informing her that her job leading the U.S. Copyright […]

Ed. Note: We will update this report with additional media coverage and statements as they become available Recent Additions (Last Update 5:30pm; May 12) ALISE Statement On the Dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress The Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) strongly condemns this unprecedented action. Dr. Hayden, the first woman […]

President Donald Trump's onetime defense attorney has been appointed acting librarian of Congress. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche replaces longtime librarian Carla Hayden, whom the White House fired last week amid criticism from some conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.

“The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and its members are deeply disappointed in the administration’s decision to terminate Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress,” said Andrew K. Pace,...

A federal judge Tuesday wrote that President Trump's executive order dismantling the IMLS "disregards the fundamental constitutional role of each of the branches of our federal government."

Inclusive Leadership: Perspectives From Academic Library Leaders

Threats to DEI are only growing stronger, with continued plans to introduce bills in the next legislative session, and attacks occurring on the accreditation front. Use our interactive dashboard to keep track of the evolving attacks on DEI across the states.

Ed Martin sent a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation accusing it of spreading propaganda

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong vetoed a library content bill, calling it “a misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship.”