Libraries Are Essential News Today

Among the weeks headlines are a surprise guest inspiring the annual PEN America gala and a brewing controversy over book bans in Colorado.

A robust slate of programming highlights the crucial work of libraries and librarians.

A robust slate of programming highlights the crucial work of libraries and librarians.

A look at libraries some three years after the Covid-19 pandemic began, how the right wing culture war playing out in many communities has led to some librarians living in fear, and more.

The Maryland congressman, who has become the face of Washingtons efforts to fight nationwide book banning efforts, capped off a day full of discussion on the biggest issues in the library world today.

In his May 25 keynote at the U.S. Book Shows Libraries Are Essential Program sociologist Eric Klinenberg, author of the bestselling book Palaces for the People, said libraries are the best exemplars of our collective life and that strong libraries will be key to the nations recovery after a historically challenging year.

By Judith Rosen | May 14, 2021 In January, Publishers Weekly announced the launch of an online book fair to fill the void left by the abrupt closure, late last year, of BookExpo. It was not clear then what form the event would take in the midst of a pandemic, but one thing was certain: the industry in the U.S. couldn’t go another year without a central place to promote its fall titles. And PW CEO and publisher Cevin Bryerman was convinced that the magazine could bring its lea...

Libraries Are Essential Opening Remarks, with Cohosts Andrew Richard Albanese and Sari Feldman PW senior writer Andrew Richard Albanese leads the magazine’s library coverage. Albanese has covered the publishing and information technology fields for more than 21 years and is a former associate editor of American history at Oxford University Press, a former editor at Library Journal, and author of The Battle of $9.99: How Apple, Amazon and the Big Six Publishers Changed the E-book Business O...