News and Updates

Stephen King

Stephen King on Book Banners: ‘What’s Wrong with These People?’

Book banners have targeted Stephen King again. “Different Seasons,” a collection of shorts by King that was published in 1982, has been pulled from school libraries in Utah. The collection is noted for containing two stories which have been adapted into the classic American films, “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Stand By Me.”

United Nations

ALA Goes to the UN

A delegation from the American Library Association is at the United Nations this week to advocate for libraries as essential partners in advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Manifesto Library interior

Pop Star Dua Lipa Opens Library for Banned and Censored Books

Singer Dua Lipa has partnered with Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal, to open a physical library for banned and censored books. The Manifesto Library is dedicated to books “that challenge power, censorship, exclusion, and dominant narratives.”

JPod book cover detail

Booklist Reader: Workplace Woes

Whether in a cubicle or home office, workplace culture is full of absurdities that anyone who has held a job can appreciate. From apathetic coworkers scrolling TikTok to illicit romances, the full extent of the foibles of humanity are on display, so it’s no wonder fiction writers have mined its depths. These novels recommended by Booklist capture the humor, heartbreak, madness, and even terror that encapsulate the modern workplace.

How I Library episode 34: Min Jin Lee

‘How I Library’ Episode 34: Min Jin Lee

In episode 34 of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with author Min Jin Lee about her new book, “American Hagwon.”

Monster Deep Down book cover

Book Review of the Week: ‘Monster Down Deep’

For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Chelsea Collier’s review of “Monster Down Deep” by Amy Fellner Dominy.

banned books map

U.S. Book Challenges Update: June 2026 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This update includes news from Massachusetts and Utah and a look at how a superstar pop singer is fighting book bans.

For Our Libraries graphic

Start Your Summer By Becoming an ALA Supporter

Libraries are where so many reading journeys begin. From a child’s first storytime to the books that open doors and shape who they become, libraries lay the foundation for lifelong learning, curiosity, and confidence. By becoming a Supporter of the American Library Association, you can help give the next generation a strong start—one story at a time.

ALA READ® posters collage

Historic ALA READ® Posters Up for Auction

Have you ever wanted to own an iconic American Library Association (ALA) READ® poster? Now’s your chance. ALA has partnered with the world’s largest collections auctioneer to auction a selection of rare READ® posters, offering supporters, collectors, and library fans a chance to own a piece of library history.

Inside North Lake County Public Library

Montana Library Builds a More Accessible, Welcoming Community

Polson (pop. 5,100) in the northwestern part of Montana is enveloped by a serene, natural environment which includes Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Not surprisingly, Polson is a popular place for retirees looking to settle down and escape into a calm, rural life. North Lake County Public Library in Polson recognizes its obligation to that community, and it is doing so with help from the American Library Association.

A still from Persepolis (left), Marjane Satrapi (right)

Marjane Satrapi, author of ‘Persepolis,’ dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French author of the acclaimed graphic novel “Persepolis” and director of the film adaptation which was nominated for an Oscar in 2008, died June 4 at age 56. Her work documented personal, cultural, and institutional struggles and was an unintended player in the fight for the freedom to read.

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Booklist Reader: Holy Whodunits!

Some detectives seem to have a divine calling to solve mysteries. Join ALA’s Booklist as they highlight a wide assortment of excellent mystery books built around religious themes set in interesting places and times.

banned books map 3.24.23

U.S. Book Challenges Update: May 2026 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This update includes news from Tennessee, Arizona, and Texas, and a passionate reaction to book bans from a Today show cohost.

Stephen King

Stephen King on Book Banners: ‘What’s Wrong with These People?’

Book banners have targeted Stephen King again. “Different Seasons,” a collection of shorts by King that was published in 1982, has been pulled from school libraries in Utah. The collection is noted for containing two stories which have been adapted into the classic American films, “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Stand By Me.”

United Nations

ALA Goes to the UN

A delegation from the American Library Association is at the United Nations this week to advocate for libraries as essential partners in advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Manifesto Library interior

Pop Star Dua Lipa Opens Library for Banned and Censored Books

Singer Dua Lipa has partnered with Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal, to open a physical library for banned and censored books. The Manifesto Library is dedicated to books “that challenge power, censorship, exclusion, and dominant narratives.”

JPod book cover detail

Booklist Reader: Workplace Woes

Whether in a cubicle or home office, workplace culture is full of absurdities that anyone who has held a job can appreciate. From apathetic coworkers scrolling TikTok to illicit romances, the full extent of the foibles of humanity are on display, so it’s no wonder fiction writers have mined its depths. These novels recommended by Booklist capture the humor, heartbreak, madness, and even terror that encapsulate the modern workplace.

How I Library episode 34: Min Jin Lee

‘How I Library’ Episode 34: Min Jin Lee

In episode 34 of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with author Min Jin Lee about her new book, “American Hagwon.”

Monster Deep Down book cover

Book Review of the Week: ‘Monster Down Deep’

For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Chelsea Collier’s review of “Monster Down Deep” by Amy Fellner Dominy.

banned books map

U.S. Book Challenges Update: June 2026 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This update includes news from Massachusetts and Utah and a look at how a superstar pop singer is fighting book bans.

For Our Libraries graphic

Start Your Summer By Becoming an ALA Supporter

Libraries are where so many reading journeys begin. From a child’s first storytime to the books that open doors and shape who they become, libraries lay the foundation for lifelong learning, curiosity, and confidence. By becoming a Supporter of the American Library Association, you can help give the next generation a strong start—one story at a time.