State of America's Libraries Report 2020

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SPECIAL REPORT | APRIL 2020

THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

THE STATE OF America’s Libraries A report from the American Library Association

Top 10 Most Challenged Books p. 15 About the Report

STEVE ZALUSKY is communications specialist with the

THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION American Library Association’s Communications and Mar- keting Office. Prior to working with the Association, he spent many years working for news organizations in the Chicago area. He can be reached at 312-280-1546 or [email protected]. Address: 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 Website: americanlibrariesmagazine.org The following ALA divisions and offices also contributed to this report. Email: [email protected] Phone: 800-545-2433 plus extension ■ American Association ■ Library and Information of School Librarians Resource Center EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ■ American Libraries ■ Office for Diversity, Literacy, Sanhita SinhaRoy [email protected] | x4219 ■ Association for Library and Outreach Services MANAGING EDITOR Service to Children ■ Office for Intellectual Freedom Terra Dankowski [email protected] | x5282 ■ Association of College ■ Public Library Association

SENIOR EDITORS and Research Libraries ■ Public Policy and Amy Carlton ■ Association of Specialized, [email protected] | x5105 Advocacy Office George M. Eberhart Government, and Cooperative ■ Young Adult Library [email protected] | x4212 Library Agencies Services Association Phil Morehart ■ [email protected] | x4218 Communications and

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Marketing Office Anne Ford [email protected] | x4213 EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING ASSISTANT PRESS CONTACT Carrie Smith [email protected] | x4216 Macey Morales

ART DIRECTOR Deputy Director Rebecca Lomax [email protected] | x4217 Communications and Marketing Office American Library Association ADVERTISING Michael Stack [email protected] | 847-367-7120 312-280-4393 Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorse- ment. ALA reserves the right to refuse advertising. [email protected]

PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT Mary Mackay, Associate Executive Director Mary Jo Bolduc, Rights, Permissions, Reprints | x5416 HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT MEMBERSHIP American Library Association. The State of America’s Libraries 2020: A Lorelle Swader, Associate Executive Director Report from the American Library Association. Steve Zalusky, ed. 2020. ADVISORY COMMITTEE Susan H. Polos (Chair), Salvador Avila, Joseph M. Eagan, http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2020 Sonja Eyler, Mary L. Hastler, Ben Allen Hunter, Jasmina Jusic, Sigrid Kelsey. Committee associate: Lisa Anne Romano Editorial policy: ALA Policy Manual, section A.8.2 ABOUT ALA PUBLISHED American Libraries (ISSN 0002-9769) is published 6 times The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national yearly with occasional supplements by the American Library Association (ALA). Printed in USA. Periodicals organization providing resources to inspire library and information pro- postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, and additional mailing fessionals to transform their communities through essential programs offices. POSTMASTER: Personal members: Send address changes to American Libraries, c/o Membership Records, and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted ALA, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. ©2019 American voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in Library Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more magazine may be reproduced or republished without written permission from the publisher. information, visit ala.org.

2 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org American Libraries | April 2020 | ISSN 0002-9769 yaphogry Phot yaphogry y Lindsa thon: AnoPhot thon:

The Half Moon Bay branch of the San Mateo County (Calif.) Libraries was featured in the 2019 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards. THE STATE OF 4 Introduction 8 Public Libraries America’s 10 Academic Libraries 12 School Libraries Libraries 14 Issues and Trends 14 Intellectual Freedom 18 Net Neutrality 19 21st-Century Skills A report from the American Library Association 19 Services to Teens

EDITED BY Steve Zalusky 20 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 23 Ebooks 24 I Love My Librarian Awards 25 Sustainability 26 Libraries of the Future 28 Resources

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 3 THE STATE OF America’s Libraries A report from the American Library Association

EDITED BY Steve Zalusky

he theme of National Library Week in 2020 is “Find the Library at Your Place.” (The theme was changed from T “Find Your Place in the Library” to reflect the altered landscape in the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight how libraries are offering the virtual services and digital content their communities need more than ever.) It takes its cue from 2019–2020 ALA President Wanda Kay Brown’s presidential initiative “Finding Your ALA,” which aims to promote the value of libraries through a lens of social justice and inclusion. At the beginning of her term, Brown wrote in American Libraries, “Libraries are essential for the health of our democracy, our communities, and our future.” During the week of April 19–25, Americans take time to celebrate the libraries and library workers who connect them with the resources they need. Libraries provide free access to books, online resources, and family programming. Library business centers help support entrepreneurship and worker retraining. Attendance at free public programs in libraries has gone up. Libraries offer opportunities for everyone and—in many cases—a safe place to be.

4 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Access and EDITOR'S NOTE challenges s the State of America’s Libraries report goes to Most challenges to library resources in Apress, the coronavirus pandemic has upended our 2019 focused on materials and programs nation and our profession, so much so that aspects of associated with issues of concern to those this report —which provides a snapshot of our industry in the gay, lesbian, transgender, and in 2019—now read like dispatches from a distant era. queer communities, most notably books What hasn’t changed is our belief that service and affirming transgender youth, like Alex stewardship to our communities are core to the library Gino’s George. profession. We continue to see this every day even as library buildings close to the public but often sustain Top Ten Most Challenged Books in or grow their virtual services and make their resources 2019. The ALA Office for Intellectual freely available to all. Today and everyday, our nation’s Freedom tracked 377 challenges to libraries are on the front lines, playing an invaluable library, school, and university materials role in keeping communities connected. and services in 2019. Of the 566 books From the vantage point of the present, it’s clear challenged or banned in 2019, the that, as this report attests, libraries are more import- following are the top 10 most frequently ant and necessary than ever—and they have an challenged: important role to play in keeping our communities 1. George, by Alex Gino strong during and after this unprecedented time. Read on for inspiration and assurance that our profession is 2. Beyond Magenta: Transgender ready for the challenge. Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin • 3. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller 4. Sex is a Funny Word, by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth 5. Prince & Knight, by Daniel Haack, country, public libraries provide the only access to information illustrated by Stevie Lewis for underrepresented, marginalized, and vulnerable communi- 6. I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel ties. Often the library is the first point of contact that connects and Jazz Jennings, illustrated people who have serious needs to other community agencies. DID YOU KNOW? by Shelagh McNicholas Following a 7. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Inclusion. ALA was one of 100 voluntary national partner orga- Margaret Atwood nizations that participated in the design of Truth, Racial Healing, year of intense and Transformation (TRHT), the W. K. Kellogg Foundation’s 8. Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier national and community-based process to plan for and bring engagement by about transformational and sustainable change and to address 9. Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling the historic and contemporary effects of racism. As part of this ALA members, 10. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter work, ALA’s Public Programs Office and Office for Diversity, the president Parnell and Justin Richardson, Literacy, and Outreach Services convened Racial Healing Circles illustrated by Henry Cole at nine library conferences, helping participants to recognize our signed a common humanity, acknowledge the truth of past wrongs, and build the authentic relationships necessary to begin transforming spending bill Major issues communities and shifting our national discourse. Today’s libraries are at the heart of their containing a communities, delivering innovative edu- Federal funding. Libraries rely on federal funds to support $10 million cational resources and programs. Library initiatives on the local, state, and federal levels. Most federal staff work to create an equitable society by library funds are distributed through the Institute of Museum increase providing free access to accurate infor- and Library Services (IMLS) to each state through the Library mation to all people. In many parts of the Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The Innovative Approaches for IMLS.

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 5 STATE OF AMERICA’S LIBRARIES

to Literacy (IAL) grant program from the US Department of Edu- ■ $192 million for Striving Readers Big Life Change? cation supports school libraries working to foster reading skills at Comprehensive Literacy Grants the most crucial early years of a child’s development. LSTA and ($190 million in FY2019) IAL provide critical assistance, giving libraries across the country ■ $1.25 billion for 21st Century Don’t forget your health insurance! the financial support they need to serve their communities. Community Learning Centers Following a year of intense engagement by ALA members, ($1.22 billion in FY2019) You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period! Congress approved in December, and the president signed, a ■ $16.3 billion for Title I Grants spending bill containing a $10 million increase for IMLS, the to Local Education Agencies largest increase for the program in more than a decade. ($15.9 billion in FY2019) Congress appropriated $252 million for IMLS, including a ■ $2.13 billion for Title II Supporting $6.2 million increase dedicated to LSTA. Highlights from the Effective Instruction ($2.06 billion and $195.4 million for LSTA include: in FY2019) ■ $166.8 million for LSTA Grants to States The Library of Congress and the many ($160.8 million in FY2019) National Library of Medicine also received more! ■ $5.3 million for LSTA Native American Library funding increases. Services ($5.1 million in FY2019) Birth or adoption Moving Immigration status change ■ $10 million for LSTA Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants ($10 million in FY2019) The 2020 Census: ■ $13.4 million for LSTA National Leadership Striving for a for Libraries ($13.4 million in FY2019) Also, did you know you can enroll in Medicaid and CHIP anytime Overall funding for the Department of Education increased by complete count $1.3 billion, raising its total budget to $72.8 billion. The IAL pro- Public libraries are playing a key role of the year? Visit healthcare.gov/screener to learn more. gram received $27 million for FY2020, the same level as 2019. in the success of the 2020 Census. In Other library-eligible programs received increases: preparation for the census, public libraries ■ $1.21 billion for Title IV Part A Well-Rounded ramped up efforts to ensure an accurate, Education ($1.17 billion in FY2019) fair, and inclusive count for communities. With staff support and resources developed by ALA and the Public Library Association (PLA), including its Libraries’ Guide to the 2020 Census, library workers • Coverage options, including from around the country joined state and Libraries can Medicaid or Special Enrollment Period local Complete Count Committees, collab- orating with community stakeholders. act now with • Using your health insurance On Census Day, April 1, 2019, then–ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo • Preventive care highlighted libraries’ critical role of premade achieving a fair and accurate count in the • Social media–friendly assets 2020 Census by participating in a press conference held by the US Census Bureau, communications • Radio ad scripts joining top leaders in the bureau and other national stakeholders. • Spanish-language assets Also, on Census Day, ALA joined an materials for... amicus brief to the US Supreme Court opposing the last-minute addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. In June, the Supreme Court ruled against From left: ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo; Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby; and Annie the administration’s proposed addition, E. Casey Foundation President and CEO Lisa Hamilton at the US Census Bureau’s Census Day press removing a significant distraction from conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., April 1, 2019. preparations for a complete count. The Libraries Connecting You to Coverage initiative is made possible by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Community Catalyst. Learn more at ala.org/pla/initiatives/connectingyoutocoverage 6 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Big Life Change? Don’t forget your health insurance! You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period!

and many more! Birth or adoption Moving Immigration status change

Also, did you know you can enroll in Medicaid and CHIP anytime of the year? Visit healthcare.gov/screener to learn more.

