Trump administration moving ahead with signs outside Smithsonian museum; The Washington Post; September 16, 2026

 

Jonathan Edwards

 and 

Elahe Izadi

, The Washington Post; Trump administration moving ahead with signs outside Smithsonian museum

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said about a dozen signs would be installed outside the National Museum of American History warning of curators’ “personal viewpoints.”

"The Trump administration is moving ahead with plans to comply with President Donald Trump’s order to install signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History that would warn visitors about what the White House has called ideological bias in the institution’s presentation of the nation’s past.

The Interior Department is preparing about a dozen signs, expected to cost roughly $7,000 apiece, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum disclosed in a Sept. 3 letter to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over Smithsonian funding. Burgum said the signs, which he described as temporary, have not yet been finalized...

The planned signs are one piece of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to reshape how the Smithsonian presents American history, an effort that has intensified in recent months through executive orders, reviews of museum exhibits and threats to withhold some forms of federal support from the institution...

Trump ordered the signs after the White House issued a 162-page report on July 4 accusing the American History Museum and its director, Anthea Hartig, of promoting “extreme political activism.” The report, which rattled Smithsonian employees, scrutinized current and former exhibits and drew extensively from public comments by Hartig and other Smithsonian officials."

What Really Destroyed the Library of Alexandria?; National Geographic, August 28, 2026

 Candida Moss , National Geographic; What Really Destroyed the Library of Alexandria?

"We can’t excavate the Library of Alexandria; If it is not under water, then the other place on the peninsula where it was said to be located is currently occupied by the Egyptian military. But we do know that insects, mice, and mold were major issues for Egyptian book collectors that could only be counteracted by recopying texts. And we also know that the third century C.E. was a period of military crisis and financial upheaval that disrupted funding streams in the Roman Empire. Given the instability and currency devaluation of this period, Bagnall said, along with the rapid turnover of Roman prefects, budget cuts, staff losses, and ample opportunities for theft, “it’s not difficult to imagine the whole enterprise just falling apart.” 

It would have happened slowly over time, and therefore not necessarily been documented. But there’s a powerful lesson here, said Schultz, about the need to fund and sustain public libraries.

The real boogeyman, then, is just neglect. It’s not as exciting as marauding monks or power-hungry generals, but it might be more dangerous."

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Changes Lives. Some States Gut It Anyway.; The New York Times, August 26, 2026

 Ash Wu, The New York Times; Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Changes Lives. Some States Gut It Anyway.

"In 1995, Parton started the Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tenn., where she grew up. The program mails a free book each month to registered children from birth until age 5.

The Imagination Library mushroomed after forging an exclusive partnership with Penguin Young Readers in 2001; the agreement was later expanded to include Random House Children’s Books, after Penguin and Random House merged in 2012. In the United States, books are selected by childhood literacy experts, according to the Imagination Library website. Educational nonprofits that partner with the library help to enroll children in their local communities in the program, paying an average of $2.60 per child to cover the costs of books and postage each month.

Parton dedicated the library to her father, a farmer who never learned to read or write.

“My daddy just loved it when all the little kids would call me ‘The Book Lady,’” Parton wrote in a note to fans that was previously posted to her website. “That meant more to him than the fact that I had become a star and worked my butt off.”"

Florida joins conservative states severing ties with national library group; Politico, October 31, 2023

 ANDREW ATTERBURY , Politico; Florida joins conservative states severing ties with national library group

"Florida is among the latest conservative-leaning states to sever connections with the nation’s oldest library organization after the nonprofit became embroiled in the ongoing culture war over what books should be available to students.

The agency in charge of Florida’s public libraries issued a new rule in October forbidding any grant activities tied to the American Library Association, a 150-year-old organization that aids thousands of libraries across the country with training and funding.

The move by the DeSantis administration puts Florida in line with a cadre of Republican states and lawmakers leveling scrutiny on ALA, labeling the group as “toxic” and a “conduit” for exposing children to pornography — claims refuted by the organization and its supporters.

Conservatives in a growing number of states, including Alabama, Wyoming, Missouri, Texas and now Florida, have severed affiliations with the ALA, in part over the group choosing a new president, Emily Drabinski, who in 2022 tweeted that she’s a “Marxist.”...

How the rule will affect local libraries is currently unclear. Libraries pay for ALA memberships that grant access to benefits such as discounts on professional development and education products."

