Illinois Makes History with Signing of New Book Ban Law
Chicago Public Library

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law designed to discourage libraries from banning books. The first-in-the-nation law is a defense against a nationwide trend demanding that books be removed from library shelves. The signing ceremony took place at Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Branch, surrounded by librarians and educators.

“I think it’s going to impact the community of libraries in Illinois,” said Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown. “In Chicago, we are extremely proud of our book sanctuary initiative. … We are safe spaces for all voices and materials."

Under the bill, Illinois would not authorize state grants to libraries that do not endorse the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or otherwise promise not to take from the shelves books already in their collections.

“Book bans are about censorship, marginalizing people and marginalizing ideas,” Pritzker said.

Read the full story at NBC Chicago.

Let's Talk Race Curriculum
Richland Library

Richland Library is creating opportunities for civic engagement, building community connections and encouraging courageous conversations using its newest open-source community resource, the Let's Talk Race Curriculum. The free curriculum, launched in June 2023, provides opportunities for small groups and large organizations to learn from trained facilitators how to customize the Let's Talk Race experience to meet their needs.

The free curriculum access includes:

• Five Facilitation modules that will prepare you to facilitate conversations about race in your community
• Checklists and Starter Packs for large and small groups
• Conversation Guides
• Video Resources
• Racial Equity and Inclusion Toolkit

Established in 2016, the nationally recognized Let's Talk Race team began by using small circles of dialogue to spark courageous conversations about race. The Let's Talk Race team consists of diverse staff members who are trained facilitators and have led more than 250 Let's Talk Race conversations for over 4,000 participants.

Learn more at www.letstalkraceguide.com.

Taking a Stand on Intellectual Freedom
Ottawa Public Library

A recent article outlines Ottawa Public Library's updated intellectual freedom position statement, which essentially states that users have unfettered access to any information, as long as it is legal according to Canadian courts.

“We have made our own bold statement about how we intend to live this value. I think we have always stood for that, but we’ve never planted the flag and made our own claim,” said Sonia Bebbington, Ottawa Public Library's CEO.

The article goes on to share that the library is currently in the process of removing filters from internet stations in its libraries.

Filters are notoriously poor at targeting what they want to target, said Bebbington. A filter that is meant to filter out explicit content, for example, could also filter out information about breastfeeding or breast cancer.

Malware, child pornography and other content that has been identified and flagged as illegal will still be caught, she said.

Read the full story from O Canada.

"The Most Lit All-Nighter Ever"
Brooklyn Public Library

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, Brooklyn Public Library hosted “Night in the Library: The Philosophy of Hip-Hop.“ On Saturday, June 17, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., the event took over the landmark Central Library with keynote talks, music, conversations, debates, and activities inspired by the genre’s music and culture.

More than 4,000 people gathered overnight for what organizers are calling one of the largest celebrations of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop to take place this year.

“Hip-Hop has outgrown anything imagined as it continues to evolve culturally and musically,” said Brandon Smith, Founder of Really Just Hip-Hop, who co-curated the event. “Arguably the most influential art form in the world, it has permeated all parts of society, including fashion, media, sports, language, and even politics. This ubiquity has created a world where Hip-Hop means different things to people. The combination of celebrating this art form with the institution that helped cultivate my love for reading in my birthplace of Brooklyn is special to me,” Smith added.

This year, libraries across Brooklyn will celebrate hip hop’s legacy with programs that include learning to DJ, graffiti art, breakdancing, spoken word, poetry, fashion, movies, and music.

Read the full article from Essence.

DCPL Makes History with New Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit
DC Public Library

From June 21 to August 20, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown DC will present “Imagining the Future—Leonardo da Vinci: In the Mind of an Italian Genius.” The exhibition will feature 12 original drawings from the Codex Atlanticus: 12 volumes of the musings, sketches, and diagrams of Leonardo da Vinci. It’s the first time they’ll be seen in the US.

This rare opportunity to see Leonardo’s drawings in person is a result of a partnership between the DC Public Library and Ambrosiana Biblioteca in Milan, Italy, a vast historic library that has housed the Codex since 1637. The partnership was facilitated by Confindustria, a major Italian trade association that is opening an office in Washington.

MLK Library will also feature “Leonardo’s Lab” alongside the Codex Atlanticus exhibit. The interactive installation, which travels to museums and libraries throughout the US, aims to encourage children to learn about the innovator’s life and work via hands-on activities that employ problem-solving, teamwork, and multidimensional thinking.

Read the full article at The Washingtonian.