• Coverage options, including Libraries can Medicaid or Special Enrollment Period act now with • Using your health insurance premade • Preventive care • Social media–friendly assets communications • Radio ad scripts materials for... • Spanish-language assets

The Libraries Connecting You to Coverage initiative is made possible by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Community Catalyst. Learn more at ala.org/pla/initiatives/connectingyoutocoverage movie rentals, or activities for children, libraries are most utilized by young adults, women, and residents of low-income households.” Learning and parent Public engagement Libraries are embracing their roles in learning and promoting parental engage- libraries ment in education. Research shows that increased parental involvement reduces or eradicates the literacy gap between children whose mothers have varying levels he popularity of libraries is surging. The public response of education. to the work of our nation’s libraries is reflected in an While high-income households can Tincreased number of visits. According to a recent Gallup spend more on enrichment activities, poll, visiting the library is the “most common cultural activity public libraries are leveling the playing field by offering free access to collections Americans engage in by far.” In 2019, US adults reported taking and programs that bring families together. an average of 10.5 trips to the library, a frequency that exceeded Parental support helps teenagers improve their participation in eight other common leisure activities. their interpersonal and decision-making Americans attended live music or theatrical events and visited skills and avoid reckless impulses, while public libraries offer enriching programs national or historic parks roughly four times a year on average for all ages that help kids and their and visited museums and gambling casinos 2.5 times annually. parents bond by learning side-by-side. Public libraries are attracting a cross-section of visitors, includ- The public library also helps parents ing adults in low-income households and young people. For avoid social isolation and its potential for example, US adults aged 18–29 visit the library much more than depression, which decreases the fami- older age groups. ly’s risk of child behavioral issues and According to Gallup, “Despite the proliferation of digital-based maltreatment. activities over the past two decades—including digital books, The Public Library Association (PLA), podcasts, streaming a division of ALA, is helping libraries entertainment services, capitalize on all these strengths through and advanced gaming— its family engagement initiatives libraries have endured as and training. a place Americans visit nearly monthly on average. Whether because they offer Wellness and health services like free Wi-Fi, Promoting wellness and helping community members connect to vital health and social services is a growing trend in US DigitalLearn.org offers free public libraries. More than 70% of Ameri- courses geared toward users cans agree that libraries can assist people new to computers. who are seeking health information. More than 80% of those looking for diet, nutrition, and fitness information online at the library report that they subsequently made changes in their diet and exercise.

8 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Libraries provide a diverse array of health literacy and awareness services for their communities. Public library collections offer materials on healthy lifestyles, cookbooks that address medical dietary needs, multimedia for physical exercise instruction, and self-help mental health materials. Some libraries take healthy lifestyle services even further by offering walking, hiking, bicycling, or running programs that take place outside the library building. Nearly 23% of public libraries host fitness or yoga classes. Inde- pendently and with support from PLA’s Libraries Connecting You to Coverage project, hundreds of public libraries are encouraging community members to secure health insurance coverage through information dissemination, education, and partnerships. The Redwood City (Calif.) Public Library installed two bee hives on the downtown library’s rooftop. Dozens of public libraries are also hiring social work practitioners, interns, classes and even providing seed capital through business-plan or students to address the social service competitions. needs of their customers. PLA’s Social Public libraries are ideal partners in researching new ideas or Worker Task Force and the training markets, developing business plans, gaining access to emerging and resources it provides to the public technologies, and learning about intellectual property. PLA helps library field are identifying best practices public libraries increase digital literacy and economic opportu- and educating public library staff about nity by creating tools like DigitalLearn for teaching basic com- such critical issues as trauma-informed puter skills and by developing such initiatives as Libraries Lead care, serving persons experiencing with Digital Skills, a 2019 partnership with Grow with Google homelessness, and more. that provided funding and tools so that hundreds of public libraries could offer programs to help community members develop their skills, careers, and businesses. Economic DID YOU KNOW? opportunity Patrons can Public libraries drive economic oppor- Nontraditional collections tunity for their community members The best proof that public libraries are about more than just check out through skill development and small books is their evolution into libraries of things, offering non- kitchenware, business support. Nearly 90% of public traditional collections that are community-specific and imagi- libraries offer digital literacy training native. The wide array of items available to check out includes outdoor programs, through which community mattresses, dolls, bicycles, binoculars, and accordions. At the members can learn résumé development Beaverton (Oreg.) City Library, patrons can check out kitchen- equipment, and job searching and gain new skills ware, outdoor equipment, and games. to aid in career advancement. Nearly Libraries have even delved into the area of beekeeping. The and games at half of the more than 16,000 public Redwood City (Calif.) Public Library collaborated with the the Beaverton libraries in the US provide free services Beekeepers’ Guild of San Mateo and the owner of a local farm, for small businesses and entrepreneurs, culminating in the installation of two hives on the downtown (Oreg.) from offering access to market-trends library’s rooftop. If there is something that can’t be checked out City Library.

Photo: Redwood City (Calif.) Public Library (Calif.) City Redwood Photo: databases to hosting business-coaching at your public library, it likely hasn’t been invented yet.

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 9 of academic libraries in the US provide support for at least one high-impact educational practice. (This statistic and other academic library data can be found in ACRL’s 2018 ACRL Academic Library Trends and Statistics and the ACRLMetrics subscription-only data- ACADEMIC base online.) libraries Programs and services Academic librarians are uniquely situated to influence student learning in a variety ur nation’s academic libraries have a major impact of ways—through the reference desk, on student success. Statistics gathered by the Asso- one-shot classroom sessions, one-on-one Ociation of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a consultations, collaboration with faculty, division of ALA, demonstrate how academic libraries support and cocurricular activities. Academic many types of high-impact educational practices (HIPS) that library staff provided instructional sessions (both face-to-face and electronic) have beneficial effects on student retention, graduation rates, to more than 7 million students annually time to graduation, and grade point average. (nearly one-third of the 2018 student FTE ACRL conducts an annual survey of staffing, collections, enrollment). More than 57% of the almost expenditures, operations, and initiatives for all academic libraries 800,000 instructional sessions were digi- in the United States. The most recent data, from 2018, show that tal or electronic. academic libraries promote deep learning by promoting student Doctoral degree-granting institutions engagement as measured by the National Survey on Student averaged more than 15,400 reference Engagement (NSSE). Of the 10 practices that qualify as HIPS, transactions and consultations per year, first-year seminars, writing-intensive courses, undergraduate followed by comprehensive universities research with a faculty member, and capstone projects for seniors (with more than 4,900 transactions are the learning experiences most frequently promoted by aca- and consultations), community colleges demic libraries. (with more than 8,100 transactions and Academic libraries also support other high-impact practices, consultations), and baccalaureate schools including international study and global learning, service- (more than 2,700 transactions and learning projects, internships, and e-portfolios. Nearly 27% consultations.

DID YOU KNOW? 7 million 1 billion+ students received instructional sessions visits were reported by academic (both face-to-face and electronic) from academic libraries collectively in 2018 library staff annually (nearly one-third of the 2018 (an average of 47 visits per student FTE enrollment). FTE student).

10 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Access and usage Libraries in doctoral degree–granting institutions were open an average of 109.75 hours per week and were visited by more than 966,000 users on average annually. Comprehensive university libraries were open on average 91.02 hours per week and averaged 296,000 visits per year. Baccalaureate libraries were open an average of 89.74 hours per week and averaged 179,000 visits per year. Community colleges were open an average of 63.77 hours per week and averaged 203,000 visits per year. Collectively, academic libraries reported more than 1 billion visits in 2018 for an average of 47 visits per FTE student. Electronic resource usage continued to grow in academic libraries. Materials in institutional repositories received more than 622 million uses, ebooks more than 532 million uses, and e-serials recorded more than 818 million uses. Additionally, academic The Barbara J. Burger iZone at the University of Rochester in New York, was featured in American libraries borrowed more than 6.3 Libraries' 2019 Library Design Showcase. million items for their communities from other libraries through inter- spent an average of 73.8% of their materials budget on ongoing library loan. subscriptions. In 2018, doctoral degree–granting institutions spent an average of $356.77 per student on materials; comprehensive schools Collections spent an average of $140.18; baccalaureate schools averaged Academic library expenditures for col- $222.55 per student in materials expenditures; and associate lection materials averaged $5,346,929 degree–granting institutions spent an average of $39.65. for doctoral degree–granting institutions, $682,823 for comprehensive degree–granting institutions, Staffing trends $494,883 for baccalaureate schools, and Spending on salaries and wages accounted for 56.3% of total $196,050 for associate degree–granting library expenditures on average. Salaries and wages constituted institutions. 72.9% of total library expenditures for associate degree–granting On average, doctoral degree–grant- institutions, 51.6% for baccalaureates, 55.4% for comprehensive ing institutions spent 77.4% of their schools, and 42.8% for doctoral or research institutions. materials budgets on ongoing commit- Associate degree–granting institutions had an average of ments to subscriptions in 2018; com- 4.92 FTE librarians serving 4,945 students; baccalaureate prehensive schools spent an average schools had an average of 5.38 FTE librarians serving 2,224 stu- of 80.7%; baccalaureate schools spent dents; comprehensive universities served an average of 4,871 an average of 79.6%; and associate students with an average of 7.8 FTE librarians; and doctoral or degree–granting institutions spent an research institutions served 14,957 students with 30.13 FTE

Photo: Revette Studio Revette Photo: average of 64.8%. All academic libraries librarians.