Librarian feels Alabamians ‘betrayed’ by recommendation to leave American Library Association; Al.com, October 28, 2023

Williesha Morris, Al.com; Librarian feels Alabamians ‘betrayed’ by recommendation to leave American Library Association

"Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) executive director Nancy Pack said in a memo they should “discontinue our institutional membership to the American Library Association (ALA).”...

Matthew Layne, president of the Alabama Library Association, an ALA chapter, said in an email that by disaffiliating from the ALA, the APLS “will lose access to a professional organization with over 50,000 members of professional librarians and library workers from around the world. They will lose access to workshops and training from brilliant librarian leaders, thinkers, and the important collegiality that one experiences in such organizations.”

Pack said in the memo “limiting a child’s access to potentially harmful content or relocating controversial reading materials should not be misconstrued as censorship in any form. APLS recommends that libraries exercise their best judgment when it comes to shelving sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate materials, regardless of the intended age group, to support a parent’s right to protect their children.”...

In response to Pack’s recommendations, librarian Marylyn Eubank said in a letter sent to the Alabama Library Association, “it is hard to compose a professional response to fear-based, unfounded, reactionary actions. One shakes with anger and the righteous indignation born from years of professional study and development. But shaking with anger doesn’t make the situation better for the millions of Alabama residents (mostly children) who have been betrayed by the very professionals meant to protect their rights.

Eubank said “Alabama kept books used by her black residents separate from books used by white residents” until the 1960s, and today, “funding for libraries is being held hostage by the governor and the state legislature.”

“Pack is simply providing the state what it wants - censorship in exchange for funding,” Eubank said."

Warren County tries to control local library in LGBTQ+ book debate; The Washington Post, September 15, 2023

  Gregory S. Schneider, The Washington Post; Warren County tries to control local library in LGBTQ+ book debate

"Warren County supervisors, under pressure from a group of conservative activists who want to remove LGBTQ+ materials from children’s sections of the library, withheld three-quarters of Samuels’s operating funds from the budget that went into effect July 1. Library leaders tightened parental controls, but the activists’ attacks broadened, until the county proposed a fundamental change in the way the library operates.

If the library cedes greater control to the county over which books stay and go, the budget woes would go away. But the Samuels board of trustees voted 11-1 Thursday to stand their ground, defending their book selection policies as protecting the interests of vulnerable minority groups in the community and fairly representing everyone.

“We don’t want to get sued and we don’t want to discriminate,” Melody Hotek, president of the board of trustees, said earlier in an interview with The Washington Post. “So we’re holding the line.”

The standoff in Front Royal is the first example in Virginia of attacks on books threatening the operation of a public library. Most fights over literature have taken place in school libraries, part of a national movement by conservative activists seeking to ban or restrict access to books they find objectionable. A few other Virginia counties have wrestled with objections to LGBTQ+ or sexually explicit content in public libraries, but none has yet resulted in a battle for funding."

Wolf Administration: Supporting Libraries Supports Our Communities; Press Release, May 6, 2022

Press Release; Wolf Administration: Supporting Libraries Supports Our Communities

"Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Executive Deputy Secretary Dr. Debora Carrera and Deputy Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries Susan Banks today visited the Free Library of Philadelphia to advocate for continued library funding and highlight the role libraries play in communities across the commonwealth.

“Libraries play a critical role in supporting their residents, visitors, and communities,” said Dr. Carrera. “It is imperative that we ensure continued funding to help libraries like the Free Library of Philadelphia continue to provide invaluable services to learners of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life.”

In his 2022-23 budget proposal, Governor Tom Wolf has requested a $1.25 million increase for libraries, including a $1 million increase in the Public Library Subsidy. The subsidy goes directly to local libraries, library systems, 29 district library centers, and provides every Pennsylvanian access to statewide resource center libraries at State Library of Pennsylvania, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the libraries of The Pennsylvania State University.

“The Free Library is a significant resource for all Pennsylvanians, and especially for residents of Philadelphia who depend on the library for key services such as computer access, internet connection, afterschool programs, and access to materials both in person and online that educate, enlighten, and entertain,” said Kelly Richards, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia. “Now more than ever, it is important to invest in libraries as centers of their communities and safe spaces for their residents.”'

Our View: Libraries could use some more local advocates; Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, May 22, 2022

EDITORIALS 

OPINION; 

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News; Our View: Libraries could use some more local advocates

Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are members of the largest library system in B.C. [British Columbia, Canada]

"Yet libraries are one of the great public goods that we rely on every day in our communities.

