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1、OF Americas LibrariesSPECIAL REPORT:PANDEMIC YEAR TWOBROADBANDTOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKSLEGISLATIVE UPDATESAND MORE!B A N N E D2April 2022 E D I TO R S N OT ELast year,we approached this report through the lens of the global pandemic,and to be honest,we thought the world would be pretty much back
2、to normal by the time this edition of the State of Americas Libraries was published.Well,here we are again.As we wrote last year,the most accurate way to tell the stories of Americas libraries is through the lens of the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19.Thats obviously still true.Bu
3、t whats changed over the last year is equally worthy of our attention.In 2021,libraries found themselves at the center of a culture war as conservative groups led a historic effort to ban and challenge materials that address racism,gender,politics,and sexual identity.These groups sought to pull book
4、s from school and public library shelves that share the stories of people who are gay,trans,Black,Indigenous,people of color,immigrants,and refugees.But we know that banning books wont make these realities and lived experiences disappear,nor will it erase our nations struggles to realize true equity
5、,diversity,and inclusion.Thats why the work of libraries is more essential than ever.Books reach across boundaries and build connections between readers.Readingespecially books that extend beyond our own experiencesexpands our worldview.Censorship,on the other hand,divides us and creates barriers.Un
6、doubtedly,the most widely read part of this report will be the“Top 10 Most Challenged Books”list.And while those titles tell one story,there is another we hope youll stick around to read:that of the resilience,determination,and innovation of library workers amid an ongoing pandemic,fraught political
7、 divides,and budget challenges that force many to do more with less year after year.This report is not intended to be comprehensive.Its a history we are writing in real time.Now more than ever,we hope reading it inspires youto get involved in the fight to protect the freedom to read,to advocate for
8、libraries,and to speak up for the value they bring to our communities.Stephanie Hlywak Director of the Communications and Marketing Office American Library Association 4 Introduction 6 Fighting Censorship Efforts Across The Country 9 Top Ten Most Challenged Books 11 Centering Equity,Diversity,and In
9、clusion 14 Fighting Disinformation 17 Ongoing Library Response To COVID-19 20 Libraries Connect Communities To Broadband 22 Federal Funding,Legislation,and Advocacy 24 How We Read In 2021 26 Show Your SupportC O N T E N T SSTATE OF AMERICAS LIBRARIES2022SPECIAL REPORT:PANDEMIC YEAR TWO3April 2022 A
10、B O U T T H I S R E P O RTThis report would not be possible without the dedicated work of staff and members of the following American Library Association(ALA)divisions and offices:QALA Editions QAmerican Association of School Librarians QAssociation for Library Service to Children QAssociation of Co
11、llege and Research Libraries QChapter Relations Office QCommunications and Marketing Office QCore:Leadership,Infrastructure,Futures QInternational Relations Office QLibrary and Information Resource Center QOffice of ALA Governance QOffice for Diversity,Literacy,and Outreach Services QOffice for Huma
12、n Resource Development and Recruitment QOffice for Intellectual Freedom QPublic Library Association QPublic Policy and Advocacy Office QPublic Programs Office QReference and User Services Association QUnited for Libraries QYoung Adult Library Services Association PRODUCTION TEAMAuthor:Steve Zalusky,
13、Communications Specialist,Communications and Marketing Office,ALAContent editor:Stephanie Hlywak,Director,Communications and Marketing Office,ALA Project coordinator:Macey Morales,Deputy Director,Communications and Marketing Office,ALADesign:ALA Production ServicesABOUT ALAThe American Library Assoc
14、iation(ALA)is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services.For more than 140 years,ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries,advocating for the profession and the libra
15、rys role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all.For more information,visit ala.org.PRESS CONTACTReporters should contact:Communications and MarketingOffice American Library Associationcmomediaala.orgHOW TO CITE THIS REPORT American Library Association.The State of Americas
16、Libraries 2022:A Report from the American Library Association.2022.4April 2022 I N TRO DU C TIO NL E T S BA N D TO G E T H E R TO F I G H T B O O K BA N SPatricia“Patty”Wong,American Library Association President There was a hopeful moment last year,as the 2021 State of Americas Library was going to
17、 press,when it seemed that with widespread COVID-19 vaccine availability opening up to most eligible adults in the United States,we might have a relatively“normal”summer.As we all rememberor are trying to forgetthat optimism lasted about six weeks,before many of us put our masks back on and got a cr
18、ash course in(re)learning the Greek alphabet to track variants.As a I write this now,we have persevered through the initial pandemic waves and remained resolute in the face of Delta and Omicron.Many states that imposed mask mandates are beginning to lift them,and schoolchildren in some of the larges
19、t school districts in the country,including in my home state of California,will be going to class with bare faces for the first time in two years.Throughout the pandemic,library professionals served their communities in person,online,via phone,bookmobile,and even drone.When demand for the vaccine ou
20、tstripped supply last year,libraries set up“vaccine hunter”hotlines.Later when jabs were more plentiful,some libraries operated as vaccination sites.Its been such a privilege to be a part of this profession at a time of such great resolve.And yet,these remain challenging times to be a library profes
21、sional.As the pandemic wanes for the time being,we are confronted with a new scourge:an unprecedented uptick in book challenges.And while the focus is often put on the books that some want to remove from library shelves and curricula,behind every challenge is a library professional who must juggle c
22、omplicated emotions at a time of incredible stress.The centerpiece of this report each year is the“Top 10 Most Challenged Books”list,and as you read the following pages,I hope you keep in the front of your mind the very real people who are affected by efforts to restrict the freedom to read.Library
23、professionals are losing their jobs to protect this fundamental right.And those that make it through challenges can be fundamentally changed.Writing about a book challenge that stretched more than 15 months in 2014,former Iowa school librarian Kate Lechtenberg remembers:Boxes of medical supplies awa
24、it use at Schenectady County(NY)Public Library,which is serving as a COVID-19 vaccination site.PHOTO COURTESY KAREN BRADLEY5April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W O“What sticks with me the most is that my effort to fol
25、low our selection and reconsideration policies led my school leaders in the building,district,and local teachers union to question my professionalism.I remember crying under my desk in my office,I remember shaking with anger after the meeting in which my union representative and district administrat
26、ors gently but clearly accused me of violating my ethical commitments as an educator.”This is personal to me.Not only did I begin my career as a library professional serving children,but I was also a reader who sought stories at my local library to help me understand my place in this world.As a Chin
27、ese American with roots in Hawaii and California,I did not find myself or my community reflected in history books or in stories I read.It was as if I didnt exist.But today,diverse books create a better lens through which all children can see themselves in library collections.And yet these very title