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 11 The 2018 National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries, developed by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of ALA, establishes an integrated framework for the learner, school librarian, and school library as school an essential element of teaching and learning. Within this framework, the shared foundations (Inquire, Include, libraries Collaborate, Curate, Explore, and Engage) are centered on information to enable success through innovation, collaboration, exploration, deep thinking, and creativity. chool librarians and school libraries continue to School librarians hold a common belief evolve to meet the demand for equity and access in that reading is the core of personal and Sa culturally responsive learning environment offer- academic competency. ing physical and digital resources and connections to a As literacy leaders, school librarians global world. Today’s world requires them to navigate an are positioned to elevate the importance of reading and reading proficiency to increasingly complex information landscape, yet school support all learners’ academic success. librarians—a unique position in the school environment for Decades of research indicates that there understanding the questioning, selection, and creation of is a positive correlation between learners’ knowledge from this landscape—continue to be threatened attending schools with full-time, state- with the loss of positions. certified school librarians and higher scores on standardized reading tests. The need for school librarians to Standards instruct students in information literacy In a 2012 Pew Research Center survey, 83% of teachers is evident in the need for using data in responded that students are overwhelmed by the amount of decision-making. The perception is that information available online, and 60% stated that the increasing youth growing up with access to ubiqui- array of technologies makes it more difficult to locate credible tous technology can easily and effectively information. The inability to curate information was echoed in use data. Yet a recent report on data a 2016 Stanford University study that found nearly 80% of high literacy found that “60% of US workers school students struggle to verify the credibility of a source. This 16 to 24 years old—people who had been lack of knowledge and skill is the result of many schools failing raised surrounded by technology—are to provide students with well-resourced school libraries staffed overwhelmed by the data they must read by qualified school librarians—the vital center in every school for and analyze as part of their jobs.” improved reading scores, one-to-one technology initiatives, and As school districts face constrained expanded pathways to college, career, and life. budgets each year, all too many consider

DID YOU KNOW? Decades of research indicates that there is a positive correlation between learners’ attending schools with full-time, state-certified school librarians and higher scores on standardized reading tests.

12 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Kerri Price, a Charleston County (S.C.) Teacher Librarian Cohort member in University of South Carolina's Library Scholar program, works with students in her school library, alongside her therapy dog, Bailey.

school librarians for potential cuts. that they would lose their jobs in 2020, since the school district In a nation rebounding economically suffers from a $31 million deficit. from low unemployment rates, Forbes School librarians have been described as an endangered magazine notes that the “public school species in Michigan. In 2019, 92% of schools statewide don’t librarian sector has not rebounded, and employ a full-time, certified librarian, while the number of the nation’s collective failure to rebuild school librarians in the state declined 73% between 2000 and its public information infrastructure is 2016, far beyond the national decline of 20% during that period. hitting minorities the hardest.” Michigan is 47th in the nation in the number of librarians it offers per student. A 2019 informational brief sponsored by the New York State Case studies Library reviewed research studies on the critical role of the In South Carolina, which requires school librarian in the learning process. The brief found signifi- every public school to have at least one cance in the “sustainability of school libraries for the success of school librarian with an MLIS degree, all students” and concluded that as education and employment the state had 60 school librarian vacan- changes, “the school librarians’ contributions, whether direct cies in 2018. or indirect, are consistently shown to be of positive value to In April 2019, every librarian in not only students and teachers, but the wider community” for Spokane (Wash.) Public Schools was told future learning.

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 13 Organized groups also continued to protest and disrupt Drag Queen Story Hour events held in libraries, claiming that the events advance political, social, issues and religious agendas that are incon- sistent with the groups’ conservative Christian beliefs about gender and sexual and identity. In 2019, OIF tracked more than 30 challenges to Drag Queen Story Hours and other Pride programs, and trends identified a new and distressing trend of disinviting authors who had been invited to speak or read from their books, solely on the grounds that the authors identify Intellectual freedom as LGTBQIA+ or because their books hallenges to library materials and programs address- include LGBTQIA+ themes. Authors who have been disinvited include Lilah Sturges ing issues of concern to those in the lesbian, gay, (Lumberjanes), Leslèa Newman (Gittel’s C bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, Journey), Julia Watts (Quiver), Meredith intersex, asexual, and related (LGBTQIA+) communities con- Russo (If I Was Your Girl), and Robin Ste- tinued unabated in 2019, with a rising number of coordinated, venson (Kid Activists). While challenges to LGBTQIA+ books organized challenges to books, programs, speakers, and other made up the majority of entries on OIF’s library resources that address LGBTQIA+ issues and themes. Top Ten Most Challenged Books list A notable feature of these challenges is an effort to frame any for 2019, libraries continued to receive material with LGBTQIA+ themes or characters as inherently por- challenges to library resources based on nographic or unsuitable for minors, even when the materials are objections to profanity, sex, and themes intended for children and families and they are age and devel- related to race, religion, and social justice. opmentally appropriate. For example, a pastor in Upshur, West These included books such as Marga- Virginia, challenged the children’s picture book Prince & Knight, ret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Nic claiming that the fractured fairy tale “is a deliberate attempt to Stone’s Dear Martin, Jason Reynolds’s and indoctrinate young children, especially boys, into the LGBTQA Brendan Kiely’s All American Boys, and lifestyle.” Similarly, an organized group in Loudoun County, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Virginia, protested the addition of diverse children’s and young Also challenged were online research adult books addressing LGBTQIA+ themes and characters to databases provided by EBSCO and Gale classroom libraries, claiming that the books advance a “political Cengage, based on unsubstantiated and agenda” endorsed by the LGBTQIA+ community. unverified claims that these databases, curated to be appropriate for each age and educational level, contain explicit Prince & sexual content. Knight, Like the challenges to LGBTQIA+ written materials, many of these challenges are by Daniel Haack and pursued by well-organized pressure illustrated groups intent on banning books and by Stevie resources they deem pornographic or Lewis unsuitable for minors. A serious concern is their efforts to pass state legislation that would make it possible to sue or crimi- nally prosecute librarians and educators

14 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org for providing or lending constitution- titles removed from the library were W. E. B. Du Bois’s The Souls ally protected, mainstream materials to of Black Folk and The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. minors. Among the works identified as Despite all these challenges and concerns, libraries across the unsuitable by these groups are Haruki country continued to be welcoming community institutions that Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore, Toni Mor- foster intellectual freedom and inclusivity by developing and rison’s The Bluest Eye, Khaled Hosseini’s defending collections, resources, and services that reflect and The Kite Runner, and Cristina García’s celebrate the diversity of their communities. Dreaming in Cuban. The decision made by county commis- Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2019. The ALA Office for sioners in Citrus County, Florida, to deny Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, funding for a digital subscription to the and university materials and services in 2019. Overall, 566 books New York Times demonstrated how parti- were targeted. Here are the “Top 10 Most Challenged Books in san differences can impair public library 2019,” along with the reasons cited for censoring the books: users’ access to high quality information resources. The commissioners unanimously denied a request from their local 1 | George by Alex Gino library to spend $2,700 annually on the Challenged, banned, restricted, and hidden digital resource, stating that the paper to avoid controversy; for LGBTQIA+ content is “fake news” and that they “agree with and a transgender character; because Donald Trump.” Approval of the subscrip- schools and libraries should not “put books tion fee would have reduced costs for the in a child’s hand that require discussion”; for sexual references; and for conflicting library and expanded access from four with a religious viewpoint and “traditional print copies of the newspaper to unlimited family structure” digital access for every person holding a Citrus County Library card. A number of high-profile challenges to 2 | Beyond Magenta: Transgender materials in prison libraries and class- Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin rooms drew attention to the chronic and Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for “its arbitrary censorship of reading materials effect on any young people who would and information resources in prisons. read it,” and for concerns that it was Reports compiled by PEN America sexually explicit and biased revealed that thousands of mainstream publications—including fiction, nonfic- tion, and periodicals—have been banned 3 | A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo from prisons on the grounds that the by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller materials pose a threat to the “good order” Challenged and vandalized for LGBTQIA+ or security of the prison. But a close content and political viewpoints, for concerns that it is “designed to pollute the examination of these lists reveals that morals of its readers,” and for not including many books banned from prisons share a content warning a focus on social justice, race relations, or racism in the administration of the criminal justice system. In one instance, 4 | Sex is a Funny Word by Cory prison staff entered a library maintained Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth by the University of Illinois Education Challenged, banned, and relocated for Justice Project at the Danville Correctional LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender Center and removed 200 books that were identity and sex education; and for previously approved for use by people who concerns that the title and illustrations were are incarcerated and were earning college “inappropriate” degrees through the program. Among the

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 15 STATE OF AMERICA’S LIBRARIES

Where do readers on censorship challenges censorship By the Numbers 2019 take place? Censorship is a dead end. It limits exploration and creates barriers to Had I had a book like 66% that on the shelf, I access information. The path toward the Public libraries “ might have realized a freedom to read starts at the library. 607 Total materials 19% lot sooner that I could Learn more at ala.org/bbooks. School libraries affected in censorship love myself. I might attempts in 2019 12% have realized a lot (including books, Schools Who initiates challenges? fi lms, newspapers) sooner that it’s O.K. 2% to feel different.” Board/ Academia 18% 13% Community member on Parents administration 1% keeping “Prince & Knight” on a public library’s shelves 12% Political/religious +14% Special/prison what is a Increase from libraries groups last year Statistics based on 377 responses Challenge? 8% Librarians/teachers Attempt to 3% Elected offi cials Obviously, I’m a 45% 1% Students books and beyond Christian,“ and I take remove or restrict Patrons The ALA’s Offi ce for Intellectual Freedom tracked my God very seriously, materials or Statistics based on 361 responses 377 challenges in 2019. Here’s the breakdown: but if I just simply ban services based everything that’s going on content Reasons for challenges to be said about my God or about my faith, what is a then I’m living in my own Ban? little, narrow world.” 56% 22% 9% 8% 5% Pastor on the inclusion of Removal of Books Programs, Displays, Films Other* “The Curious Incident of the meeting artwork Dog in the Night-Time” on a materials or rooms school’s summer reading list * Includes social media, hate crimes, games, fi ltering, databases, cancellation of newspapers, magazines services based Each word and phrase in this graphic is cited from 2019 censorship reports on content CENSORSHIP STATISTICS COMPILE BY

16 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org STATE OF AMERICA’S LIBRARIES

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 17 Privacy. In January 2019, the ALA Coun- 5 | Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, cil unanimously approved the addition of illustrated by Stevie Lewis a new, seventh article to the ALA Library Challenged and restricted for featuring a Bill of Rights: “All people, regardless gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content; for of origin, age, background, or views, being “a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate possess a right to privacy and confidenti- young children” with the potential to cause ality in their library use. Libraries should confusion, curiosity, and gender dysphoria; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifi- 6 | I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel able information.” and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by The new article establishes a robust Shelagh McNicholas information norm in support of library Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ users’ privacy rights and provides content, for a transgender character, and libraries and librarians with a strong for confronting a topic that is “sensitive, foundation for advocating for users’ controversial, and politically charged” privacy rights. Recent controversies concerning third-party library service and 7 | The Handmaid’s Tale resource providers’ practices regarding by Margaret Atwood the collection, storage, and use of library Banned and challenged for profanity and users’ personal data and circulation for “vulgarity and sexual overtones” records prompted ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee to form a working group to establish privacy guidelines for library vendors.

