Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I hope everyone had a healthier holiday than my husband’s side of the family this year…we had six or seven people sick or injured leading up to Christmas, including a couple hospital visits. Thankfully, everyone seems to be okay, but I’m just hoping no one else comes down with anything!
It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement.
OverDrive releases their most-borrowed books of 2023.
Library Journal has rounded up a bunch of “Top 2023 Checkout” lists from public libraries.
Book Adaptations in the News
Read Erasure before you watch American Fiction.
Censorship News
The highlights and lowlights from 2023 in censorship news.
“Keller ISD [TX] trustee Ruthie Keyes stepped down from the school board during a discussion on whether to allow chaplains to volunteer in classrooms.” It’s all part of the same agenda, folks.
(Paywalled): Orange County School District (FL) pulls 673 books from library shelves.
Escambia County Public Schools (FL) have made over 1000 books off-limits to students. Meanwhile, a federal judge will begin hearing arguments pertaining to the book banning lawsuit filed against ECPS in January.
Hernando County Public Schools (FL) have banned six books as of their December board meeting, including The Hate U Give, which board member Mark Johnson described as “‘nasty, nasty, vulgar, filthy.’” Yes, that is an actual quote from an adult person.
SAD 51 (ME) board votes to keep Gender Queer at Greely High School library. “‘I feel like I’m a better person for having read this book,’ board member Kim Vine said. ‘I took this process very, very seriously.’”
Nearly 200 people attended the December board meeting for the Cuba Circulating Library (NY), many in favor of retaining This Book is Gay in the teen section. One speaker said that it wasn’t censorship to move the book from the teen collection to the adult collection because teens still had access to the adult collection…so why move it, then? On the other end of the spectrum, this person gave a very powerful statement: “Suzanne Flierl, a member of the leadership team for the Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective and a mother to members of the LGBTQ+ community, spoke about how she had raised her children in a household that was ‘religiously and politically conservative’ and added that she later realized that ‘putting that much restriction on her children traumatized’ them. ‘I wish that this and other books were available to my children at the time,’ Flierl said. ‘It was much needed but unattainable at home.’”
Three new board members have joined the Rockwell Falls Public Library board (NY). The library has been closed for three months after two of its three staff members resigned due to public harassment over a drag queen story hour, and three previous trustees left as well.
The Quarryville Public Library (PA) continues to lose funding from conservative townships because they have LGBTQ books in their collections.
Many of the books targeted by members of the Pine-Richland School Board (PA) have very low circulation numbers.
(Paywalled): The Carroll County School Board (MD) has asked for public input on defining “sexually explicit content.” Yeah, this is going to go well.
Some of the new Fairfax County (VA) school board members were sworn in on a stack of banned books.
This Arlington County (VA) librarian is pushing back against book bans.
“The Alabama Public Library Service has launched its new online portal that allows for parents, concerned citizens and organizations to flag specific books they deem inappropriate for children.” We’ve seen this type of behavior from other ultra-conservative states/government agencies, but to see a state’s library association set up a snitch hotline like this really hits hard.
“Local pastor Paul Thompson asked the board to reconsider its decision on Gender Queer, although library policy states the results of reconsideration decisions stand for five years.” This is in Dothan, Alabama.
(Paywalled): The Lafayette Parish Public Library (LA) has canceled its ALA membership.
After withdrawing from the Central Arkansas Library System’s “tech card program” at the beginning of the 2023 school year, the Pulaski County Special School District is reinstating access, albeit with a new parental approval form.
Two years of efforts to ban books are taking a toll on school librarians. The article focuses on librarians in the Wentzville School District (MO), but this story could apply to school librarians anywhere in the country.
The St. Charles County Library (MO) will remove books that contain sexually explicit photos.
The Pickaway County Library Board (OH) will keep the book Making a Baby in the children’s section.
(Possibly paywalled): The Brainerd School Board (MN) upheld the decision to retain Empire of Storms, and days later, they voted to keep Queen of Shadows as well.
(Paywalled): The Grand Forks Public Library (ND) has fielded its first book challenges in years thanks to a recent library obscenity law passed in April.
“Leavenworth School District Board of Education [KS] voted 4-3 this week to pass revisions to an education policy that bans ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation’ references in the district’s elementary library books.” So, if a book specifies that a character is male or female, that will automatically be banned, right? Or any mention of heterosexual marriage? Do we want our school children indoctrinated with discussion of sexual orientation like this?? (I’m being facetious, but really, I’m not. If they’re going to make ridiculous policies like this, they need to be upfront with their bigotry and say the quiet parts out loud.)
The Davis School District (UT) is reviewing the Quran under the school’s “sensitive materials” policy.
West Ada School District (ID) quietly pulled 10 titles from library shelves and is considering 44 other titles for removal, thanks to the ratings posted on BookLooks.
Books & Authors in the News
Here’s what’s entering the public domain in 2024.
Numbers & Trends
These are the highest-rated books from every country.
Pop Cultured
32 detective shows you may have forgotten about.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
When the world is dark, how do you rekindle your light?
On the Riot
The most popular books in US public libraries in 2023.
Why this Rioter is pledging to read less in 2024.
Dini has made it his personal mission to annoy the living daylights out of Gilbert this week, but I did manage to get a snuggly photo of them the other day.
All right, friends. I’ll see you in 2024! Stay healthy!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.