28、sthe ones addressing cultural invisibility and cultivating understandingare the ones that are most frequently challenged.I am reminded of a conversation I had with U.S.Senator Mazie K.Hirono(D-HI)earlier this year.Both of us represent important firsts for the organizations we represent.Hirono is the
29、 first female senator to represent Hawaii and the only first-generation immigrant to serve in the Senate.I am the first Asian American president of the American Library Association.We both have ancestors who have been affected by bigoted acts throughout U.S.history,and as painful as those legacies a
30、re to confront,it has never been more essential to do so now.As book challengers try to ban materials they believe tell an unflattering version of our countrys history,they are restricting us from books that support equity,diversity,and inclusion.If you are motivated by the stories in this report,he
31、res how you can help:QSpeak up for the freedom to read and support library staff and educators as we work to address this threat to democracy.QVote in local elections and attend school board and city council meetings.QContact your state legislators and tell them to vote against censorship bills.QRep
32、ort threats to the freedom to read wherever you see them.ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom encourages everyone to report any and all challenges to materials,online resources(including databases),programs,speakers,displays,reading lists,and author visits.No matter is too insignificant.The struggle
33、 against racism,prejudice,stereotyping,and discrimination is central to the work of libraries,and as ALA President,Im grateful to represent libraries and librarians at this critical moment.Thank you for reading.“Libraries represent values that are core to democracy.Trained and certified librarians a
34、nd library workers provide services and collections that inform,engage,illuminate and help people of all ages learn more about the world around them.“Libraries across the country are addressing the effects of historical inequality and systemic racism on library users,especially people of color and t
35、hose who belong to historically marginalized and minority communities.Library professionals are dedicated to developing collections that allow every person to see themselves in library resources and provide a means to build understanding among all users.”PATTY WONG,WRITING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES6Apri
36、l 2022 F I G H T I N G C E N S O R S H I P E F F O RT S AC RO S S T H E C O U N T RYLibrarians have always been on the front lines in the fight to protect the freedom to read.But in 2021,libraries found themselves at the center of attacks orchestrated by conservative parent groups and right-wing med
37、ia that targeted books about race,gender,and LGBTQIA+issues for removal from public and school library shelves and,in some cases,included threats of book burning.The American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom(OIF),which tracks book challenges and releases the“Top 10 Most Challenge
38、d Books”list each year,determined that in one three-month period alone,between September 1 and November 30,2021,more than 330 unique cases were reported,doubling the number of reports from 2020(156 challenges)and putting 2021 totals on pace to break records with 729 challenges to 1,597 books.AN UNPR
39、ECEDENTED UPTICKAlthough many bans and challenges originated from parents,in some cases law enforcement and state legislators got involved.In Wyoming,a group of residents led by a local pastor filed criminal complaints with local prosecutors,requiring the appointment of a special prosecutor who weig
40、hed the possibility of prosecuting public library officials for shelving books some said were obscene in sections intended for children and young adults.The books claimed to be in violation of the law included This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson,How Do You Make a Baby by Anna Fiske,7April 2022 S T A T E
41、 O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W ODoing It by Hannah Witton,Sex is a Funny Word by Corey Silverberg,and Dating and Sex:A Guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy by Andrew P.Smiler.In November,the Associated Press reported that no charge
42、s would be filed.The special prosecutor,Weston County Attorney Michael Stulken,wrote to Campbell County Sheriff Scot Matheny that“he cannot ethically bring criminal charges if the facts surrounding a certain matter are not supported by probable cause.”He concluded that the books in question were not
43、 obscene and that there was no basis in law for the criminal prosecution of the library staff who had presented the books to the public.Elsewhere,Gov.Greg Abbott of Texas called for the states school boards to remove books he called“pornography.”Abbott also urged state education officials to keep bo
44、oks with“obscene”content out of public schools.Meanwhile,Texas State Rep.Matt Krause sponsored a Texas House bill prohibiting schools from teaching lessons that might make students feel“discomfort,guilt,anguish,or any other form of psychological distress”because of their race.Krause also wrote to a
45、number of Texas school districts,demanding to know if the districts libraries included any of the 849 books listed in his letter.The list,comprising primarily books that address the experiences of Black and LGBTQIA+people,spurred a number school and public libraries to remove books from library shel
46、ves.Librarian Angie Manfredi put the situation in perspective when she said that some of the book-ban backers dont want children to learn about the experiences of underrepresented groups,including African Americans and LGBTQIA+people.PUSHING BACKBut librarians spoke up in defense of the freedom to r
47、ead.Carolyn Foote,a retired school librarian in Austin,Texas,and three other library professionals are leading a grassroots effort,#FReadom,to push back against censorship efforts and support school librarians.“The censorship effort was so clearly targeting LGBTQ students;it was so clearly targeting
48、 race.I dont want students to feel like they are less than.Thats what brought me to this,”Foote told CNN.The Virginia Library Association wrote a letter to the Spotsylvania County School Board and the school divisions superintendent that condemned removing books from the Campbell County(WY)Public Li
49、brary.PHOTO:CAMPBELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARYAngie Manfredi,librarian and author of The(Other)F Word,signs copies of her book.PHOTO:ANGIE MANFREDI8April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W Oshelves of school libraries withou
50、t proper consideration and called it a violation of a students First Amendment rights.Moreover,the association spotlighted the work and professionalism of school librarians,noting that“developing a collection for a school library is a process,one that is worked on every day by your collection specia
51、lists.They evaluate thousands of titles each year,looking to ensure their accuracy,timeliness,value,and connection to the curriculum.”The students and parents are also standing up and pushing back.Students at the Central York High School in southern Pennsylvania protested to reinstate materials that
52、 had been removed from their librarys collection,including a childrens book about Rosa Parks,Malala Yousafzais autobiography,and CNNs Sesame Street town hall on racism.Parents and students fought back in Texas,protested in Florida,and fought for the freedom to read in Missouri;organizations donated
53、banned books;and celebrities like LeVar Burton encouraged the masses to read banned books.“For those of us on that list,its not a badge of honor,”Jason Reynolds said on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in December 2021.“People always say,Congratulations.Youre doing something right.Its like,yeah,bu