Just as you wouldn’t imagine a community that doesn’t have parks, rec centres, and sports fields to nurture its citizens’ physical needs, you can’t have a complete community without libraries to nurture their mental needs."

A Public Outcry Against a Wall Street Titan’s Name on a High School; The New York Times, April 13, 2018

Kate Kelly, The New York Times; A Public Outcry Against a Wall Street Titan’s Name on a High School

"Naming-rights deals are common, but they increasingly risk provoking fierce reactions — sometimes leading to embarrassing retreats by the wealthy patrons and the recipients of their largess."

Kasich touts libraries as way to help with online training, but cuts library funding; Columbus Dispatch, 2/5/17

Jim Siegel, Columbis Dispatch; 

Kasich touts libraries as way to help with online training,but cuts library funding

"When Gov. John Kasich rolled out his new two-year state budget last week, he talked about leveraging the strength of Ohio's public libraries, turning them into "continuous learning centers."

Kasich's budget also cuts the state public library fund by nearly $7 million next year.

Ohio's public library system has long been one of the state's bright spots. The state spends more than most on its libraries, and a study last year by the Ohio Library Council found that Ohioans average 7.5 library visits per year, the highest per-capita rate in the country and 51 percent above the national average.

As part of his efforts to improve the quality of Ohio's workforce, Kasich wants to get more use out of online job training and education. He's sees libraries as a key piece of that plan.

"These libraries are critical. Everybody loves the library," he said. "These things can be a hub where people who don't have the resources can go and begin to develop some skills.""

Losing a Library: A Community That Gives Up its Library Gives Up On Itself; Library Journal, 2/3/17

Rebecca T. Miller, Library Journal; 

Losing a Library: A Community That Gives Up its Library Gives Up On Itself 

"On April 1, the people of Oregon’s Douglas County will see ten of their 11 libraries close. The last, the main, will soon follow. This decision by the county Board of Commissioners, announced January 9, is a sad outcome to a long battle to keep the system open. For those who live there, it will mean a devastating loss of a key cultural hub along with the access to information, expertise, technology, stories, voices from around the world, a book-rich environment, and all the skill development, inspiration, and aspiration these resources offer. It’s a loss the community at large should not take lightly.

This closure comes in spite of a relatively strong outlook for U.S. libraries."

Carnegie saves library by doubling its funding; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12/23/16

Bob Podurgiel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Carnegie saves library by doubling its funding:

[Kip Currier: One of the biggest misconceptions about public libraries founded by Andrew Carnegie seed money in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is that those libraries have permanent endowments to this day from those charitable beginnings. Most do not. And if they do, the amounts are modest or meager. The hard fiscal reality is that libraries like the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Pittsburgh) struggle to provide ever-vital services with less money to do so. Through the leadership of Executive Director Maggie Forbes (a very inspiring guest speaker for my LIS 2700: Managing and Leading Libraries class a few years ago!), in collaboration with the Library Board and mobilized citizens/patrons, it's encouraging to see that this gem of a library and music hall has achieved unanimous buy-in for a strategic funding plan that will increase its chances of survival and the ability to continue with its mission:

"The Mission of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is to serve as an outstanding library, theater and historic site that informs, entertains and engages its community and the region in lifelong learning."]

"As executive director of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, Maggie Forbes faced some difficult decisions for 2017: drastically cut the library’s hours of operation to 20 hours a week, close entirely or become a branch of another library outside of Carnegie.

She appealed to Carnegie council for help, and council came through last week with a 7-0 vote to double funding from $35,000 a year to $70,000.

“We weren’t crying wolf. We would have closed,” Ms. Forbes said. “For the first time in 115 years, we have a stable source of income.”

“The new funding allows us to live within our means. The library had been borrowing $30,000 a year to remain open, a course that was unsustainable,” she said, adding that she is also excited about the possibility of extending hours and creating more children’s programming.

The need for programs geared to children is greater now since the Carlynton School District, which serves Carnegie, recently closed its school library, she said.

“It was a team effort,” she said of the push to obtain funding for the library. “The library board of trustees, and the residents turned out to support the library."

The Olympics may turn Rio into traffic hell; Washington Post, 7/29/16

Dom Phillips, Washington Post; The Olympics may turn Rio into traffic hell:

"Rio’s traffic chaos stems from a lack of long-term planning, experts say.

“We don’t look forward and are always trying to resolve things at the last minute,” said Carlos Murdoch, an architect and urbanist who lectures at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a leading business school."