8 | Drama written and illustrated Net neutrality by Raina Telgemeier The ALA continues to fight against for Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and an open internet. In October 2019, the for concerns that it goes against “family US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit values/morals” upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to issue its 2018 Order eliminating network neutrality protections. However, the Association was 9 | Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling heartened by the court’s ruling that states Banned and forbidden from discussion may fill the gap left by the FCC’s abdica- for referring to magic and witchcraft, for tion of its broadband authority. The court containing actual curses and spells, and for vacated the portion of the Order in which characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals the FCC attempted to preempt state or local efforts to protect an open internet. As ALA President Wanda Kay Brown stated, “Without strong and clear net 10 | And Tango Makes Three neutrality protections in place, there is by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, nothing to stop internet service pro- illustrated by Henry Cole viders from blocking or throttling legal Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ internet traffic or setting up commercial content arrangements where certain traffic is prioritized.”

18 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Building 21st- century skills Libraries are at the forefront of efforts to promote digital literacy. ALA’s Digital Literacy Task Force defines digital literacy as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” In the process, libraries have forged partnerships that play a critical role in fostering digital literacy. Building on the strong partnership between ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office and Google through the multiyear Libraries Ready to Code initiative, the $1 million Libraries Lead with Digital Skills initiative launched at the end of January 2019 with a 50-state tour kickoff at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Fol- Plano (Tex.) Public Library System offers bilingual backpacks that include books, flash cards, and other lowing each state tour, the Public Library resources to support language learning. Association opened grant applications to local public libraries that are working to ■ Research by Digital Equity for Learning estimates at least develop digital skills. To support outreach 20% of mobile-only families have too many people sharing in each state, ALA collaborated with the the same device. As a result, there is not enough access for Chief Offices of State Library Agencies and everyone. ALA chapters to promote the grant oppor- ■ Libraries connect families of all ages, incomes, and abilities tunities in their states, providing resources with a variety of tech experiences, offering such resources as and updates. STEAM kits and bilingual backpacks with DVDs and tablets Libraries help bridge the digital divide providing learning language tools. experienced by families facing economic challenges and lacking access to such DID YOU KNOW? technologies as smartphones and tablets. Services to teens ■ The National Center for Education Sta- A 2016 World Economic Forum report underscores that 65% of tistics found that a student’s access to children entering elementary school will be employed in jobs digital resources at home greatly affects that do not yet exist. The same report also notes, “Workers will 65% academic and literacy scores. On aver- need to have the appropriate skills enabling them to thrive in of children age, those without access scored at least the workplace of the future and the ability to continue to retrain 8% lower in core subjects. Even more, throughout their lives.” In June 2019, the Afterschool Alliance entering their literacy scores were more than reported that employers ranked critical thinking, problem- 20% lower than students with access. solving, teamwork and collaboration, and communication skills elementary ■ The Pew Research Center notes that as essential competencies for entry into the workforce. more than 25% of low-income house- Similarly, a May 2019 report produced by the Connected school will be holds do not have a smartphone. Nearly Learning Alliance notes that in order for young people to develop employed in 50% do not have a computer, and even an occupational identity (a vision of their future selves in the more do not own a tablet. In contrast, workforce, a knowledge of what they like to do and what their jobs that do more than half of higher income fami- skills are, and a sense of where they belong) requires exposure not yet exist.

Photo: Plano (Tex.) Public Library System Public Library Plano (Tex.) Photo: lies have more than one device. to role models, engagement in activities parallel to professional

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 19 practice, and participation in authentic communities of practice staff member are offering training. In the through work experiences, internships, and civic action. first 18 months of the project, more than Taking the workforce development needs of teens into 500 library staff were trained; by the end account, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), of the project on June 30, 2021, some a division of ALA, is leading two IMLS-funded projects that are 7,000 library staffers will be bringing designed to help library staff support teens in gaining the skills their newly acquired skills to more than necessary to succeed in the workforce of the future. 100,000 youths. Eighty small, rural, and tribal library staff members throughout the United States were trained as a part of the Future Ready Equity, diversity, with the Library project. They gained skills in working with their communities to assist middle schoolers in identifying their inter- and inclusion ests and learning with and from peers and adult experts about Equitable access means more than equal- those passions. Library services developed through this project ity. It includes working to make sure com- include the Pottsboro (Tex.) Library and the Cherokee (Iowa) munity members have all the resources Public Library, which both produced e-sports programs. As a part they need. These needs may differ as a of these initiatives, teens who are passionate about gaming can result of their race and ethnicity, reli- build critical-thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, and gious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender at the same time learn about how a gaming-related interest can identification, socioeconomic status, or lead to future work opportunities. physical ability. The Transforming Teen Services: A Train the Trainer Approach In 2019, ALA and several other library initiative brings 45 states, the Northern Mariana Islands, and associations in the US pledged their the District of Columbia together in support of library staff commitment to Equity, Diversity, and acquiring skills to help teens find their interests and gain the Inclusion (EDI). In a joint statement they computational-thinking literacies required for their future work. declared, “Libraries serve as the corner- In each of the states and territories, at least one staff member stone of our society. Regardless of the from the state library agency and one public library front-line type of library, constituency, or region, we stand together to support the efforts of DID YOU KNOW? libraries to provide equitable access for all through inclusive collections, resources, services, and programs.” That statement was backed up by 29% efforts across the spectrum of library of low-income households service during 2019. ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo and her Diversity Advisory do not have a smartphone. Board developed an EDI video series to give visibility to a diverse representa- tion of library workers, champions, and patrons to help deepen the understanding 46% of the principles of equity, diversity, and of low-income households inclusion in action in our nation’s libraries. ALA’s Office for Diversity, Literacy, do not have a computer. and Outreach Services (ODLOS) worked diligently to promote EDI, facilitating the first ever EDIcon, a half-day training for 64% library and information services audiences that introduced foundational concepts of of low-income households equity, diversity, and inclusion within a social justice framework. In its pilot year, do not have a tablet. ODLOS offered the workshop 10 times at

20 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org various sites across the country. The training encouraged participants to see equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of everyone’s everyday work. ODLOS staff also engaged in short- and long-term consul- tation with several public and academic libraries and library associations. In partnership with the Office for Intel- lectual Freedom, ODLOS launched a new resource on hateful conduct in libraries. This document responds to requests by ALA members seeking to address a spike in reported hate crimes in libraries across the US, which ALA began tracking in 2016. It outlines best practices on how to create an environment that discourages hate speech and hateful conduct in the library, recommends what steps library Ellen Oh, children’s book author and president and cofounder of We Need Diverse Books, raised the workers should take after an incident, and issue of the lack of diversity in children’s books In her keynote speech at the American Association of suggests how libraries can better reflect School Librarians National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in November 2019. the needs and values of their communities. Hate crimes in libraries can be to EDI. ALA’s Youth Media Awards at the ALA 2020 Midwinter reported via ALA’s online form. Meeting in Philadelphia included award announcements from the Other resources ODLOS introduced American Indian Library Association, the Association of Jewish in 2019 include two updated outreach Libraries, and the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association. toolkits, “Literacy for All: Adult Literacy The 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance through Libraries” and “Keys to Engaging and Sunrise Celebration took place in January 2019. In addition Older Adults,” as well as a Libraries to a keynote address by author Jeanne Theoharis, library leaders Respond page on cyber-bullying and Virginia Moore and Satia Orange gave remarks on their shared doxxing. vision for creating a space for library workers to honor King’s principles of nonviolent social change and racial equality for all. 2019 The need for diverse books. In her key- also marked the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book note speech at the American Association Awards. Library professionals were encouraged to host their own of School Librarians National Conference programming surrounding the awards. in Louisville, Kentucky, in November ALA’s Social Responsibilities Round Table celebrated its 50th 2019, Ellen Oh, children’s book author anniversary with an event at the ALA Annual Conference in and president and cofounder of We Need Washington, D.C., that featured Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Diverse Books, raised the issue of the lack Policy Studies speaking on current events and human rights. of diversity in children’s books. “There are still more books about animals and Assistive technology and accessibility. In the United States, inanimate objects than people of color,” nearly 10 million persons are hard of hearing, and close to one mil- Oh said, citing statistics collected by the lion are functionally deaf, according to the Survey of Income and Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the Program Participation. Libraries have promoted improved assistive University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School technologies for many years. Today, there are assistive listening of Education. technologies, real-time captioning services, internet captioning Although much work remains to be applications, a wide range of relay services, digital television with done, 2019 proved a milestone year for lit- captions, and video remote interpreting services. Many libraries erary events and cultural celebrations that provide American Sign Language interpreters for programs, and

Photo: American Association of School Librarian s American Association Photo: reflect the library world’s commitment some include sound amplification and digital loop technology.

