SLJ wants to share the stories of how the loss of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services—including Laura Bush Foundation grants —will impact your library and community.
Category: books
How New Hampshire libraries are bracing for potential funding cuts
“The state of New Hampshire gets funding from the federal government, which is administered through the State Library. The most impact that we will see with a lack of funding is the elimination of the Talking Books Program, which is the way that sight impaired people are able to take in materials. It would also eliminate the interlibrary loan service and also the platform of Libby, by which our patrons throughout the state of New Hampshire are able to download electronic and digital information.”
Dolly Parton Gifts Record $4.5 Million to Nashville Public Library
“We are humbled by Ms. Parton’s incredible act of generosity,” Nashville Public Library Foundation President Shawn Bakker said. “Not only has The Dollywood Foundation given all the books necessary to fulfill a key pillar of the program, but the historic financial contribution will enable the Library to accelerate [the] launch of this program within the fiscal year.”
Indianapolis’ First Library for Black Residents Reopens Through School Librarian’s Leadership
Maurice Broaddus was a writer by trade and became a middle school librarian by accident.
The award-winning Afrofuturist and sci-fi author once filled in at The Oaks Academy middle school, where he was also a teacher, for the librarian going on maternity leave. The librarian never came back.
Salem Public Library Budget Cuts Disappoint Community
“No librarian wants to cut hours, we want to expand libraries if we could,” said Interim City Librarian Bridget Esqueda.
Author Talk
“The Girl From the Red Rose Motel” is different from her debut, Zurenda said. It follows the story of Hazel Smalls, a homeless high school junior, and Sterling Lovell, an affluent high school senior, in 2012 South Carolina. The story outlines the lessons the two, and their teacher, learn as their relationship grows.
“More than anything, I want people to find meaning in the book, to find something to take away from it,” Zurenda said.
Zurenda’s author talk at the Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library in Florence — 509 S Dargan St. — will be at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2. She’ll talk about the novel, topics mentioned in her new novel and public school teaching. The event is free and open to the public.
Since Becoming Fine-Free, Over 21,000 Items Have Been Returned to Houston Public Libraries, Officials Say
More ‘Freedom Libraries’ Arrive in Louisiana State Prisons: ‘If we build it, they will come’
“Unlike prison libraries, which are not accessible around the clock, the portable Freedom Libraries are housed in the dorms, allowing 24-hour access to hundreds of books.”
Societal Attitudes Toward Homelessness
“One of the aspects of addressing homelessness and poverty through libraries is to be aware of our library collections and how they represent the lives of people who are without a permanent place to be,” writes Julie Winkelstein.
Roxbury Library Goes Fine-Free
In announcing the new policy, the library said its board of trustees “is dedicated to creating a library that is more open, equitable and understanding of our community,” and explained that “eliminating fines for overdue materials means more people in our community have greater access to the Library’s vital materials, resources and services.”