Britain’s scientists are freaking out over Brexit; Washington Post, 7/31/16

William Booth and Karla Adam, Washington Post; Britain’s scientists are freaking out over Brexit:

"British research today is networked, expensive, competitive and global. Being part of a pan-European consortium has helped put Britain in the top handful of countries, based on the frequency of citations of its scientific papers.

Last week the heads of British academic societies posted a public letter reminding everyone that the country’s universities, many of them among the best in the world, are staffed by legions of top-flight researchers from abroad...

Research in the 21st century is more collaborative than ever, the scientists say...

“You can’t do this kind of research in one country,” Rosser said. She is especially worried about what will happen to funding and collaboration for investigating rare diseases."

Constant Campaign; Library Journal, 2/10/16

John Chrastka and Rachel Korman, Library Journal; Constant Campaign:

"In 2015, nearly 150 libraries in 24 states held referenda to renew or enact taxes for operations, staffing, or facilities. More than 1.1 million voters showed up at the polls in 2015 to decide on tax measures for their libraries. Just over 650,000 people voted yes and nearly 470,000 voted no. Of the 148 library ballot measures we have identified (through news reports, surveys, and direct involvement of EveryLibrary, the national library PAC the authors work for), 127 were won and 21 lost. One, while technically passing, actually rolled back the library’s funding, making it, in our opinion, a loss.

Though the outcomes of these elections were only directly germane to the health of these particular institutions, the results will be read for trends for the entire field. While this article is an examination of elections held nationwide, it does not represent a national plebiscite on libraries."

Meet the Candidates: ALA President 2016–17; Library Journal, 4/6/15

Lisa Peet, Library Journal; Meet the Candidates: ALA President 2016–17:

"Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2016–17 presidential campaign has opened, and ALA members in good standing can cast their ballots through May 1. In order to offer voters some additional insight into the candidates’ opinions and plans, LJ has asked them to weigh in on some key issues facing the president-elect and general items of interest. The four candidates—Joseph Janes, associate professor and chair of the MLIS Program, University of Washington Information School, Seattle; James LaRue, CEO of LaRue & Associates, Castle Rock, CO; JP Porcaro, librarian for acquisitions and technological discovery at New Jersey City University Library, Jersey City, NJ; and Julie Todaro, dean of library services at Austin Community College, TX—have given their responses below. Full biographies of the candidates can be found on ALA’s Election Information page."

Siobhan A. Reardon: LJ’s 2015 Librarian of the Year; Library Journal, 1/6/15

John N. Berry III, Library Journal; Siobhan A. Reardon: LJ’s 2015 Librarian of the Year:

"President and Director, Free Library of Philadelphia

She engineered the creation of an ambitious, five-year strategic plan, underpinned by a powerful mission to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity through the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP). Siobhan A. Reardon had been in the director’s chair for less than a month when FLP was handed a 20 percent cut and branch hours were drastically reduced. Library state funding was slashed by 34 percent. In 2010, with funding trickling back into the budget, FLP launched a two-year process to formalize a new strategic plan. “We agreed that we had to stop trying to be all things to all people; we just didn’t have the money,” Reardon says.

Instead, her plan refocused the role of the library, identifying five target populations (job seekers, ­entrepreneurs, new Americans, children under five, and people with disabilities). The plan outlines a cluster model to streamline and enhance neighborhood library services, share resources and staff among neighborhood libraries, and collaborate with community leaders to develop programs and services most needed by residents."

Center for an Urban Future Re-Envisions New York’s Branch Libraries; Library Journal, 9/19/14

Lisa Peet, Library Journal; Center for an Urban Future Re-Envisions New York’s Branch Libraries:

"From the Andrew Carnegie–era temples of learning to the small cinderblock “Lindsay boxes” built during Mayor John Lindsay’s administration from 1966–1973, New York City’s 207 library branches are as varied as its population. And like much of the city, they are feeling the crunch of budget cuts and neglect. The Center for an Urban Future (CUF), a New York City-based public policy think tank, published a detailed report September 15 titled Re-Envisioning New York’s Branch Libraries. The 56-page report, funded by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, focuses on the physical and economic challenges facing the buildings that make up New York City’s three library systems: New York Public Library (NYPL), which serves Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), and Queens Library (QL). It lays out the many design, space, and infrastructure problems that need to be addressed, and explains the difficult processes required for the city’s libraries to secure funding and carry out various building and renovation projects. In addition, the report offers “20 actionable steps that city government and the libraries themselves could take to address these needs.”"