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 21 Library, and liaisons in county public library systems, DCDL offers online resources on deaf culture, programming, and training for library staff in the state. Public libraries that offer services for the deaf and hard of hearing include the San Francisco Public Library and the District of Columbia Public Library. Tennessee’s Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, a statewide special library headquartered at Nashville Public Library, offers assistive devices, media resources, and in-service training programs. The Deaf Literacy Center of Pinellas (Fla.) Public Library Cooperative serves the greater Tampa area. National Black Deaf Advocates, the offi- cial advocacy organization for thousands The Deaf Literacy Center of Pinellas (Fla.) Public Library Cooperative serves the greater Tampa area. of deaf African Americans, offers books on deaf culture not always available in Assistive technology can include low- or high-tech options public libraries. that improve how individuals interact and engage with products, Other library accessibility efforts programs, and services. This is one area where libraries are work- include: ing to incorporate new and existing options so that patrons with ■ The Center for Accessibility, part of disabilities can maximize their library experiences. Libraries can the District of Columbia Public Library, partner with community organizations that specialize in assistive supports patrons through its DC Talking technology, seek feedback from community members who need Book and Braille Library, part of the access to assistive equipment, and work with state technology National Library Service for the Blind centers to open the door wider for patrons with disabilities. and Print Disabled. There are three Libraries are paying extra attention to patrons with special librarians, each overseeing one area: needs. One example is the Louisville (Ohio) Public Library, service to the deaf community, service which, with the assistance of a $50,000 LSTA grant, opened its to the blind community, and assis- Sensory Space in August 2018. It offers teen sensory relaxation tive technology resources. It plans to sessions, adult sensory exploration, sensory storytimes, and hire a children’s librarian. Successful other activities for patrons on the autism spectrum. Louisville is programming for youth has included one of the first public libraries to offer a free multisensory envi- a Braille book club for girls, a Vision ronment, which is housed in the library’s Discovery Center. Impaired Teens program (in partnership The Institute of Museum and Library Services includes with DC Public Schools that provides accessibility as one of its 10 priority areas. Our nation’s libraries technology and employment training), strive to create environments, services, and programming that and a series of classes on gaming for are accessible to all. Accessibility can include a range of options blind youth led by a volunteer from the that improve patron participation in library programs and expe- Federal Communications Commission. rience with library resources. Libraries are expanding their reach ■ Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library’s to include persons with disabilities. Inclusive Services provides unique Local public, state, university, and school libraries are welcom- programs for children and teens both ing and including deaf and hard of hearing adults and children. with and without disabilities. It works Maryland State Library sponsors the Deaf Culture Digital Library closely with its community of disabled (DCDL). In partnership with the Maryland Governor’s Office of persons in Brooklyn, attending meet-

the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Montgomery County Public ings and discussing ways to make the Cooperative Pinellas (Fla.) Public Library Photo:

22 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org library more accessible. Two examples The San Francisco Public Library’s decision to go fine free of technology that assists young was based on a study conducted in conjunction with the San patrons include adaptive switch toys Francisco Financial Justice Project of the Treasurer’s Office. It that allow children with limited fine found that eliminating the overdue fines increased patron access and gross motor skills to play with toys, to materials and services, reduced the inequitable impact of over- and message communication devices due fines, and improved patron relationships with their library. that can record answers to questions In adopting the fine-free model, the Free Library of Philadel- or the chorus of a song or book, so that phia delivered an early Valentine’s Day present to its patrons. “By children who are nonverbal can partici- saying goodbye to fines, we’re welcoming back the nearly 88,000 pate actively in programs. cardholders who are currently unable to take full advantage of the ■ Bloomfield Township (Mich.) Public library due to owing fines. We’re also anticipating increases in cir- Library developed an Accessibility culation, an uptick in new library card signups, and more overall Support Collection that contains adap- visits to libraries throughout the city,” said Siobhan A. Reardon, tive technology. It makes available president and director of the Free Library. “It’s going to be a posi- adaptive toys with large buttons for easy tive change in many ways, and I’m so proud that we’ll be one of the activation, assistive tools such as read- largest library systems in the country to eliminate this penalty.” ing pens that read text for the visually impaired, and adaptive accessories such as mice and screen-reader software for Ebooks PCs at inclusive technology stations. Libraries’ mission of providing access to all was severely ham- strung by a series of decisions by major publishers in 2019. Fine-free libraries. In 2019, the ALA The Hachette Book Group (HBG) changed its digital lending Council passed a resolution declaring model for libraries, replacing its perpetual ownership model with library fines a form of social inequity, a two-year access plan for ebooks and digital audiobooks. HBG, presenting “an economic barrier to access one of the “Big Five” publishers (the others are HarperCollins, of library materials and services.” It urged Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Simon & libraries to scrutinize “their practices of imposing fines on library patrons and actively move towards eliminating them.” Libraries nationwide are following the trend of dropping fines for overdue books, among them Chicago Public Library. Chi- cago Mayor Lori Lightfoot stated, “Like too many Chicagoans, I know what it is like to grow up in financially challenging circum- stances and understand what it is like to be just one bill or one mistake away from crushing debt. The bold reforms we’re taking to make the Chicago Public Library system fine-free and forgive City Sticker debt will end the regressive practices dis- proportionately impacting those who can least afford it, ensure every Chicagoan can utilize our city’s services and resources, and eliminate the cycles of debt and gener- ational poverty because of a few mistakes.” She noted that one out of three patrons From left: Alan S. Inouye, ALA senior director of public policy and government relations; PLA Executive were unable to check out items because Director Barb Macikas; and ALA Past President Sari Feldman deliver boxes full of petitions to the offices

Photo: Daniel Root Photo: they owe $10 or more in fines and fees. of Macmillan Publishers on October 30, 2019.

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 23 Homa Naficy speaking at the 2020 I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Philadelphia.

Schuster), also decreased library prices for ebooks and digital contributing to a congressional investiga- audiobooks by as much as 25%; however, the initial “discount” tion into antitrust behavior in digital mar- will be eliminated if the library renews its access to those titles. kets, and several ALA chapters began to Simon & Schuster also altered its lending model for libraries. explore legislative action at the state level. It replaced perpetual access for digital audiobook lending with two-year access at prices ranging from $39.99 to $79.99, I Love My placing a financial burden on public libraries and limiting access to the public. Librarian Award But Macmillan Publishers created a tsunami within the library Each year, based on nominations from the world when it placed an embargo on sales of new ebook titles public, ALA honors the lasting contri- to libraries. Beginning November 1, 2019, Macmillan restricted butions of librarians working in public, library systems of all sizes from purchasing more than one school, college, community college, and copy of a new ebook title. Eight weeks after its release, libraries university libraries with the I Love My can buy an unlimited number of two-year licenses for a new Librarian Award. In 2019, library users ebook title. nationwide submitted 1,974 nominations Macmillan’s decision galvanized a strong response. In August detailing how their favorite librarians 2019, ALA and its Public Library Association division launched have gone above and beyond to improve an #eBooksForAll campaign, rolling out the website as a hub community members’ lives. of information and resources to mobilize the public. Advocates The honorees were: promoted the campaign to patrons, publishing op-eds in local ■ Jesús Alonso-Regalado, subject news media, releasing organizational statements opposing librarian for history, Latin American the embargo, and flooding the email inbox of Macmillan CEO studies, and Romance languages at the John Sargent. University at Albany Libraries, New The #eBooksForAll petition gathered more than 250,000 York, supports teaching and learning signatures of supporters from library workers and the general through information literacy instruction

public by early 2020. ALA extended the scope of its advocacy by and his commitment to Open Access. Libraries American Lomax/ Rebecca Photo:

24 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org ■ Stephanie Dannehl, school librarian ■ Janet Tom, reference librarian at the San Francisco Public and tech integration specialist at Ber- Library, was nominated for her ability to bring taboo subjects trand (Neb.) Community School, has out of the dark and discuss them with care and respect. Her developed a program to bring in village innovative “Death and Dying” program series was instrumen- residents as guest readers and to teach tal in helping community members deal with grief and dis- students’ families new technology skills pelling the stigma around discussions of mortality. year-round. ■ Tracie Walker-Reed, library media specialist at H. Grady ■ Cathy Evans, director of libraries at St. Spruce High School in Dallas, Texas, tutors and mentors Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, at-risk and low-income students, supporting the learning pro- Tennessee, has created a culture of cess through instruction, technology, and access to print and reading by ensuring that all students digital library books. are informed, critical thinkers who are prepared to contribute to a global society. Sustainability ■ Melissa Glanden, librarian at Pow- Libraries play an important role in promoting community aware- hatan (Va,) High School, has trans- ness about resilience, climate change, and a sustainable future. formed the school’s library. Her They are also leading by example in taking steps to reduce their introduction of new technologies, environmental footprint. a makerspace, and dedicated zones ALA added sustainability as a core value of librarianship in within the library sparked an uptick January 2019, committing to the “triple bottom line” framework in visits and circulation of books and for sustainability recommended by the ALA Special Task Force on other materials. Sustainability. This tripod consists of practices that are environ- ■ Mary Anne Hansen, research services mentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable. librarian at Montana State University, In adopting sustainability as a core value, ALA recognizes Bozeman, leads the library’s Tribal the findings in a 2018 report by the United Nations Intergov- College Librarians Professional Devel- ernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report, written and opment Institute, which provides key edited in October 2018 by 91 scientists from 40 countries who opportunities for librarians serving analyzed more than 6,000 scientific studies, found that the Indigenous college students. immediate consequences of climate change are far more dire ■ Homa Naficy, executive director of the than originally predicted, calling for a transformation of the American Place at Hartford (Conn.) world economy at a speed and scale that has “no documented Public Library, assists immigrants and historic precedent.” refugees with English-language classes, Libraries like the Shelter Island (N.Y.) Library are plowing DID YOU KNOW? job assistance, computer training, and the path of sustainability. The library earned a Green Business GED preparation as they adapt to a new Partnership Certification. Its green activities include decreasing home. paper usage and discontinuing the purchase of single-use water ■ Maria Papanastassiou, Kids’ World bottles. It also educates patrons by hosting programs that encour- 1,974 assistant manager at the Arlington age green practices, including one session on how to upgrade nominations Heights (Ill.) Memorial Library, serves aging septic systems. children who are differently abled. Other libraries like the Santa Monica (Calif.) Public Library were submitted Her work, passion, and dedication has (SMPL) are offering more programs on the climate crisis. One, helped families with diverse needs find “Hope for Our Planet,” featured a speaker from the Citizens’ by library users a home at the library. Climate Lobby, an environmental advocacy group that pre- ■ Leah Plocharczyk, interim director of scribes remedies on the local, national, and international level. nationwide Florida Atlantic University’s John D. SMPL also offers a Green Prize for Sustainable Literature in for the 2019 MacArthur Library in Jupiter, has made partnership with the city’s Office of Sustainability and the a powerful impact through the book Environment. I Love My club she created for adults with intel- In addition, The ALA’s Sustainability Round Table offers lectual disabilities. programming at ALA conferences on climate change and other Librarian Award,

