Reading Free in Iowa

Getting fired won’t stop Carla Hayden In her first local interview since she was fired by President Trump as Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden speaks about the importance of expanding access, not cutting it off.

Dr. Carla Hayden may have been fired, but she’s not backing down. In her first local interview since being removed as Librarian of Congress, Hayden reflects on her career, community, and the growing threats facing libraries.
bit.ly/45soIBH

Warren, Markey call for answers on federal funding cuts to Mass. museums and libraries The senators request further information on the future of certain programs and the Institute of Museum and Library Services' plan to act in accordance with laws that require minimum funding by state.

Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sent a letter Tuesday evening to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Acting Director Keith E. Sonderling demanding answers on funding cuts to museums and libraries across the country.

Show up for our libraries. American library association.

The FCC's Learn Without Limits program has allowed libraries nationwide to use #ERate discounts to support wi-fi hotspot lending. But some in Congress want to end the program.

Tell your Rep to keep communities connected & protect this funding: bit.ly/TakeActionHotspots #ForOurLibraries

Knoxville bookstore hosting 'Banned Book Club' after more than 100 books removed from Knox Co. Schools' shelves The Bottom, a Black-focused bookstore and community space, is hosting a club to give people a chance to read books recently removed from public school shelves.

Books are necessary tools for understanding life's complex issues. "...they need to have the space to have access to a book like that, to talk about something complicated and hard, but which is also impacting their lives... It speaks to them, it doesn't speak down to them." #UniteAgainstBookBans

Graphic of the state of Florida as a blueprint

Four important facts from the report

What Florida’s parental rights policies are now being used for

Quote from Stephana Ferrell co Director of Florida freedom to read project

Florida's "Parental Rights" laws are becoming a nationwide blueprint for extreme censorship in schools. A new report from PEN America and the Florida Freedom to Read Project reveals how a vocal minority is dictating what students can read and learn.
pen.org/press-releas...

Fired Copyright Chief Sues in Federal Court to Get Job Back Former Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, who was fired on May 10, filed suit in federal court on Thursday, challenging her removal from office and seeking reinstatement, while voiding any…

Former register of copyrights Shira Perlmutter filed suit in federal court on May 22, challenging her removal from office and seeking reinstatement to her position at the U.S. Copyright Office.

Libraries need your help NOW! Funding is always tight, and now federal funding is at risk. Contact your local library and see how you can help today. Donate, volunteer, fundraise, and join your library's friends' group.

Don’t let the government regulate your reading www.bookbanpetition.us

If you care about libraries, and the stories they hold dear, you should be following Kelly. She’s been reporting what’s happening from the beginning and we are so blessed she has been.

More Than a Book Lender: The Vital Role Librarians Play as Community Ambassadors How does your library help you feel more connected to your community?

How does your library help you feel more connected to your community?

That whole argument of, “we’re not banning books, you can still get it at the public library” is now exposed for the lie it always was.

You can’t “run to your nearest library” when the government controls all the speech there too.

Supporting local library associations is an easy way to help protect the right to read. (And a quick way to check off your activism for the day, if that's how you do it) Reply with a link to donate to yours & we'll repost.

A selection of books on Asian American & Pacific Islander American topics on a meadow with green grass and daisies

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Use #AAPIHM (or any other month!) to learn more about the #AsianAmerican #PacificIslander communities with our many resources - we could never fit all of them in 1 picture, so here's a very small selection

#AAPIHeritageMonth #AmericanStudies

Unprecedented Control: How States Are Seizing Power Over Local Book Decisions States like Utah, South Carolina, and Florida are overriding local authority to ban books in schools, forcing districts to comply with top-down censorship, even where no complaints exist.

What happens when state politicians, not educators or communities, decide what books students can access?

Spoiler: It’s already happening.

From Utah to Florida, states are stripping local districts of the power to choose what belongs on library shelves.
www.freedomtoreadproject.org/unprecedente...

Visual of text for joint statement

Page two of joint statement

Page three of joint statement

Freedom to Read Project and more than 40 organizations representing parents, grassroots organizers, authors, librarians, booksellers, and publishers have signed a statement on the Trump Administration's firing of Dr. Carla Hayden.

Now take action with @everylibrary.bsky.social: bit.ly/EmailHayden

Michigan libraries fear major programming cuts following Trump executive order President Donald Trump’s attempt to eliminate the federal agency that oversees American libraries has local library officials in Michigan concerned about the future.

In state after state, libraries are warning of the consequences of cuts to federal funding.

