Efforts to ban books jumped an 'unprecedented' four-fold in 2021, ALA report says
The American Library Association says libraries faced the highest number of book challenges since they started tracking in 2000. Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer topped their list of most challenged books.
Art Spiegelman decries Tennessee school board for removing 'Maus' from its curriculum
Author Art Spiegelman says he felt "jaw-dropping disbelief" upon learning about the decision from a Tennessee school district to ban his graphic novel about the Holocaust.
Brooklyn Public Library has issued 5,100 free library cards to make banned books available for teens | CNN
As some public and school libraries pulled books from their shelves earlier this year, New York City's Brooklyn Public Library made access to thousands of books easier for teens across the country.
Arizona Senate agrees to create list of books to be banned in schools - Arizona News
PHOENIX -- State senators on Thursday approved a measure directing the Department of Education to create a list of books to be banned in public schools.
Arizona lawmakers to consider banning books in schools
Arizona state senators gave preliminary approval to a measure directing the Department of Education to come up with a list of books to ban in public schools.
On March 25, word started to spread on Twitter that a multitude of LGBTQ books—many of them by debut authors—were inexplicably missing from Target’s website, despite a number of the titles having previously been listed for pre-order.
Mississippi libraries ordered to delete academic research in response to state laws - Mississippi Today
The two research collections state officials ordered for deletion included material from professional journals, conference papers, books, student dissertations, periodicals and newspaper articles.
State Republicans push to police DEI in education via state funding
The Arizona House is set to vote on whether to eliminate state funds for universities and colleges that offer courses on diversity, equity and inclusion.
When Brigitte Weinsteiger became the vice provost and director of the Penn Libraries last year, she took the helm of what she characterizes as “one of the most consequential research libraries in the country.” With 19 libraries, 300-plus staff, a $95 million budget, and 10 million volumes across print and digital formats, she now leads an intellectual ecosystem that reaches across Penn’s campus and beyond.
This Time, Higher Ed’s Resistance to Trump Is Being Led by Its Associations
While individual colleges have been relatively quiet, groups like the American Council on Education and the American Association of University Professors are fighting the administration in the courts.
A University, a Rural Town and Their Fight to Survive Trump’s War on Higher Education
The administration’s research funding and DEI cuts present an existential threat to regional public universities like Southern Illinois University, the economic backbone of the conservative rural region it serves.
Naval Academy removes nearly 400 books from library in new DEI purge ordered by Hegseth's office
U.S. officials say the U.S. Naval Academy has removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office to review and get rid of books that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Trump executive order seeks to 'restore' American history through Smithsonian overhaul
The "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" order removes "divisive, race-centered ideology" from Smithsonian museums, educational and research centers, and the National Zoo.
On Friday night, March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order that called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and six other agencies. In FY24, the IMLS budget was $294.8 million, of which more than $211 million was dedicated to library services through the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA), the leading source of federal funding for America’s libraries. According to a statement from the American Library Association (ALA), “Libraries translate .003 percent of the federal budget into programs and services used by more than 1.2 billion people each year.”
Trump Signs Order to Break Up Education Department
Nearly 60 days into his second term in office, Trump followed through on his campaign promise to dismantle the Department of Education. Now it’s up to Congress to decide if the agency will be abolished entirely.
Iowa law banning school library books that depict sex acts on hold again after a new federal ruling
A federal judge says Iowa for now cannot continue to enforce part of its book ban law. The decision Tuesday gives major publishers that sued the state their latest temporary reprieve.
University of Arizona students, faculty respond to school's removal of DEIA language
Earlier this month, the U of A removed references to DEI from its website. Now more than 1,500 students, faculty, and staff have signed a petition questioning the elimination of the DEI language.
DEI in Flux: Fourth Circuit's Decision Resuscitates DEI Executive Orders | Insights | Holland & Knight
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an order lifting the nationwide injunction on President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting (DEI) programs.
Trump directs cuts to library funding | Here & Now
In one of his latest executive orders, President Trump ordered big cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is the only federal agency that provides funds to libraries.
ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services | ALA
An executive order issued by the Trump administration on Friday night, March 14, calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries.