As much of the library world focuses on the legal battles over the Trump Administration's efforts to dismantle the IMLS and to gut the Library of Congress, legislative efforts to seek fair digital terms for libraries have begun to reemerge in a handful of statehouses.

In this week's Words & Money newsletter, we report that New Jersey has now introduced a library ebook bill of its own, a day after Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed his state's new library ebook bill into law. In our weekly media roundup, The Queue, we look at some of the fallout from the Fifth Circuit's bombshell decision to gut the freedom to read, and the status of library related bills in several states. In Washington D.C., former Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter has lost her bid for an order blocking her removal, but is now asking the court to fast track her case. And while no new decisions were issued regarding the IMLS as of press time, state attorneys this week urged a Rhode Island judge not to pause his May 13 injunction ordering the agency to be restored.

New Jersey Introduces Library Ebook Bill

If passed, the New Jersey bill would sound beyond the Garden State, satisfying the so-called “trigger clause” in the recently passed library ebook bill in Connecticut.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 30, 2025

Among the week's headlines: Fallout from the Fifth Circuit's massive book banning decision; Texas moves a step closer to giving school boards control of public school libraries; and Colorado libraries are struggling with ebook costs.

After Failing to Win a Restraining Order, Former Register of Copyrights Seeks to Fast Track Lawsuit Over Her Firing

Calling her firing "blatantly illegal," former Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter is now seeking to expedite a summary judgment, over the objections of Trump administration lawyers.

States Oppose Trump Administration's Bid to Stay IMLS Injunction

Citing the potential for further harm, attorneys for 21 plaintiff states are urging judge John G. McConnell not to stay his May 13 injunction pending an appeal by the Trump administration.