In Michigan, that could mean curtailing of subscriptions used 19 MILLION times by patrons last year. Read more: michiganindependent.com/politics/mic...

Find ways to show up #ForOurLibraries ala.org/showup

Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency Libraries across the United States have cut back on some digital services weeks after the Trump administration's move to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Nationwide, libraries are making difficult decisions about which programs and resources can continue without federal funding: apnews.com/article/inst...

We can't wait. Pick up the phone and tell Congress to #FundLibraries TODAY: bit.ly/Call2FundLibraries #ForOurLibraries

Fund Libraries. Tell Congress to invest in libraries. American Library Association.

This is the LAST CHANCE to tell Congress to #FundLibraries. We need you to make your voice heard TODAY. Letters in Congress in support of library funding are about to close.

Call your Senators and urge them to fund libraries in next year's budget: bit.ly/Call2FundLibraries #ForOurLibraries

Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency Libraries across the United States have cut back on some digital services weeks after the Trump administration's move to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Libraries nationwide are facing incredibly difficult decisions as federal funding cuts impact programs & services: apnews.com/article/inst...

We need to act NOW. Call Congress and tell them to #FundLibraries, while there's still time: bit.ly/Call2FundLibraries #ForOurLibraries

We ❤️ to see so many different groups coming together to #UniteAgainstBookBans! We’re stronger together. Thank you to @freadomfighters.bsky.social and all who spoke up for libraries and the freedom to read today in Texas.

Protecting from harm or censorship? Policing educational material in Texas Texas state legislature just passed a bill that would send doctors, teachers, librarians and more to jail if they provide kids with "harmful" materials. But who decides what's harmful, and what's not?

@aaslpres.bsky.social speaks with On Point from WBUR in Boston on recently passed TX legislation that would send librarians to jail if they provide students with "harmful" materials. “I’ve been in education for 38 years and it’s shocking that we’ve gotten to this point.” wbur.fm/3SDSziH

CALL TO ACTION! House File 856 is headed to Governor Reynolds' desk. This bill will eliminate all DEI programs from state entities - that means no LGBTQ or minority programs, and it provides the justification for eliminating programs and events for women and the disabled. Call and ask for a veto!

SC now leads nation in book bans, largely due to one Beaufort County parent One person decides what you and your family are allowed to read.

Most book bans are initiated by just one person in a state who feels they are allowed to regulate the books that you and your family are allowed to read.

Over half of the books now banned in South Carolina have come from one Beaufort County parent.

The President has named a new Acting Librarian of Congress. It's his former defense lawyer. Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer for President Trump, is now acting Librarian of Congress. According to his public profile, Blanche has no experience working in libraries or archives.

President Trump has appointed his own former lawyer, Todd Blanche, as acting Librarian of Congress - a man with no history in libraries or archives - in place of Dr. Carla Hayden. This is unacceptable. Call your congressional representatives today.

Next to a digital graphic of a caution sign is the text: Stay Alert: Report Censorship! In the corner is the Unite Against Book Bans logo.

Are you a concerned community member who lives in a community experiencing censorship?

Fill out our confidential form to receive customized support and resources to oppose the attempted ban or challenge: uniteagainstbookbans.org/report-censo... #UniteAgainstBookBans

Support libraries and literacy!

Take action at buff.ly/41eAGMI

Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21.

“The Pentagon ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21”

Gotta protect the military from all those big bad books. 🤷🤷

apnews.com/article/pent...

PETITION: Stop Trump's Attack on the Library of Congress We need to show that Americans will not stand for yet another attack on our institutions. Sign the petition today!

Don’t fire the librarian of Congress!

bit.ly/4jOmvEZ

Trump abruptly fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American to occupy the position, had been targeted in recent days by a right-leaning group.

SOS! President Trump has fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was appointed by bipartisan Senate vote in 2016.

Call your reps and demand her reinstatement. The dismantling of America's federal library agencies must end.

Second federal judge rules against dismantling IMLS. In response to a lawsuit from 21 state Attorneys General, a federal judge in Rhode Island has ruled that the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is likely illegal. This is the second federal court to rule against the slashing of the agency, following a ruling in ALA’s separate legal case in Washington. Show up for our libraries. ALA American Library Association.

NEW: A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the gutting of the Institute of Museum & Library Services is likely unlawful. This is the SECOND federal court to rule against the slashing of the only federal agency dedicated to library funding.

Learn about ALA's own legal case: ala.org/IMLS-lawsuit