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 25 environmental issues. Its Enviro Scan Taskforce maintains a savings realized by constructing and sustainability database of resources on Zotero that can be helpful operating a single city-owned building, in planning library programs. the colocation creates a cultural asset that helps integrate socioeconomic diversity into changing urban neighborhoods. Libraries of the future At the University of Arizona in Tucson, The ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries works to identify a new Student Success District will bring global trends that affect libraries. Over the past year, libraries and together an updated Main Library, the library workers have continued to demonstrate their ability to Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering adapt their services to new and emerging community priorities. Library, the university’s Bear Down Gym, and a new four-story Student Success Mobility and transportation. The rise in popularity of electric Building into an interconnected dis- scooters and bicycles, expanded bike-sharing programs, and an trict designed to serve student’s 24/7 increased emphasis on commuting by public buses and trains learning needs. The district’s indoor demonstrate a growing interest in sustainable forms of transpor- and outdoor spaces help support out-of- tation. Across the country, library workers have begun to explore classroom learning that is collaborative, their role in supporting this movement, and several libraries hands-on, and designed for technologi- are partnering with transportation agencies to expand access cal engagement. for residents. As District of Columbia Public Library The Omaha (Neb.) Public Library (OPL) and the Heartland Bike continues with the transformation of its Share program created a partnership offering library cardholders Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, access to a B-cycle pass for up to five days. Each OPL branch has Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan four passes; patrons can check their availability in the library’s has indicated he plans to work across city online catalog. Similar to the library’s zoo and museum passes, the services to create a “city within a city” Heartland B-cycle passes are another way that the library ensures with room for municipal agencies and that residents have equal access to community resources. hotel services within the new building. As part of the city’s “Go Boston 2030” plan to build a safe, reli- The library’s prime location could pro- able, and equitable transportation network, in May 2019 Boston vide services like DC Health Link with a Mayor Marty Walsh announced a partnership with the Massachu- physical office space within the library for setts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to make the system’s direct connection with city residents. CharlieCards available at several Boston Public Library branch locations. With better access to these more affordable fares, the Making access easier. Expanding access partnership encourages more trips by public transportation that to information resources is at the core help reduce traffic congestion and emissions from motor vehicles. of what libraries do. Making that access A partnership between Knoxville (Tenn.) Area Transit and easier has been a frequent opportunity for Knox County Public Library (KCPL) makes public transportation innovation in libraries, which continue more enjoyable with a Books on Buses program that encourages to offer surprising service enhancements passengers to grab a new book as they board their bus. The that help bring information to their library’s Friends group donates the books for the program as part communities. of its Books in the Community program. The Mountain View (Calif.) Public Library piloted a BookBot created by Goo- Colocation. Libraries have long served as hubs for services and gle’s experimental Area 120 division. The programs that are responsive to community needs. In recent wheeled personal delivery robot only oper- years, several libraries have begun exploring colocation of their ated within a limited radius of the library physical branches with community and campus services, creating but allowed residents to schedule pickup efficiencies and new benefits for their communities. of their library materials directly from The Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Housing Author- their doorstep. While the BookBot pilot ity opened three new city-owned facilities that colocate branch lasted only a few months, it was popular. libraries with public housing. Beyond the financial benefits and Residents would stop to take photos of it as

26 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org it carried out its book tasks. And BookBot demonstrated one possible direction for the future of library circulation. Self-service smart lockers, like those used by Amazon and UPS, are providing libraries with new opportunities to streamline holds and reserves processes. At the Toledo–Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library, placement of smart lockers in the libraries’ 24/7 lobbies allows community members to collect library materials anytime. At Arizona State University in Phoenix, students can request delivery to self-service book delivery lockers at Armstrong Hall, across the campus from the university’s Hayden Library. And at the Topeka and Shawnee County (Kan.) Public Library, residents can ask for books to be delivered to smart lockers at either a community center or a local Hy-Vee grocery store. In 2019, the Mountain View (Calif.) Public Library piloted a BookBot created by Google’s experimental The Hinsdale (Ill.) Public Library has Area 120 division. taken notes from the subscription economy to introduce new adult, teen (grades 2018, the first AI facility housed in a library. The cross-disciplinary 6–12), and junior (grades 4–5) book lab is open to all students, faculty, and staff for research into robot- boxes that feature preselected, newly ics, wearable technology, smart cities, and technological ethics. released books—along with fun bookish The Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library partnered with treats. Library staff work with readers to Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries and Harvard’s curate book selections suited to their spec- metaLAB to host the installation of a “Laughing Room,” in which ified tastes. Each month, subscribers visit participants enter an artificially intelligent room that plays a the library to pick up their book box and laugh track whenever something is said that the room’s algo- offer feedback on the previous month’s rithm deems funny. selections. The program leverages staff Also at MIT, work is being done on building a technical infra- expertise in reader services while offering structure so its collections are accessible by APIs and therefore delight and surprise to library borrowers. can be used by machine-learning algorithms. Library Director Chris Bourg said it is important for academic libraries to make Artificial intelligence. How is AI chang- their collections readable by AI tools so that reputable scholarly ing libraries? And how will it continue to literature is available. change them? Other new developments include the use of bots in academic That is a hotly debated question. Past libraries. At the University of Oklahoma Library, a chatbot assists ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo wrote students with such questions as where to find subject-specific in March 2019 that it is “time to include databases. Library officials hope that AI will enhance collabo- AI on our professional agenda and in our ration by matching peers in different disciplines, but they also national conversation.” The itinerary wonder whether the technology will lead to human librarians for that conversation will likely offer getting replaced by their technological equivalents. challenges to such concerns as privacy, The bottom line was stated succinctly by Garcia-Febo: intellectual freedom, and access. “Librarians and library professionals will need to be at the The University of Rhode Island opened forefront to support communities as these technologies trans-

Photo: Mountain View (Calif.) Public Library (Calif.) View Mountain Photo: its Artificial Intelligence Lab in September form our world.”

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 27 Public Libraries

American Library Association. America’s Libraries: Powering Broadband Adoption, Access, and Use. November 8, 2016. http:// www.ala.org/news/sites/ala.org.news/files/ content/Broadband_11-08-16_0.pdf

______. Public Library Association. Digi- talLearn. https://www.digitallearn.org/

______. ______. “Family Engagement.” resources http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/family engagement

______. ______. “Libraries Lead with Digital Skills.” http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/ ala-welcomes-supreme-court-decision-hold- google Introduction citizenship-question-2020-census ______. ______. “Promoting Healthy American Library Association. Libraries’ ______. Public Programs Office. “ALA Communities: Libraries Connecting You to Guide to the 2020 Census. January 2020. Announces Participants in Racial Healing Coverage.” http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ Circle Workshop with AAC&U.” Media release, ala.org.advocacy/files/content/govinfo/ connectingyoutocoverage February 8, 2019. http://www.ala.org/news/ Census%20Guide%20Update_Jan2020.pdf member-news/2019/02/ala-announces- ______. ______. “Public Library Social participants-racial-healing-circle-workshop- ______. “Library Funding.” http://www Work—Overview of Trauma-Informed Care.” aacu .ala.org/advocacy/library-funding http://www.ala.org/pla/sites/ala.org.pla/files/ content/tools/Public-Library-Social-Work_ Brown, Wanda Kay. “Find Your Place within Overview-of-Trauma-Informed-Care_FINAL.pdf ______. “National Library Week.” ALA.” American Libraries, From the President http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/ column, July/August 2019. https://american ______. ______. “Resources for Public celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek libraries.org/2019/07/17/find-your-place- Libraries Serving Persons Experiencing Home- within-ala/ lessness.” http://www.ala.org/pla/resources/ ______. “2020 Census.” http://www.ala.org/ tools/homelessness advocacy/govinfo/census Clark, Larra. “ALA Joins Groups Opposing Census Citizenship Question.” American ______. ______. “Social Worker Task Force.” ______. “What Libraries Do.” I Love Libraries Libraries, The Scoop blog, April 2, 2019. http://www.ala.org/pla/about/people/ initiative. http://www.ilovelibraries.org/what- https://americanlibraries.org/blogs/the- committees/pla-tfsocwork libraries-do scoop/ala-joins-groups-opposing-2020- census-citizenship-question/ Beaverton (Oreg.) City Library. “Library of ______. Office for Intellectual Freedom. Things.” https://www.beavertonlibrary.org/ Banned & Challenged Books. “Top Ten Most Kromer, Kathi. “IMLS Receives $10 Million 377/Library-of-Things Challenged Books Lists.” http://www.ala Increase in FY2020.” American Libraries, The .org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallenged Scoop blog, December 20, 2019. https:// Becker, Samantha, et al. Opportunity for All: books/top10 americanlibraries.org/blogs/the-scoop/ How the American Public Benefits from Inter- imls-receives-10-million-increase-in-fy2020/ net Access at U.S. Libraries. Washington, D.C.: ______. Public Policy and Advocacy Office. Institute of Museum and Library Services, “ALA President to Speak at U.S. Census US Census Bureau. “Complete Count Com- March 2010, p. 7. https://www.imls.gov/ Bureau Press Conference.” Media release, mittees.” https://www.census.gov/partners/ sites/default/files/publications/documents/ March 27, 2019. http://www.ala.org/news/ complete-count.html opportunityforall_0.pdf member-news/2019/03/ala-president-speak- us-census-bureau-press-conference ______. “2019 Census Day.” https://www Bertot, John Carlo, et al. 2014 Digital Inclusion .census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2019/2019- Survey: Survey Findings and Results. College ______. ______. “ALA Welcomes census-day.html Park, Md.: University of Maryland Information Supreme Court Decision to Hold Citizen- Policy and Access Center, October 1, 2015, ship Question from 2020 Census.” Media W. K. Kellogg Foundation. “Truth, Racial p. 62. https://digitalinclusion.umd.edu/sites/ release, June 27, 2019. http://www. Healing & Transformation.” https://healour default/files/uploads/2014DigitalInclusion ala.org/news/press-releases/2019/06/ communities.org/ SurveyFinalRelease.pdf