54、t at the same time,theres been access cut for all the young people who might need these books and where they might only get them in schools.You cant take for granted that there might not be a library or bookstore in everybodys community or that there may not be a$20 bill to go buy that book that the
55、y no longer have access to because of these bannings.”“We stand opposed to censorship and any effort to coerce belief,suppress opinion,or punish those whose expression does not conform to what is deemed to be orthodox in history,politics,or belief.The unfettered exchange of ideas is essential to the
56、 preservation of a free and democratic society.Libraries manifest the promises of the First Amendment by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints,opinions,and ideas,so that every person has the opportunity to freely read and consider information and ideas regardless of their content
57、or the viewpoint of the author.This requires the professional expertise of librarians who work in partnership with their communities to curate collections that serve the information needs of all their users.”THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD ON THE WIDESPREAD EFFORTS TO CENSOR BOOKS I
58、N U.S.SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIESLeVar Burton discusses the perils of book banning on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.The Banned Books Week Coalition selected author Jason Reynolds as the inaugural Honorary Chair for Banned Books Week 2021.CREDIT:JAMES J.REDDINGTONCENSORSHIP BY THE NUMBERSBooks unite us.T
59、hey reach across boundaries and build connections between readers.Censorship,on the other hand,divides us and creates barriers.In 2021,1,597 books were affected by censorship attempts.Learn more at ala.org/bbooks.Statistics based on 729 responsesCENSORSHIP STATISTICS COMPILED BY:24%18%Board/administ
60、ration10%Political/religious groups 6%Librarians/teachers 2%Elected officials 1%StudentsWHO INITIATES CHALLENGES?Patrons39%ParentsWHERE DO CHALLENGES TAKE PLACE?BOOKS AND BEYONDREASONS FOR CHALLENGESThe ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges in 2021.Heres the breakdown:82%Books,
61、graphic novels and textbooks5%Programs,meeting rooms4%Displays,exhibits2%Films7%Other(includes filtering,access,databases,magazines,online resources,artwork,social media,music,pamphlets,student publications,reading lists)Statistics based on 715 responses37%Public libraries18%Schools1%Academic/Other4
62、4%School librariesEach word and phrase in this graphic is cited from 2021 censorship reportsTOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2021The American Library Association tracked 729challenges to library,school,and university materials and services in 2021.Of the 1,597individual books that were challenged or
63、banned in 2021,here are the top 10 most challenged:The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time IndianBy Sherman AlexieREASONS:Banned and challenged for profanity,sexual references,and use of a derogatory termMe and Earl and the Dying GirlBy Jesse AndrewsREASONS:Banned and challenged because it was cons
64、idered sexually explicit and degrading to womenThe Bluest EyeBy Toni MorrisonREASONS:Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicitThis Book is GayBy Juno DawsonREASONS:Banned,challenged,relocated,and restricted for providing sexual education and LGB
65、TQIA+contentBeyond MagentaBy Susan KuklinREASONS:Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+content and because it was considered to be sexually explicitGender QueerBy Maia KobabeREASONS:Banned,challenged,and restricted for LGBTQIA+content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit im
66、agesLawn BoyBy Jonathan EvisonREASONS:Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+content and because it was considered to be sexually explicitAll Boys Arent BlueBy George M.JohnsonREASONS:Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+content,profanity,and because it was considered to be sexually explicitOut of DarknessB
67、y Ashley Hope PerezREASONS:Banned,challenged,and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicitThe Hate U GiveBy Angie ThomasREASONS:Banned and challenged for profanity,violence,and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a soc
68、ial agenda11April 2022 C E N T E R I N G E Q U I T Y,D I V E R S I T Y,A N D I N C L U S I O NBooks that are frequent targets for bans include those that deal with racism and racial justice as well as stories that center the lived experiences of Black,Indigenous,and people of color.But just as libra
69、ries are pushing back against attempts to censor diverse books,they are getting more innovative about supporting equity,diversity,and inclusion efforts in their buildings or communities by prioritizing EDI-specific programming,as well.Bethlehem(PA)Area Public Librarys oral history project,“Voices fr
70、om the African Diaspora:The Black Experience in Bethlehem,Pa.,”for example,sought to document the history of Bethlehems Black community in a majority-white town,telling the stories of community members like Sharon King,whose mother was the towns first Black police officer.Diverse library programming
71、 also raised awareness about annual cultural celebrations,such as the Monroe County(IN)Librarys Lunar New Year commemoration.Sometimes,EDI programming requires Photographs from“Voices from the African Diaspora:The Black Experience in Bethlehem,Pa.”George Oberle,Director of the Center for Mason Legac
72、ies,History Librarian,and Assistant Professor at George Mason University.12April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W Ocommunities to confront painful histories.George D.Oberle,director of the Center for Mason Legacies,his
73、tory librarian,and assistant professor at George Mason University,established a research center to examine the legacy of the universitys namesake,his ancestors and heirs,and the people he enslaved.Outcomes from this work include numerous educational resources for the GMU community,including a robust
74、 website with an array of primary source materials and a memorial recognizing the individuals enslaved by George Mason in the center of campus.DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE Numbers show that the library profession continues to lack diversity when it comes to race and ethnicity;as of 2020,the Department
75、 for Professional Employees reported that approximately 83%of librarians in the U.S.are white,despite ongoing efforts to diversify the profession.As Twanna Hodge,diversity,equity,and inclusion librarian at the University of Floridas George A.Smathers Libraries in Gainesville,and Jamia Williams,healt
76、h sciences librarian at SUNY Brockports Drake Memorial Library,wrote in American Libraries magazine,“Centering BIPOC voices must be incorporated into every aspect of librarianship.”The work to bring the library and information services sector into greater alignment with the communities that librarie
77、s serve has to be swift and intentional.In 2021,the American Library Associations Committee on Diversity developed the DEI Scorecard for Library and Information Organizations,an evaluative tool that measures effectiveness in diversity,equity,and inclusion in the recruitment,hiring,retention,and prom
78、otion of people of color.The committee created the template to assist administrators and other decision-makers with gathering actionable data for strengthening diversity,equity,and inclusion in their institutions.The Spectrum Scholarship Program,another ALA initiative,seeks to bring diversity and in
79、clusion to the library field by supporting new generations of racially and ethnically diverse library students.In 2021,60 new scholars were admitted to the cohort.Since 1997,ALA has awarded more than 1,300 Spectrum Scholarships.During the 2021 application cycle,the Spectrum Scholarship Program recei
