EveryLibrary in the News 2022 - January to June
EveryLibrary staff and leadership have been featured in over two dozen stories with national and local impact so far in 2022. These stories from news outlets as varied as the Washington Post, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal as well as local press from Delaware to Washington state and trade publications like Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. We help set the tone about the role and impact of libraries and library workers across the country.
In 2022, a number of stories covered our core political work for libraries including retrospectives on 2021 library ballot campaigns and the evolving role of school librarians in a late-stage COVID world. It is important to us to have shown up for libraries as censorship and book banning stories began to dominate the headlines. And as always, EveryLibrary was there to help share about our pro-library policy agenda.
Library Advocacy Organizations Support EDUCATORS for America Act
School Library Journal | 14 January 2022
https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=Library-advocacy-organizations-support-eDUCATORS-for-america-act
Beyond Banning: New Challenges to the Right to Read
InfoToday | 1 February 2022
http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Beyond-Banning-New-Challenges-to-the-Right-to-Read-151179.asp
Uncertain Times: Budgets and Funding 2022
Library Journal | 1 February 2022
https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/Uncertain-Times-Budgets-and-Funding-2022
As book ban efforts spread across country, controversy erupts at King County middle school
Seattle Times | 4 February 2022
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/as-book-ban-efforts-spread-across-country-controversy-erupts-at-king-county-middle-school/
Furries raise money for libraries after mayor threatens to withhold funds due to LGBTQ+ books
Clarion-Ledger | 4 February 2022
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2022/02/04/furry-community-raises-thousands-mississippi-library-ridgeland/6662813001/
What’s It Like to Be the Target of A Book Banning Effort? School Librarian Martha Hickson Tells Her Story
School Library Journal | 3 Feb 2022
https://www.slj.com/story/from-the-breaking-point-to-fighting-anew-school-librarian-martha-hickson-shares-her-story-of-battling-book-banning-censorship
Furries respond to a bigoted mayor by helping fund Ridgeland, Mississippi's library
Boing Boing | 7 February 2022
https://boingboing.net/2022/02/07/furries-respond-to-a-bigoted-mayor-by-helping-fund-ridgeland-mississippis-library.html
Senate bill looks to teach Delaware students how to ID actual fake news online
WDEL Radio | 8 Feb 2022
https://www.wdel.com/news/senate-bill-looks-to-teach-delaware-students-how-to-id-actual-fake-news-online
We Must Try in Order to Win - 2021 Library Election Roundup
Library Journal | 8 February 2022
https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/We-Must-Try-to-Win-Referenda-2021
EveryLibrary Gets the Word Out About Book Banning News
InfoToday | 8 February 2022
http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/Digest/EveryLibrary-Gets-the-Word-Out-About-Book-Banning-News-151311.asp
Everything you need to know about the rise in efforts to ban books from libraries
Baptist News Global | 17 February 2022
https://baptistnews.com/article/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rise-in-efforts-to-ban-books-from-libraries/#.YhLPrZPMJap
In Walla Walla, Students Push Back Against Proposed Book Bans
NW Public Broadcasting | 8 March 2022
https://www.nwpb.org/2022/03/08/in-walla-walla-students-push-back-against-proposed-book-bans/
Wyoming Libraries Launch New Statewide Advocacy Program
Cheyenne Post| 17 March 2022
https://www.thecheyennepost.com/news/wyoming-libraries-launch-new-statewide-advocacy-program/article_83996892-a608-11ec-9448-bb797808eb83.html
The firing of a Texas librarian is only the latest attack on libraries
American Independent | 24 March 2022
https://americanindependent.com/lgbtq-banned-books-librarians-suzette-baker-texas/
These Are the Books Parents Want Banned From School Libraries
Houstonian Magazine | 6 April 2022
https://www.houstoniamag.com/arts-and-culture/book-ban-texas-school-libraries
Op-Ed: Ohio, speak up for school librarians
News-Watchman | 8 April 2022
https://www.newswatchman.com/comment/article_4ab7c0c8-b760-11ec-8543-c7cfc60b766a.html
Authors Celebrate Their Banned Books During EveryLibrary Panel
Publishers Weekly | 12 April 2022
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/89031-authors-celebrate-their-banned-books-during-everylibrary-panel.html
POTENTIAL INCREASE TO LIBRARY BUDGET AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
Book Riot | 15 April 2022
https://bookriot.com/potential-increase-to-library-budget-for-2023/
Mississippi library will get funding after debate over LGBTQ books
ABC24 - Local Memphis | 14 April 2022
https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/mississippi-library-funding-debate-over-lgbtq-books-ridgeland/522-f360ef22-b09b-42e0-b124-2492c199aae9
Censorship battles’ new frontier: Your public library
Washington Post | 17 April 2022
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/04/17/public-libraries-books-censorship/
EveryLibrary, PEN America Sound Alarm Over New Kentucky Library Law
Publishers Weekly | 22 April 2022
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/89112-pen-america-voices-concern-over-new-kentucky-library-bill.html
IBPA Tackles Book Bans
Publishers Weekly | 22 April 2022
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/89113-ibpa-tackles-book-bans.html
Lawmakers, Fired Up Over What Schools Teach, Target Library Materials
Wall Street Journal | 9 May 2022
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-fired-up-over-what-schools-teach-target-library-materials-11652002203
The next book ban: States aim to limit titles students can search for
Washington Post | 10 May 2022
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/10/school-library-database-book-ban/
Utah Attorney General Provides Legal Framework to Fight Book Bans
School Library Journal | 18 May 2022
https://www.slj.com/story/utah-attorney-general-provides-legal-framework-to-fight-book-bans
Va. Republicans seek to limit sale of 2 books in Barnes & Noble for ‘obscenity’
Washington Post | 20 May 2022
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/20/gender-queer-barnes-and-noble/
A Florida library’s LGBTQ Pride display started a yearlong battle
Tampa Bay Times | 26 May 2022
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/05/26/a-florida-librarys-lgbtq-pride-display-started-a-yearlong-battle/
Online petition urges full funding for Whitesburg library
The Newman Times-Herald | 26 May 2022
https://times-herald.com/news/2022/05/online-petition-urges-full-funding-for-whitesburg-library
School Librarians Under Pressure
Publishers Weekly | 10 June 2022
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/89573-school-librarians-under-pressure.html
The Ongoing Battle Against Banned Books
Book Trib | 18 June
https://booktrib.com/2022/06/18/the-ongoing-battle-against-banned-books-james-patterson-and-some-fabulous-upcoming-books/
View 2022 stories from our companion organization EveryLibrary Institute too.