The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending April 4, 2025

National Library Week kicks off on Sunday, April 6, with a week long series of “celebrations” and releases set for next week, including the American Library Association's annual State of America’s Libraries report, and the ALA’s Top Ten Most Challenged Books list. It’s fair to say that this year’s National Library Week won’t be very celebratory, however, as libraries face a wave of historic challenges, including an ongoing assault on the freedom to read, and a Trump Administration effort to end the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and with it virtually all federal support for libraries.

On the other hand, National Library Week couldn’t come at a better time, as it represents a much-needed opportunity to rally support for libraries.

Events set for next week include:

Monday, April 7 is Right to Read Day, which is focused on celebrating and defending the freedom to read. Also on Monday, comes the release of the ALA’s State of America's Libraries Report, which will include the list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books.

Tuesday, April 8 is National Library Workers Day, dedicated to recognizing the important work of library staff, administrators, Friends groups, and the contributions from all library workers.

Wednesday, April 9 is National Library Outreach Day, which focuses on the library professionals who look to meet their users whereever they are.

Thursday, April 10 is Take Action for Libraries Day—incredibly important this year—a day to rally advocates to support libraries by taking action, such as writing or calling your representatives to advocate for library support.

This year’s honorary chairs are award-winning author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier and cartoonist and comic theorist Scott McCloud, who have partnered for a new graphic novel, The Cartoonists Club, out this week, that tells the story of a group of kids whose school librarian helps them discover their storytelling powers.

In Ohio, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports on a state budget proposal that would eliminate the state’s Public Library Fund and replace it with “a line-item earmark” that comes in $45 million less than the state's current funding. “House Republicans want to cut an estimated $45 million from libraries in their version of the two-year budget while eliminating a designated pot of money called the Public Library Fund,” the report explains. “Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council, said the proposed budget cuts could jeopardize vital services."

At Book Riot, Kelly Jensen has an outstanding, in-depth piece on the budget battle in Ohio, noting that there’s more than just funding at stake. “The Ohio House’s substitute budget bill introduced in the House Finance Committee would fundamentally change how libraries are funded, slash over $100 million dollars from their budgets, require public libraries restrict access to LGBTQ+ books in order to receive their new meagre budgets, and change the term limits of library trustees,” Jensen reports. “Each of these budget provisions is intentionally designed to shuttle power of local libraries away from their communities and into the hands of state-level elected officials.”

Also at Book Riot, Jensen kicks off her weekly censorship news column with a look back at some of her previous columns. “Having written this column since mid-2021, I sometimes forget what I’ve covered. In some ways, I haven’t written anything new in the world of book censorship because the tactics, goals, and outcomes have not changed much at all over the course of this significant era of censorship,” she observes.

From the Denver Post, a federal judge in Colorado has once again ordered Colorado’s Elizabeth School District to return 19 removed books to its library shelves, after agreeing last week to a very brief stay. “U.S. District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney denied an appeal from the Elbert County school district Thursday, ordering the district to return the books to library shelves by 5 p.m. Saturday,” the Post reports. “The judge, in her new ruling Thursday, wrote that the district’s post-litigation statements that no school board member voted to remove books based on partisan or political motives did not hold weight. Emails between Elizabeth school board members and Superintendent Dan Snowberger showed a commitment to bringing ‘conservative values’ into the district.”

Also in Colorado, Colorado Public Radio reports that the Colorado House this week approved an anti-book banning bill that would, among its provisions, protect libraries and librarians from being targeted by would-be censors. “Senate Bill 25-063 requires school districts and charter operators to draft formal policies that state when books can be removed and lay out the steps to challenge them. The measure also says library personnel can’t be fired or punished for choosing a book or refusing to remove it without a review. Finally, the measure says only parents of children in the school can request a book be removed, and a book can be challenged only once every two years,” the report states. The measure faces another vote before heading back to the Senate.

In North Carolina, The Charlotte Observer reports that a new bill could expose librarians to criminal prosecution for making allegedly inappropriate books available to minors. “Newly filed legislation would allow North Carolina public school librarians to be criminally prosecuted on charges that they’re providing library books that are ‘harmful to minors,’” the report states. “The legislation comes as groups such as the N.C. Values Coalition and Moms for Liberty have been seeking legislation to subject public schools to the state’s obscenity laws. In 2023, the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty unsuccessfully filed 189 challenges to have 20 books removed from Wake County school libraries.”

In Arkansas, the Arkansas Advocate’s Tess Vrbin reports that lawmakers are a step closer to abolishing the Arkansas State Library. “Senate Bill 536 would transfer the authorities, funds, contracts and employees of the agency and its board to the Arkansas Department of Education. The State Library is already under the department’s umbrella but operates independently, and its board disburses state funds to public libraries on a quarterly basis,” Vrbin reports, adding that the bill’s criteria for libraries to receive state funds includes prohibiting access to “age-inappropriate materials to a person who is sixteen (16) years old or younger.” Vrbin notes that the bill’s focus on inappropriate books was also “the thrust of Act 372 of 2023,” provisions which were permanently blocked by a federal court in December 2024.

In Alabama, Al.com reports that the Fairhope Public Library Board has been recognized as the city’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year, just weeks after having its funding temporarily cut by state officials over its refusal to ban certain books. “The recognition was made official on Monday, one week after a large crowd of library supporters showed up at a Fairhope City Council meeting to rally support for the local board and push back against attempts to cut the library’s funding,” the report notes. The report adds that the library board will also now consider “whether to review approximately 35 titles, most of which are books, during its April 21 meeting,” a list that includes “publications listed by Moms for Liberty and other organizations as problematic for shelving in sections of the library for people under age 18.”

And finally, we close with some potentially good news from Minnesota, where the Star Tribune reports that that the state’s third largest city could be getting a new library or libraries.

“A consultant review has Rochester Public Library officials toying with the idea of opening more than one library site in town—a significant departure from the city’s efforts to expand its sole facility,” the report states. “Consultants with Minneapolis-based MSR Design are recommending that Rochester experiment with what they’re calling satellites—not quite full buildings, but limited offerings like a children’s library storefront in Rochester communities to test out demand for a future branch.”