80、ved four times as many applications as there were available scholarships,prompting Tracie D.Hall,ALA Executive Director,to identify“equity,diversity,and inclusion in library services and the LIS workforce”as one of the priorities that“unites all of the Associations work.”DIVERSIFYING THE COLLECTIONE
81、veryone deserves to see themselves reflected in their librarys collection.That was at the heart of the work that the Providence(RI)Public Library(PPL)engaged in through its Diversity,Equity,and Inclusion Collections Committee.PPL surveyed residents,inventoried EDI-related projects and programs at th
82、e library and in the community,and sponsored training sessions with the Racial Equity Institute,as well as a staff learning circle based on The New York Times 1619 Project.The Penny Panel of the Memorial to the Enslaved People of George Mason.The Providence(RI)Public Library.13April 2022 S T A T E O
83、 F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W OThis work is consistent with the call to action issued by the Public Library Association,a division of ALA,to end systemic racism and injustice.It has called on public library workers to invest in alt
84、ernatives to policing and security guards within library spaces;develop racial equity action plans;develop and fund programs,services,and collections that“center the voices and experiences of people of color and shift power to communities for co-curation and co-creation”;and support scholarship prog
85、rams and BIPOC-led caucuses and associations.CHANGING THE SUBJECT(HEADINGS)In November,the Library of Congress,which maintains the Library of Congress Subject Headings,announced its decision to replace the subject headings“aliens”and“illegal aliens”with the new headings“noncitizens”and“illegal immig
86、ration.”It was a move praised by ALA President Patricia“Patty”Wong,who stated,“We are pleased that the Library of Congress is replacing these subject headings,which are both outdated and dehumanizing.This update better reflects common terminology and respects library users and library workers from a
87、ll backgrounds.It also reflects the core value of social justice for ALA members,who have been at the vanguard of this change for years.”LIBRARIANS FIGHTING AAPI HATE 2021 saw a surge in incidents of hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.The Stop AAPI Hate Coalition at San Francisco Sta
88、te University tracked more than 10,000 incidents of hate from March 2020 through September 2021.Librarians from the AAPI community lifted their voices against the rising tide of hate.The Asian Pacific American Librarians Association(APALA),one of the six National Associations of Librarians of Color,
89、condemned“the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes that have permeated our country over the past year.”As library organizations rallied around the AAPI community,library leaders also emerged from the Asian American,Native Hawaiian,and Pacific Islander communities,including ALA President Patty Wong,the Ass
90、ociations first Chinese American president,and ALA President-elect Lessa Kananiopua Pelayo-Lozada.Maria Taesil Hudson McCauley was also elected the first Asian American president of the Public Library Association(PLA),an ALA division.Wong told American Libraries magazine,“This is both an opportunity
91、 and a responsibility to advocate for the support of libraries and communities in pursuit of racial and social equity for all.I hope to bring Asian and Asian-American communities,businesses,nonprofits,publishers,and leaders together with library workers to advocate for action and engagement to benef
92、it all people of color.”A FRESH STARTLibrary EDI efforts extended to patrons attempting to re-enter society after serving prison time,who often face discrimination in housing and employment.Libraries Build Business,a national initiative of ALA supported by Google.org,helped get the New Start Entrepr
93、eneurship Incubator project off the ground.The Gwinnett County(GA)Public Library created the program to help community members who have served time in jail or prison to create their own businesses,which includes a six-month program of training so that formerly incarcerated people can overcome barrie
94、rs to professional success.Participants include budding entrepreneurs like Kevin Moore,who plans to start a small moving company.Kevins re-entry into society after his prison time has been challenging,as he experienced housing and job discrimination.But with his business plan and determination,Kevin
95、 can have a true opportunity at a second chance.14April 2022 F I G H T I N G D I S I N F O R M AT I O NStudies have shown that libraries are among the most trusted institutions in our country.Thats why libraries took a leading role in providing accurate information to communities during the pandemic
96、,even as a secondary pestilence continued to threaten the nation:disinformation.It showed up in many variants,ranging from disinformation about COVID-19,including its origins,to false news about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 insurrection.The World Health Organizatio
97、n refers to the phenomenon as an“infodemic,”an overabundance of information,some accurate and some not,that undermines trust and makes it difficult for people trying to find reliable sources.Although disinformation has been exacerbated by the conditions of the pandemic,the problem is not new.And lib
98、raries and library professionals found themselves in unique positions to help users access reliable information about topics ranging from election security to mRNA vaccines.Nicole A.Cooke,the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and an associate professor at the School of Library and Information Science at t
99、he University of South Carolina,believes that the profession offers essential tools to thwart disinformation attempts.Speaking in August 2021,Cooke said,“Knowledge of information behavior and meta literacy skills can aid LIS professionals and the public in combating the effects of fake news.”Partner
100、ships with academia offer one positive way forward.Iowa State Universitys Greenlee School of Journalism held a virtual fake news workshop at the Ames Public Library.During the event,“Facing Facts:The Truth About Fake News and What To Do About It,”graduate students in psychology discussed the“subcons
101、cious power of fake news and how our brains operate under it.”New York Public Librarys iconic lions masked up during the pandemic.IMAGE COURTESY NYPL15April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W OJANUARY 6The January 6 insu
102、rrectionitself fueled by distortions,grievances,and outright liesmarked a new day for misinformation.In its roundup,“The Jan.6 Capitol attack:A year of debunking false narratives,”the Poynter Institutes PolitiFact refuted various false claims,including the theory that the riot was driven by left-win
103、g antifa activists in disguise and that Vice President Mike Pence had the power to overturn the presidential election results.In the wake of the insurrection,the Pierce County(WA)Library System in Tacoma provided information resources to help patrons better understand the events.Find the Facts:Resou
104、rces for Unfolding Events offered links to articles,opposing viewpoints,interpretations of the U.S.Constitution,fact checking sites,information on hate,extremism,and white supremacy,and details on how to contact local,state and federal officials.BOOSTING VACCINE CONFIDENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRYThe rapi
105、d roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Spring 2021 engendered great celebration from manybut it also provided fodder for others to spread pernicious misinformation.Libraries were well-positioned as trusted community anchors to fight back against this tide.Communities for Immunity,an unprecedented collab
106、oration among libraries and museums to boost COVID-19 information and vaccine confidence,provided funding to libraries,museums,science centers,and other cultural institutions to enhance vaccine confidence where it matters most:at the local level.Grant recipients included The C.Williams Rush Museum o