28 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org Chance, Rachel. “File under Bee.” American 2 (Apr.–June 2017): 147–160. https://ila. American Library Association. American Asso- Libraries 50, no. 9/10 (September/October onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ ciation of School Librarians. “National School 2019): 14–17. https://americanlibraries.org/ rrq.160 Library Standards: Common Beliefs.” https:// 2019/09/03/file-under-bee-library- standards.aasl.org/beliefs/ beekeeping/ Wapner, Charlie. “The People’s Incubator: Libraries Propel Entrepreneurship.” OITP ______. ______. National School Library Dankowski, Terra, and Brian Mead. “The Perspectives, no. 4. Washington, D.C.: ALA Standards for Learners, School Librarians, Library of Things.” American Libraries 48, no. 6 Office for Information Technology Policy, and School Libraries. Chicago: AASL, 2018. (June 2017): 48–49. https://americanlibraries June 2016. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/ https://www.alastore.ala.org/content/ .org/2017/06/01/library-of-things/ sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/ALA_ national-school-library-standards-learners- Entrepreneurship_White_Paper_Final.pdf school-librarians-and-school-libraries-aasl Dearing, Eric, et al. “Family Involvement in School and Low-Income Children’s Literacy Zettervall, Sara. “Whole Person Librarianship.” Cohen, Stephanie, et al. Roles of the School Performance.” Journal of Educational Psychol- https://wholepersonlibrarianship.com/map/ Librarian: Empowering Student Learning and ogy 98 (2006): 653–664. https://archive Success. Informational Brief. Portsmouth, N.H.: .globalfrp.org/family-involvement/publications- Northeast Comprehensive Center, [2019]. resources/family-involvement-in-school-and- Academic Libraries http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/slssap/ low-income-children-s-literacy-performance ncc-roles-brief.pdf American Library Association. Association Glum, Julia. “200 Random Things Libraries of College and Research Libraries. “ACRL Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Will Let You Check Out for Free—From Instant Academic Library Trends and Statistics: School Library Impact Studies: A Review of Pots to Skulls.” Money, May 16, 2019. https:// 2019 Survey Information.” http://acrl. Findings and Guide to Sources. Owings Mills, money.com/library-of-things-check-out-free/ libguides.com/stats/surveyhelp Md.: Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Founda- tion, August 12, 2013. https://www Google. “Grow with Google.” https://grow ______. ______. “ACRLMetrics.” https:// .baltimorelibraryproject.org/wp-content/ .google/ www.acrlmetrics.com/ uploads/downloads/2013/09/Library- Impact-Studies.pdf Lenstra, Noah, and Jenny Carlos. “Public ______. ______. 2018 ACRL Academic Lankes, R. David, and Mike Corbo. “The Value Libraries and Walkable Neighborhoods.” Inter- Library Trends and Statistics for Carnegie of School Librarians.” American Libraries, Jan- national Journal of Environmental Research Classifications. Chicago: ACRL, 2019. https:// uary 15, 2019. https://americanlibraries.org/ and Public Health 16, no. 10 (May 2019): 1780. www.alastore.ala.org/content/2018-acrl- 2019/01/15/usc-library-scholar-program- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ academic-library-trends-and-statistics- value-school-librarians/ PMC6572033/ carnegie-classifications-associates-arts Levin, Koby. “Amid a Literacy Crisis, Michi- Association of American Colleges and Univer- McCarthy, Justin. “In U.S., Library Visits gan’s School Librarians Have All But Disap- Outpaced Trips to Movies in 2019.” Gallup, sities. “High-Impact Educational Practices.” peared.” Chalkbeat, August 8, 2019. https:// January 24, 2020. https://news.gallup.com/ https://www.aacu.org/leap/hips chalkbeat.org/posts/detroit/2019/08/08/ poll/284009/library-visits-outpaced-trips- michigan-school-librarian-shortage/ movies-2019.aspx Duffin, Erin. “Undergraduate Enrollment in U.S. Universities 2008–2019.” Statista, Novem- Moran, Gwen. “We’re in a Data Literacy Rainie, Lee. “How the Public Grades Libraries— ber 6, 2019. https://www.statista.com/ Crisis: Could Librarians Be the Super- and Uses Libraries.” Slide 14, “How much have statistics/235406/undergraduate-enrollment- heroes We Need?” Fortune, August 31, libraries contributed to their communities?” in-us-universities/ 2019. https://fortune.com/2019/08/31/ Pew Research Center, June 27, 2016. https:// data-literacy-crisis-librarians-library/ www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/06/27/ Indiana University. 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April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 29 Wineburg, Sam, et al. “Evaluating Information: Slocum, Rebecca. “Author, Please Come! Nev- ______. Public Policy and Advocacy Office. The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning.” ermind. Please Don’t.” Intellectual Freedom “ALA, PLA Select First Round of Libraries Lead Executive Summary. Stanford University, Blog, May 2, 2018. https://www.oif.ala.org/ with Digital Skills Awardees.” Media release, Stanford History Education Group, November oif/?p=14015 April 23, 2019. http://www.ala.org/news/ 22, 2016. Available in the Stanford Digital member-news/2019/04/ala-pla-select-first- Repository. https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/ Stack, Liam. “Drag Queen Story Hour Contin- round-libraries-lead-digital-skills-awardees-20 druid:fv751yt5934/SHEG%20Evaluating%20 ues Its Reign at Libraries, Despite Backlash.” Information%20Online.pdf New York Times, June 6, 2019. https://www Anderson, Monica, and Madhumitha Kumar. .nytimes.com/2019/06/06/us/drag-queen- “Digital Divide Persists Even As Lower-Income story-hour.html Americans Make Gains in Tech Adoption.” Issues and Trends Pew Research Center Fact Tank, May 7, 2019. Weill-Greenberg, Elizabeth. “Illinois Depart- https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/ Intellectual Freedom ment of Corrections Revises Book Ban Policy.” 2019/05/07/digital-divide-persists-even-as- The Appeal, November 4, 2019. https://the lower-income-americans-make-gains-in-tech- American Library Association. “ALA Responds appeal.org/illinois-department-of-corrections- adoption/ to Citrus County New York Times Block.” revises-book-ban-policy/ American Libraries, The Scoop blog, Novem- Digital Equity for Learning. “Digital Equity + ber 5, 2019. https://americanlibraries.org/ Net Neutrality Opportunity for All.” http://digitalequityfor blogs/the-scoop/ala-responds-to-citrus- learning.org/ county-new-york-times-block/ American Library Association. Public Policy and Advocacy Office. “DC Circuit Court Deliv- Eastman, Jaime. “Bridging the Digital Divide ______. Office for Intellectual Freedom. ers Mixed Ruling on Net Neutrality.” Media with Circulating Tech.” https://www.alsc.ala Banned & Challenged Books. “Top Ten Most release, October 1, 2019. http://www.ala.org/ .org/blog/2019/07/bridging-the-digital- Challenged Books Lists.” http://www.ala.org/ news/press-releases/2019/10/dc-circuit- divide-with-circulating-tech/ advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallenged court-delivers-mixed-ruling-net-neutrality books/top10 “Libraries Evolve to Bridge Digital Divide.” Bracci, Aria, and Lia Petronio. “New Research University of Denver, Morgridge College ______. ______. “New Library Bill of Rights Shows That, Post Net Neutrality, Internet of Education. Blog, November 21, 2018. Provision Recognizes and Defends Library Providers Are Slowing Down Your Streaming.” https://morgridgeonline.du.edu/blog/ Users’ Privacy.” Media release, February 7, News@Northeastern University, September libraries-bridge-digital-divide/ 2019. http://www.ala.org/news/press- 10, 2018. https://news.northeastern.edu/ releases/2019/02/new-library-bill-rights- 2018/09/10/new-research-shows-your- National Center for Education Statistics. provision-recognizes-and-defends-library- internet-provider-is-in-control/ Student Access to Digital Learning Resources users Outside of the Classroom. Washington, D.C.: Dean, Danielle. “The Debate over Net Neutral- NCES, April 2018. https://nces.ed.gov/ Flood, Alison. “US Prisons Banning Thou- ity.” National Conference of State Legislatures. pubs2017/2017098/index.asp sands of Books ‘on Arbitrary Grounds.’” The Our American States: The NCSL Podcast 26, Guardian (UK), September 26, 2019. https:// no. 16 (April 2018). https://www.ncsl.org/ Services to Teens www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/26/ research/telecommunications-and- us-prisons-ban-thousands-of-books-on- information-technology/the-debate-over-net- Afterschool Alliance. “This Is Afterschool: arbitrary-grounds-banned-books-week neutrality.aspx Building Workforce Skills and Inspiring Future Careers.” Washington, D.C.: Afterschool Alli- Herther, Nancy. “ATG Original: Censorship and McCabe, David. “Court Upholds Net Neutrality ance, June 2019. http://afterschoolalliance the Struggle over Content in the Internet Age: Repeal, with Some Caveats.” New York Times, .org/documents/Workforce-One-Pager.pdf Part 2, The Vendor Conundrum.” Against the October 1, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/ Grain, April 1, 2019. https://against-the-grain 2019/10/01/technology/net-neutrality-repeal- American Library Association. Young Adult .com/2019/04/atg-original-censorship-the- broadband.html Library Services Association. “Future Ready struggle-over-content-in-the-internet-age- with the Library.” http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ part-2-the-vendor-conundrum/ Building 21st-Century Skills future-ready-library Pekoll, Kristin. “‘Prince and Knight’ Challenge American Library Association. “Digital Liter- in Upshur County, WV.” Intellectual Freedom acy.” https://literacy.ala.org/digital-literacy/ ______. ______. “Transforming Teen Ser- Blog, November 19, 2019. https://www.oif.ala vices: A Train the Trainer Approach.” http:// .org/oif/?p=19218 ______. “Libraries Ready to Code.” http:// www.ala.org/yalsa/train-trainer-project www.ala.org/tools/readytocode/home Price, Richard. “The Censorship War in Callahan, Jessica, et al. Influences on Occu- Loudoun County.” Intellectual Freedom Blog, ______. 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30 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org clalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ ______. Council. “Resolution on Monetary Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hear- Influences_on_Occupational_Identity_ Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequity.” ing, Nashville, Tennessee. “Library.” https:// Adolescence.pdf 2019 Midwinter Meeting, Council Document tndeaflibrary.nashville.gov/library #38, January 27, 2019. http://bit.ly/ALAFines World Economic Forum. The Future of Jobs: Minehardt, Jennifer. “Assistive Technologies: Employment, Skills, and Workforce Strategy ______. Ethnic and Multicultural Informa- Spotlight on Carrie Banks.” ALSC Blog, Octo- for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Geneva, tion Exchange Round Table. “CSK Programs ber 12, 2019. https://www.alsc.ala.org/ Switzerland: World Economic Forum, Janu- in 2019.” http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/ blog/2019/10/assistive-technologies- ary 2016. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/ cskbookawards/csk50/2019-CSK-Programs spotlight-on-carrie-banks/ WEF_Future_of_Jobs.pdf ______. Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Mitchell, Ross E. “How Many Deaf People Are There in the United States? Estimates from the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Outreach Services. “Hateful Conduct in Survey of Income and Program Participation.” Libraries: Supporting Library Workers and Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 11, American Library Association. “Access to Patrons.” In partnership with the ALA Office no. 1 (Winter 2006): 112–119. https://www Library Resources and Services.” http://www for Intellectual Freedom, January 2019. http:// .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16177267 .ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/access www.ala.org/advocacy/hatefulconduct Montgomery County (Md.) Public Libraries. ______. “Challenge Reporting.” http://www “Assistive Technologies: Spotlight on DC .ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report “Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library.” Public Library Center for Accessibility.” ALSC https://montgomerycountymd.libguides.com/ Blog, December 14, 2019. https://www.alsc c.php?g=461193&p=3153297 ______. “EDI in Our Libraries.” http://www .ala.org/blog/2019/12/assistive-techno- .ala.org/advocacy/diversity/edi-our-libraries logies-spotlight-on-dc-public-library-cen- Morehart, Phil. “The Power of Diverse Books.” ter-for-accessibility/ American Libraries, The Scoop blog, Novem- ______. “Keys to Engaging Older Adults.” ber 15, 2019. https://americanlibraries.org/ 2018. http://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala Bloomfield Township (Mich.) Public Library. blogs/the-scoop/aasl-power-of-diverse- .org.aboutala/files/content/Keys%20to%20 “Accessibility Support Collection.” https://btpl books/ Engaging%20Older%20Adults-8-19-2019.pdf .org/youth/asc/ National Black Deaf Advocates. “Publications.” ______. “Libraries Respond: Cyber-Bullying Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library. “Inclusive https://www.nbda.org/content/publications and Doxxing.” http://www.ala.org/advocacy/ Services.” https://www.bklynlibrary.org/ diversity/librariesrespond/cyberbullying- inclusive-services Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, Clearwa- doxxing ter, Florida. “Deaf Literacy Center: A Bridge to City of Chicago. Office of the Mayor. “Mayor the World of Information.” http://www.pplc ______. “Literacy for All: Adult Literacy Lightfoot and Chicago Public Library .us/dlc/ through Libraries.” 2019. http://www.ala.org/ Announce Elimination of Late Fees, Out- aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/ standing Debt to Increase Access to Libraries “Publishing Statistics on Children’s/YA Books Literacy%20for%20All_Toolkit_Online.pdf Citywide.” Media release, September 30, 2019. about People of Color and First/Native https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/ Nations and by People of Color and First/ ______. “2020 Youth Media Award Winners.” Native Nations Authors and Illustrators.” mayor/press_room/press_releases/2019/ American Libraries, The Scoop blog, Janu- Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of september/EliminateLibraryLateFees.html ary 27, 2020. https://americanlibraries.org/ Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison, blogs/the-scoop/2020-youth-media-award- November 21, 2019. http://ccbc.education Damron, Michael. “A Sensory Wonderland.” winners/ .wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp American Libraries 50, no. 6 (June 2019): 24–25. https://americanlibraries.org/ ______. “Workshops and Consultations.” San Francisco Public Library. “San Francisco http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/ 2019/06/03/a-sensory-wonderland/ Public Library Is Fabulously Fine Free.” Media diversity/continuinged/workshops release, September 16, 2019. https://sfpl.org/ Free Library of Philadelphia. “Say Goodbye to releases/2019/09/16/san-francisco-public- ______. Communications and Marketing Overdue Fines at the Free Library!” Blog, Feb- library-is-fabulously-fine-free Office. “ALA and US Library Associations ruary 14, 2020. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/ Affirm Commitment to Equity, Diversity, blog/post/4062 SinhaRoy, Sanhita. “20 Years of the MLK and Inclusion.” http://www.ala.org/news/ Sunrise Celebration.” American Libraries, The press-releases/2019/06/ala-and-us-library- Institute of Museum and Library Services. Scoop blog, January 28, 2019. https:// associations-affirm-commitment-equity- “Accessibility.” https://www.imls.gov/ americanlibraries.org/blogs/the-scoop/ diversity-and our-work/priority-areas/accessibility 20-years-mlk-sunrise-celebration/

