State of America’s Libraries 2018; American Libraries, April 9, 2018

American Libraries; State of America’s Libraries 2018

"On April 9, the American Library Association (ALA) released The State of America’s Libraries report for 2018, an annual summary of library trends released during National Library Week, April 8–14, that outlines statistics and issues affecting all types of libraries. The report affirms the invaluable role libraries and library workers play within their communities by leading efforts to transform lives through education and lifelong learning...

Through an analysis of the number of books challenged, the OIF produced the “Top Ten Most Challenged Books” of 2017, which includes:

1. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
   Reason: Suicide
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
   Reasons: Profanity, Sexually Explicit
3. Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
   Reason: LGBT Content
4. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
   Reasons: Sexual Violence, Religious Themes, “May Lead to Terrorism”
5. George, by Alex Gino
   Reason: LGBT Content
6. Sex is a Funny Word, written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth
   Reason: Sex Education
7. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
   Reasons: Violence, Racial Slurs.
8. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
   Reasons: Drug Use, Profanity, “Pervasively Vulgar”
9. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
   Reason: LGBT Content
10. I Am Jazz, written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
    Reason: Gender Identity

Additional information regarding why books were challenged, a Top Ten List video announcement, and infographics regarding the 2017 Top Ten List of Most Challenged Books are available on the OIF’s Banned and Challenged Books page."

State of America's Libraries Report 2016; American Library Association (ALA)

American Library Association (ALA); State of America's Libraries Report 2016:

"Academic, school, and public libraries continue to face an uncertain economy as they shift resources and services to meet the needs of the 21st-century digital world. The American Library Association launched a new public awareness campaign, “Libraries Transform,” to help shift the mindset that “libraries are obsolete or nice to have” to “libraries are essential.” This and other library trends of the past year, including the Top Ten Most Challenges Books of 2015, are detailed in the American Library Association’s 2016 State of America’s Libraries report, released during National Library Week, April 10– 16, 2016.

Press release: “State of America’s Libraries 2016” shows service transformation to meet tech demands of library patrons

Flipbook version at American Libraries Magazine

2016 State of America's Libraries Report (PDF)

New State of America’s Libraries Report finds shift in role of U.S. libraries; American Library Association (ALA), 4/12/15

Macey Morales, American Library Association (ALA); New State of America’s Libraries Report finds shift in role of U.S. libraries:

"According to The State of America’s Libraries Report released today by the American Library Association (ALA), academic, public and school libraries are experiencing a shift in how they are perceived by their communities and society. No longer just places for books, libraries of all types are viewed as anchors, centers for academic life and research and cherished spaces.

This and other library trends of the past year are detailed in ALA’s State of America’s Libraries Report 2015, made available during National Library Week, April 12–18, both as an American Libraries digital supplement, as well as on the ALA website at ala.org/americas-libraries and as a PDF file."