107、f African American Arts&Culture in Kingstree,South Carolina,which planned to highlight the accomplishments of Black medical personnel from South Carolina history to show examples of how past health threats and medical The riot at the U.S.Capitol on January 6,2021.PHOTO:TYLER MERBLER,CC BY 2.0 VIA WI
108、KIMEDIA COMMONS.Ames(IA)Public Library and a screenshot from a fake news workshop held there.PHOTO:AMES PUBLIC LIBRARY16April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W Odisparities have been overcome through persistence,educati
109、on,and science.The Kansas City(MO)Public Library planned to marshal in-person consultations at multiple library branches and mail materials to reach vaccine-hesitant individuals in their service area.Staff also committed to preserve and share the stories of previously vaccine-hesitant individuals wh
110、o were later vaccinated,translate materials into new languages,offer vaccine clinics at their branches,and facilitate conversations between youth and medical professionals about the vaccine.“Access to information about vaccines and trusted messengers to effectively convey it locally is a matter of l
111、ife and death.Americas 117,000 libraries provide both,serving communities at greatest risk of contracting the coronavirus and those most hesitant to receive the vaccine,”said Patty Wong,President of the American Library Association,of these efforts.“I do believe that libraries are citadels of knowle
112、dge and empathy,and theyve been extraordinarily important in my life.And I want to thank all the librarians out there,whether youre in a small town,big city,youre opening up the world for our children,giving them access to possibilities that they might not otherwise have,creating safe spaces where r
113、eading is cool.You mean a lot to not just those individuals who benefit from your work,but you mean a lot to our democracy and our country.We appreciate you.Keep it up.”BARACK OBAMA,SPEAKING TO LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS AT ALAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN JUNE 2021CC BY-NC-SA 4.0This document synthesizes vario
114、us studies and data;however,the scientific understanding regarding COVID-19 is continuously evolving.This material is being provided for informational purposes only,and readers are encouraged to review federal,state,tribal,territorial,and local guidance.The authors,sponsors,and researchers are not l
115、iable for any damages resulting from use,misuse,or reliance upon this information,or any errors or omissions herein.MANAGING UNCERTAINTYUncertainty is inevitable in pandemics,but simple rules can help decision-making As the pandemic progresses,uncertainties continue to multiply for archives,librarie
116、s,and museums.COVID-19 is a complex problem in a complex system;uncontested facts tend to be elusive.Most decisions must be based on information that is flawed,uncertain,proximate,or sparse.By carefully evaluating how these imperfect responses unfold in messy,real-world settings,you can help to buil
117、d the multifaceted evidence base needed to continue operating and serving your communities.REopening Archives,Libraries,and Museums(REALM)is a research partnership between OCLC,the Institute of Museum and Library Services,and Battelle.This resource is an overview of an article published in BMJ title
118、d“Managing uncertainty in the covid-19 era”1 by Rutter,Wolpert,and Greenhalgh,which can help when discussing your institutions pandemic response.1.H.Rutter,M.Wolpert,and T.Greenhalgh.2020.“Managing uncertainty in the covid-19 era,”BMJ.https:/doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3349.This project was made possible i
119、n part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services,project number:ODIS-246644-ODIS-20.We may never have a“final answer”for many questions.Consider when to act:Do you wait for certainty or act on the evidence you have?Acknowledge complexity,admit ignorance,and be open to exploring paradoxes.Diffe
120、rent people interpret data differently.Seek outside perspectives for solutions.Observing real-world interventions can complement the findings of controlled trials and other forms of evidence.Most data will be flawed or incomplete.Be honest and transparent about this.This resource was adapted by the
121、REopening Archives,Libraries,and Museums(REALM)is a research partnership between OCLC,the Institute of Museum and Library Services,and Battelle.Its an overview of an article published in BMJ titled,“Managing uncertainty in the covid-19 era”by Rutter,Wolpert,and Greenhalgh.They write:“Because uncerta
122、inty is inevitable in pandemics,simple rules can help decision-making even as uncertainties continue to multiply for archives,libraries,and museums.COVID-19 is a complex problem in a complex system;uncontested facts tend to be elusive.Most decisions must be based on information that is flawed,uncert
123、ain,proximate,or sparse.By carefully evaluating how these imperfect responses unfold in messy,real-world settings,you can help to build the multifaceted evidence base needed to continue operating and serving your communities.”17April 2022 O N G O I N G L I B R A RY R E S P O N S E TO C OV I D-1 9 As
124、 with every sector of society,libraries were hard hit by the pandemic.Especially impacted were libraries that support underserved populations.Thanks to funding from several philanthropic foundations,these libraries could get much-needed help.The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund assisted public,school,a
125、cademic,and tribal libraries across the United States and U.S.Territories experiencing COVID-related economic hardship.Libraries could apply for funds from a$1.25 million pot,with grants ranging from$30,000 to$50,000 to remedy libraries,library systems,and districts that saw a substantial reduction
126、in funding that impaired their ability to provide services.The grants were aimed at libraries with underserved populations or those in low-to moderate-income groups.They funded staff salaries,materials,technology,and in-person or virtual services.ALA Executive Director Tracie D.Hall said the funds w
127、ould“tackle digital equity,supporting educational persistence,workforce reskilling,and community recovery more broadly,efforts that will undoubtedly require fully staffed and fully funded libraries.”Recipients included the Oneida Nation Library in Wisconsin,which saw its budget shrink by 67%and A he
128、alth care worker from Schenectady County(NY)Public Health Services(right)wheels in the vaccine while David Bradley(left),a member of Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library(SCPL)and spouse of SCPL Director Karen Bradley,checks in vaccine recipients.PHOTO:KAREN BRADLEY18April 2022 S T A T E
129、O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W Owas forced to close one of only two libraries.The library system received a$40,000 grant for new laptops,hotspots,computers,and training.This enabled the library to boost literacy programs and will h
130、elp buy kits for the summer and fall reading programs,new activity kits for elders,and new books for all age groups.A$45,000 grant helped the North Miami(FL)Public Library,serving 63,000 in an economically challenged,widely diverse community located in the citys heart.The funds enabled the library,w
131、hich suffered a 30%staff reduction following budget cuts,to hire a much-needed youth services librarian and obtain new resources to support children,teens,and families.Serving a community where all of its students are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program,the libraries in Brooks County(GA)
132、schools are the sole source of books for many students.With the$40,000 grant,three schools and their 1,500 students received new books and other resources,including crucial access to e-books for those who attended remotely.The grant also provided funds needed to hire part-time staff.A$40,000 grant s