April 2020 | americanlibraries.org 31 STATE OF AMERICA’S LIBRARIES

Ebooks Lane, Julie. “Library Gains ‘Green Business books_on_buses_program_makes_reading_ Partnership Certification.’” Shelter Island accessible American Library Association. “#eBooksFor (N.Y.) Reporter, February 18, 2020. https:// All.” https://ebooksforall.org/ shelterislandreporter.timesreview.com/ Crowe, Caitlin. “The Library Is a Smart City’s ______. Public Policy and Advocacy Office. 2020/02/18/library-gains-green-business- ‘Hub for Digital Intelligence.’” Smart Cities “ALA ‘Concerned’ over Hachette Book Group partnership-certification/ Dive, January 27, 2020. https://www Ebook and Audio Book Lending Model .smartcitiesdive.com/news/library-smart-city- Rockrohr, Phil. “Climate Change and Sustain- Changes.” Media release, June 17, 2019. hub-digital-intelligence-inlcusion/569012/ ability.” American Libraries, October 9, 2019. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/ https://americanlibraries.org/2019/10/09/ 2019/06/ala-concerned-over-hachette- Fay, Brigham. “Inside ‘The Laughing Room.’” climate-change-sustainability/ book-group-ebook-and-audio-book-lending- MIT News, December 5, 2018. http://news.mit .edu/2018/inside-the-laughing-room-ai- model Santa Monica (Calif.) Public Library. “The Green Prize for Sustainable Literature.” powered-installation-jonny-sun-1205 ______. ______. “ALA Denounces New https://smpl.org/Green_Prize.aspx Macmillan Library Lending Model, Urges Garcia-Febo, Loida. “Exploring AI.” American Library Customers to Voice Objections.” Media United Nations. Intergovernmental Panel on Libraries, From the President column, March/ release, July 25, 2019. http://www.ala.org/ Climate Change. Global Warming of 1.5° C. April 2019. https://americanlibraries.org/ news/press-releases/2019/07/ala-denounces- [New York]: United Nations, October 8, 2018. 2019/03/01/exploring-ai/ new-macmillan-library-lending-model-urges- https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_ library-customers final.pdf Lavallee, Dave. “URI Opens First Artificial Intel- ligence Lab Housed in a University Library.” ______. ______. “ALA Turns to Congress URI Today, September 28, 2018. https://today As Macmillan Ignores Public Call to Reverse Libraries of the future .uri.edu/news/uri-opens-first-artificial- Library E-book Embargo.” Media release, Arizona State University Library. “Get Your intelligence-lab-housed-in-a-university- November 1, 2019. http://www.ala.org/news/ Books Delivered!” The Library Channel, August library/ press-releases/2019/11/ala-turns-congress- 5, 2019. https://lib.asu.edu/librarychannel/ macmillan-ignores-public-call-reverse-library- Get-your-books-delivered e-book Lyons, Kim. “These Engineers Are Trying to Baldassari, Erin. “Meet BookBot: Mountain Rescue a ‘Bookbot’ from the Google Grave- ______. ______. “ALA Uneasy about Simon View Library’s Newest Robot Helper.” San Jose yard.” The Verge, February 12, 2020. https:// & Schuster Digital Lending Model Changes.” (Calif.) Mercury News, March 9, 2019. https:// www.theverge.com/2020/2/12/21135334/ Media release, July 2, 2019. http://www.ala www.mercurynews.com/2019/03/09/meet- google-bookbot-mountain-view-area120 .org/news/press-releases/2019/07/ala- bookbot-mountain-view-librarys-newest- uneasy-about-simon-schuster-digital-lending- robot-helper/ Sudo, Chuck. “Co-Located Senior Housing, model-changes Libraries Open with Nearly Full Occupancy.” Burns, Ridgeway, Melisa Martinez, and Karen Senior Housing News, October 2, 2019. I Love My Librarian Award Keefe. “Book Box: How a Cardboard Box https://seniorhousingnews.com/2019/10/02/ Became Our Trendiest Teen Program.” Illinois American Library Association. “Meet the I co-located-senior-housing-libraries-open- Library Association Reporter 36, no. 6 (Decem- Love My Librarian Award Winners.” American with-nearly-full-occupancy/ ber 2018). https://www.ila.org/publications/ Libraries, The Scoop blog, December 10, ila-reporter/article/101/book-box-how-a- 2019. https://americanlibraries.org/blogs/ Toledo–Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library. cardboard-box-became-our-trendiest-teen- the-scoop/meet-the-2019-i-love-my-librarian- “Check Us Out 24/7.” Blog, February 2020. program award-winners/ https://www.toledolibrary.org/blog/24-7- lobbies City of Boston. Transportation Department. Sustainability “Boston, MBTA Partner to Offer CharlieCards at Topeka and Shawnee County (Kan.) Public City Hall and Library Locations.” Media release, American Library Association. Communica- Library. “Smart Lockers.” https://tscpl.org/ tions and Marketing Office. “ALA Adding Sus- May 7, 2019. https://www.boston.gov/ services/smartlockers tainability As a Core Value of Librarianship.” news/boston-mbta-partner-offer-charlie Media release, May 14, 2019. http://www.ala cards-city-hall-and-library-locations University of Arizona. “Student Success Dis- .org/news/press-releases/2019/05/ala- trict.” https://successdistrict.arizona.edu/ adding-sustainability-core-value-librarianship ______. ______. “Go Boston 2030.” https://www.boston.gov/departments/ Young, Jeffrey R. “Bots in the Library? Col- American Library Association. Sustainability transportation/go-boston-2030 leges Try AI to Help Researchers (But with Round Table. http://www.ala.org/rt/sustainrt/ City of Knoxville, Tennessee. Knoxville Area Caution).” EdSurge, June 14, 2019. https:// ______. ______. [Sustainability database.] Transit. “Books on Buses Program Makes www.edsurge.com/news/2019-06-14-bots- https://www.zotero.org/groups/2154386/ Reading Accessible.” Media release, May 30, in-the-library-colleges-try-ai-to-help- sustainrt/items/PWRWD95H/library 2019. http://knoxvilletn.gov/news/2019/ researchers-but-with-caution

32 April 2020 | americanlibraries.org