133、upported new scanning technology and the purchase of mobile hotspots for the Glendale(AZ)Community College Library,which serves 15,000 students,many of whom cannot afford internet access at home.More than half are the first generation in their families to go to college.Through another ALA grant prog
134、ram,American Rescue Plan:Humanities Grants for Libraries,libraries recovering from the pandemic received relief to restore and sustain their core activities.Up to 200 libraries of all typespublic,tribal,K-12,academic,special,and prisonreceived$10,000.Among those receiving funds was the Palmas Academ
135、y in Humacao,Puerto Rico,which had to furlough its only librarian and close its librarys doors due to budget constraints.Before closing,this school library was the main hub for humanities-centered activities in the community.Thanks to the grant funds,the library reopened,hired staff,and welcomed bac
136、k students.The Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix,home to more than 10,000 volumes and archival material,was hard hit by the pandemic and had not fully reopened since closing in March 2020.A grant allowed the organization to bring back monthly Irish history book discussions and fund staff salaries.Als
137、o benefiting was the Jane Morgan Memorial Library in the rural village of Cambria,Wisconsin.Grant funds Students in the library at Palmas Academy in Humacao,Puerto Rico.PHOTO:PALMAS ACADEMYThe North Miami(FL)Public Library.19April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C
138、I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W Oenabled the library to offer programming to its large population of migrant workers.VACCINATION NATIONLibraries on the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout included the Prince Georges County(MD)Memorial Library System,which offered the service of“v
139、accine hunting”in April 2021.This involved utilizing people with online detecting skills who volunteered to help others in the community find vaccine appointments at a time when they were difficult to come by.The majority Black,Latino,and immigrant community of more than 900,000 was the hardest hit
140、jurisdiction in Maryland,with more than 18%of the states cases,even though it only comprised 19%of the population.In Ohio,the Cuyahoga County Public Library partnered with the countys board of health to help residents navigate the online appointment system,while some branches distributed free bus pa
141、sses to people using public transportation to reach vaccination sites.Libraries also served as vaccination sites,including the Schenectady County(NY)Public Library.In January 2021,health care workers were vaccinating 100-150 people per day at the library.The library provided support by printing form
142、s,information,and vaccine cards.The Noble County(IN)Public Library used space normally used for meetings and private events for a vaccination clinic.“We have a lot of people in the county coming into the library that have probably never been here before,”said library director Sandy Petrie.NEW VARIAN
143、TS,NEW STRATEGIESIn Delaware,the Division of Public Health(DPH)approached the Delaware Division of Libraries(DDL)with a plan to distribute more than 75,000 BinaxNOW antigen self-tests through the states public libraries for three months from summer to fall 2021.“I think its a slam dunk that health d
144、epartments would think of libraries,”says Alta Porterfield,statewide social innovator at DDL.The initiativewhich ran at 32 of Delawares 33 public librarieswas“a very easy transition”for library workers,says Porterfield,since they already have experience in public-facing roles and materials distribut
145、ion.Kathy McFadden(right),a staffer at Sussex County(DE)Libraries,hands out rapid,at-home COVID-19 testing kits during a drive-through distribution event at Seaford(DE)District Library in August 2021.PHOTO:DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIESA FEMA staff member helps a resident schedule a vaccination ap
146、pointment at the Parma branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in March 2021.CUYAHOGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY20April 2022 L I B R A R I E S C O N N E C T C O M M U N I T I E S TO B ROA D BA N DIn January 2021,the American Library Association Council,the governing body of ALA,declared that univers
147、al access to affordable high-capacity broadband is a basic human right for all.Library professionals know firsthand that broadband networks and services drive robust,resilient,and effective societies and economies,and that access to high-speed internet connectivity is essential for education,profess
148、ional success,healthcare,and civic engagement.The path toward universal broadband will flow through libraries,which in 2021 continued to play a pivotal role in supporting a nation recovering from the pandemic.Libraries further extended their technology services and resources in the face of pandemic
149、limitations,a fact confirmed by the 2020 Public Library Technology Survey report,released in September 2021,from the Public Library Association,a division of ALA.More than half of the libraries reported circulating technology,including laptops,hotspots,and tablets,for off-site use.The same percentag
150、e reported providing streaming programs,including storytimes and author events.By leaving on or extending their Wi-Fi signals,libraries provided 24/7 internet access to anyone logging on inside or outside library buildings.The study found that 93%of public libraries provide or plan to provide free W
151、i-Fi access on their grounds even when their buildings are closed to the public,while 44%of public libraries have moved routers outdoors to improve public access,and 23%of libraries surveyed also provide Wi-Fi hotspots for patrons to check out and use at home.The survey,too,revealed disparities amon
152、g rural and urban libraries.In fact,34.6%of libraries,including those in rural areas,cannot improve bandwidth because faster speeds are not available.21April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W OFEDERAL INVESTMENT FUELED
153、BY LIBRARY ADVOCATESThe nations libraries also benefited from significant investments in broadband funding through several new programs.Established as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,the new$7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund(ECF)program allowed libraries and schools to purchase a
154、nd distribute technology necessary for remote learning,working from home,virtual healthcare visits,and more.ALA contributed rulemaking for ECF and worked with the Federal Communications Commission(FCC)to promote the funding through the FCCs E-rate program.Participating libraries received 100%reimbur
155、sement for the cost of hotspots and other Wi-Fi-capable devices such as modems,routers,laptops,and tablets.Additionally,libraries were among the first stops for families who struggled to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.ALA and local libraries helped distribute information about
156、the$3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit(EBB)program,administered by the FCC,which provided a discount of up to$50 per month for broadband service(or up to$75 per month on qualifying tribal lands)and a one-time discount of up to$100 for a laptop,desktop,or tablet computer purchased through a part
157、icipating provider.A MATTER OF EQUITYThe FCC estimates that 19 million Americans lack broadband internet access,but the real number may be higher,and some librarians point out that social justice efforts must include advocacy and support for communities where these people live.The impact is real,acc
158、ording to Erin Hollingsworth,a librarian at North Slope Borough School District(NSBSD)in Utqiavik,Alaska.NSBSD is the northernmost and largest school district by area in the U.S.,covering 89,000 square miles and consisting of eight villages accessible only by plane.Efforts to provide access for remo
159、te learning during the pan-demic were hindered,she said during ALAs Annual Confer-ence in June 2021,and solutions offered were not applicable to remote Alaskan villages.“It feels as though theyre working from an assumption that internet is available,and thats not necessarily the case,”she said.Affor
160、dable connectivity is not an option in the regionfour of the eight villages are connected via satellite,which is not high-speed.Librarians in Haralson County,Georgia,with a popu-lation of 25,000 in the Appalachian foothills about an hour from Atlanta,drove around in buses to distribute mobile hotspo
161、ts,books,and assignments for students.With 100%of K12 students qualifying for free or reduced-cost lunch,the county still lacks the infrastructure to make high speed broadband a reality.“Literally there were children who were unable to access education during COVID-19 unless they traveled somewhere
162、or a mobile unit came and brought a hotspot,”Angela Bran-yon,assistant professor at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton,said.“Its just amazing that were an hour away from a nonstop flight to anywhere in the world,and we cant get internet.”LIBRARIES ADVANCING DIGITAL LITERACYIn addition to b
163、roadband access,The 2020 Public Library Technology Survey showed that libraries play an essential role in advancing digital literacy:QMore than 88%of all public libraries offer formal or informal digital literacy programming.QMore than one-third(36.7%)of public libraries have dedicated digital liter
164、acy and technology programs and training staff.QMore than one in five libraries provide classes or informal help related to coding,computer programming,robotics,and 3D printing.Prince Georges County(MD)Memorial Library System promotes free parking-lot accessible Wi-Fi to anyone with a library card.2
165、2April 2022 F E D E R A L F U N D I N G,L E G I S L AT I O N,A N D A DVO C AC YLibraries in 2021 saw unprecedented levels of federal funding,from pandemic recovery legislation to annual appropriations,beginning with the$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA).The largest spending bill ever appro
166、ved by Congress,ARPA included$200 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services(IMLS),the only source of federal funding dedicated to Americas libraries.Of the$200 million for IMLS,89%($178 million)was allocated for state library administrative agencies.In addition to the one-time influx
167、of funding through ARPA,libraries won increases in annual congressional appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021.IMLS received an additional$5 million,a record eighth consecutive increase for the agency.Innovative Approaches to Literacy(IAL),a federal program administered by the Department of Education s
168、upporting school libraries and non-profit literacy organizations,also saw a$1 million increase above FY 2020 appropriations.American Library Association advocates worked to ensure libraries would be eligible for additional funding in any broadband provisions negotiated in proposed infrastructure spe
169、nding throughout 2021.The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,signed into law in November 2021,included unparalleled funding for digital equity programs.In addition to providing an additional$43 billion for broadband deployment,the legislation included$2.75 billion in new investments in digital i
170、nclusion through the Digital Equity Act.The legislation would support libraries and other community organizations to help individuals develop the skills and the confidence to put that internet connection 23April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P
171、 A N D E M I C Y E A R T W Oto use.ALA weighed in early to influence the design of the forthcoming grant programs and will provide guidance for libraries of all kinds to access the funds in 2022.Libraries may be eligible to receive funding for library infrastructure through another program establish
172、ed through ARPA.The Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund provides$10 billion in available funding for eligible states,territories,and tribal communities to ensure individuals access to high quality broadband,the implementation of broadband infrastructure improvements,and the enhancement of the overall
173、quality of education,work,and telehealth as a direct response to the ongoing public health emergency.Funds will be allocated from the U.S.Department of the Treasury to states.Through its new resources,ALA is promoting the federal program to assist state chapters and local libraries in accessing fund
174、s as the program develops in 2022.ALA led a campaign throughout the year to garner support for federal legislation to provide funding exclusively for public library facilities for the first time since 1997.Library champions in the House and Senate introduced the Build Americas Libraries Act in early
175、 2021 to designate funds for construction of modern libraries in underserved and disadvantaged communities as well as renovation and enhancement of facilities to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and vulnerability to natural disasters.Though advocates garnered strong support for the Build Americas Librari
176、es Act,the bill was not included in the hotly debated congressional spending packages,which were significantly paired down.Library workers also benefited significantly from the governments response to the health emergency when the U.S.Department of Education(ED)announced a change to Public Service L
177、oan Forgiveness(PSLF)program rules.For a limited period of time,borrowers can receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF.Many library workers previously denied eligibility have received tens of thousands of dollars in loan forgiveness.Having long advocated
178、 with education coalition partners for changes to PSLF,ALA encouraged library workers in all contexts to ascertain their eligibility for the program before the waiver ends on October 31,2022.“Advocacy as disruption?Yes!What if we revolutionize the way we fund and equip our libraries in order to conf
179、ront head-on the inequities that we often decry on our protest posters and in our institutional committees?What if our lowest-income neighborhoods become home to our most well-funded and well-staffed school libraries?What if universities that serve the highest percentage of first-generation college
180、students shift a larger portion of their budgets to their libraries?What if library trustees become adamant that their mayor or city manager help them respond to rising high school dropout rates by establishing a standalone public library for young adults in a shopping center facing low tenancy?What
181、 if we connect the dots between library and community disinvestment and position our advocacy efforts to counter them both?I believe we can.Whats more,I believe we must.”TRACIE D.HALL,ALA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN THE MARCH 2021 ISSUE OF AMERICAN LIBRARIES24April 2022 H OW W E R E A D I N 2 0 2 1When Am
182、ericans sat down to read a book in 2021,one in three elected to look at an electronic device rather than a print book.A study by the Pew Research Center found that print was still the readers primary choice,with 65%of adults saying they read a print book.But the study also showed that e-book consump
183、tion has begun to go into overdrive,with uptick from 25%to 30%since 2019.That surge has impacted libraries,which have seen increased demand for e-books.But libraries have also had to wrestle with a licensing system from publishers that has hampered their ability to meet that demand.The biggest chall
184、enge has been the reluctance of e-book publishers to provide the materials and the often exorbitant costs associated with them.Whereas libraries can buy print books in bulk and,under the“first-sale doctrine,”can lend the books to an unlimited number of readers for free,digital content is a different
185、 story altogether.Publishers sell e-books to third-party vendors such as OverDrive that,in turn,sell the rights to libraries.According to OverDrive,patrons worldwide checked out half a billion items in 2021,a new record.In states and cities across the U.S.,e-book demand is rising.In Massachusetts,fo
186、r example,the Library eBooks and Audiobooks program,which provides digital assets to patrons at 377 state libraries,saw demand climb by more than 40%.As Michelle Jeske,Immediate Past President of the Public Library Association(PLA)and Denver city librarian,told the 25April 2022 S T A T E O F A M E R
187、 I C A S L I B R A R I E S 2 0 2 2|S P E C I A L R E P O R T:P A N D E M I C Y E A R T W ONew Yorker,at the Denver Public Library,digital checkouts have grown at a rate greater than 60%,to 2.3 million,while spending on digital content went up by one-fifth.But e-book rights have a limited shelf life
188、and are often sold at above-retail rates.According to research from the American Library Association,for popular trade e-books,libraries often pay$55 for one copy that expires after 2 years(or$550 for one copy for 20 years).Meanwhile,a consumer will pay about$15 for perpetual use.By comparison,libra
189、ries can purchase hardcover books for around$18-20.The challenges dont end there:non-price terms are similarly problematic,such as the ability to archive and preserve works or develop versions for people with disabilities.But there were some positive rumblings of change in 2021.One provider,Amazon,w
190、hich had been withholding e-books from libraries,started to loosen its grip.In 2021,Amazon announced a deal with the Boston-based Digital Public Library of America to start licensing its e-books to public libraries.As we move into 2022,libraries continue to fight for equitable access to e-books.The
191、American Library Association Digital Content Working Group issued a paper calling on publishers to offer licensing models that are cost-effective and flexible and for library digital content providers to revamp platforms to support flexible licensing models,robust collections,and enhance accessibili
192、ty features.Efforts are continuing on the legislative front,only to meet with continued resistance from publishers and even from at least one governor.Maryland passed a law requiring publishers licensing“an electronic literary product”to consumers to also license the content to public libraries“on r
193、easonable terms.”The Association of American Publishers took legal action,obtaining a preliminary injunction from the U.S.District Court for the District of Maryland.And in New York,Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed legislation that would require publishers to offer licenses for electronic books to libra
194、ries under reasonable terms.But moving into 2022,the trend is toward more legislative intervention,as more states are introducing library e-book bills.WAITING IN VAINWhile patrons continue to discover and rely on digital content,libraries are engaged in a behind-the-scenes fight for fair pricing,mul
195、tiple licensing models,and full access to digital content from publishers.Michael Blackwell,director,St.Marys County Library in Maryland and member of the ALA Joint Digital Content Working Group,explained what library users should know about this hidden struggle:“The most important thing to know is
196、that libraries do not own most or nearly any of the digital content.Instead,we license it.Unlike with a print book,which we buy,own,and circulate,digital content circulation is still owned by the publishers,who can set limits on the length of time we have the rights to share it or even say we cannot
197、 even have a license at all.It is nearly impossible to build a collection as deep and rich as what we offer in print,even as demand surges for digital in libraries,especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic.Readers see less variety and have longer waits for the best-known content,especially as lib
198、raries are increasingly stretched by having to meet demand for digital while still providing print without notable increases in funding.”Overdrives Libby app connects readers to e-books.26April 2022 S H OW YO U R S U P P O RTLibraries remain resilient and robust in the face of a variety of challenge
199、s misinformation about vaccines and elections,censorship attempts,a rising tide of xenophobia and homophobia,and even direct threats.But now more than ever they need our support,so they can remain the heart and soul of their communities.Libraries need people to get involved:to spread the word about
200、the value of the library to neighbors,friends and decision-makers.Public libraries,which often provide ever expanding services with dwindling budgets,staff,and resources,can benefit from your support and advocacy.You can add your voice to the chorus of decision makers by joining a library board or a
201、 Friends group.Friends groups advocate for libraries on such issues as local referenda or proposed budget increases or cuts,raise funds,sponsor events,and host used book sales.You can even organize your own Friends group.You can also make a difference by advocating for school librarians.More than 60
202、 education and library research studies have produced clear evidence that school library programs staffed by qualified school librarians have a positive impact on student academic achievement.They provide the foundation for future academic success and lifelong learning.Although libraries receive fun
203、ding from local sources like property taxes,they are also dependent on federal funds,including grants through the Library Services and Technology Act(LSTA)and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy(IAL)grants from the Department of Education.These funding sources are precarious and often subject to a
204、 political tug-of-war in Washington,with threats of cuts and even elimination of funds.Call your elected officials and urge them to ensure that libraries continue to have the financial support they need.Your donations can go a long way to providing valuable assistance to libraries.State and national
205、 associations help libraries in need.The American Library Association has provided financial support to communities in need,including$15,000 to assist libraries in Louisiana and New Jersey impacted by Hurricane Ida,and$12,000 to help restore public libraries in Haiti following a devastating earthqua
206、ke.Library associations partner with foundations,philanthropies,and corporations to promote literacy and public awareness.One ALA program,Libraries Transforming Communities,provides grants to small and rural libraries.In a partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation,ALA awarded grants to
207、 16 public libraries to provide services to English language learners or adults in need of basic education or workforce development.Recipients included the Siouxland(SD)Libraries,which used the grants to expand collection development and remove barriers that English Language Learners may face when a
208、ccessing their collections by hiring translators for online library services and tour guides to explain how to use library services.You can also support the work of libraries on social media.Share ALAs social media posts and graphics.And you can donate to ALA or become an ALA member.A donation to th
209、e American Library Association will help strengthen public,school,academic and special libraries across the country.The state of Americas libraries will remain healthy as long as library supporters advocate for their survival.In 2021,the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom(
210、OIF)tracked 729 challenges to library,school,and university materialsand services,representing challenges to 1,597 individual book titles.This is the largest number of attempted book bans in public and schoollibraries since OIF began tracking challenges 20 years ago.Unite Against Book Bans is a nationalcall to action to empower readerseverywhere to stand together in the fightagainst censorship.Join the movement.uniteagainstbookbans.org|#UniteAgainstBookBans