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- 1Oxford partners with OpenAI to digitize Bodleian public-domain books●In March 2025, # Oxford announced that it was working with # OpenAI to digitize # PublicDomain # books from the # Bodlei
In March 2025, the University of Oxford announced a partnership with OpenAI to digitize public-domain books from the Bodleian Library. According to the announcement, the digitized works will become searchable and more widely accessible. The collaboration has drawn attention among librarians, researchers and open-access advocates discussing the role of AI companies in digitizing cultural heritage collections.
- 2New laws could criminalise librarians over banned books●Many people are unaware that book banning has escalated to the point that librarians and educators could be targeted for
Library advocacy group EveryLibrary is warning that book banning in the United States has escalated beyond removals from shelves, with new state laws potentially exposing librarians and educators to criminal prosecution for distributing materials deemed offensive. The group says many people are unaware of these legal risks and is urging the public to learn more about the legislation.
- 3Oklahoma board grants 56 waivers amid school librarian shortage▼With school librarians in short supply, Oklahoma education board begrudgingly grants 56 waivers
The Oklahoma State Board of Education has approved 56 waivers allowing schools to operate without certified librarians, as districts across the state struggle to fill those positions. The board granted the exemptions reluctantly, underscoring a broader staffing shortage in Oklahoma schools and raising concerns about students' access to library services and trained media specialists.
- 4Oklahoma board grants 56 waivers amid school librarian shortage●With school librarians in short supply, the Oklahoma education board begrudgingly grants 56 waivers
The Oklahoma State Board of Education has approved 56 waivers allowing schools to operate without fully certified librarians, a move the board made reluctantly amid a statewide shortage. The decision highlights growing difficulty in staffing school library positions, raising concerns about how students' access to libraries and reading resources will be maintained in districts unable to hire qualified staff.
- 5A librarian's first weeks afloat: bumps, batteries and nerves●Boat Life #1: Bilge Bumps and Batteries Uncharted Waters I started my new job this week. Being that we are four weeks in
A newly employed librarian has written about starting a new job while living on a boat, describing the challenges of managing bilge bumps and batteries while adjusting to unfamiliar waters. The writer notes they are four weeks into the school term, have never worked as a librarian before, and have never worked in the UK before, admitting to a healthy level of nerves alongside the excitement of uncharted waters both literally and professionally.
- 6Global children's books previewed for Fall 2026 and beyond▼In Other Wor(l)ds: Children’s Books from Around the Globe, for Fall 2026 and Beyond
Publishers Weekly has released a preview of international children's books slated for publication in Fall 2026 and beyond. The roundup, titled 'In Other Wor(l)ds: Children's Books from Around the Globe,' highlights upcoming titles from authors and illustrators worldwide. It offers publishers, librarians and booksellers an early look at translated and international works heading to young readers.
- 7Reading Builds Empathy, Advocacy Group Argues Amid Book Bans●Reading is not just fundamental to learning; it helps us become better people. How so? One word: empathy. https:// actio
EveryLibrary, a library advocacy organisation, is arguing that reading does more than support learning: it makes people more empathetic. Citing the idea that readers show less hate, the group links the claim to ongoing efforts to ban books, suggesting bans may target reading's empathetic effects. The message has resonated with librarians and readers discussing literacy, censorship and the social value of books.
- 816 Middle Grade and YA Novels Center Mental Health Stories▼16 Resonant Middle Grade and YA Novels That Center Mental Health Stories
School Library Journal has published a roundup of 16 middle grade and young adult novels that put mental health at the center of their stories. The list highlights how children's and teen publishing continues to expand honest portrayals of anxiety, depression, grief and other struggles, offering young readers books that reflect their experiences and give educators and librarians starting points for conversations.
- 9'The Librarians' Screening Marks Banned Book Week●‘The Librarians’ Screening Celebrates Banned Book Week
A screening of the film 'The Librarians' was held to celebrate Banned Book Week, an annual event highlighting efforts to challenge and remove books from libraries and schools. The event drew attention to debates over censorship and the role of librarians in defending access to books, a topic generating ongoing discussion in communities across the country.
- 10Suburban Chicago libraries push back against book banning●Orland Park, Tinley Park libraries decry book banning, want people to ‘read what they want’
Libraries in Orland Park and Tinley Park, Illinois, are speaking out against book banning efforts and encouraging patrons to 'read what they want'. The statement comes amid a wider national debate over attempts to remove books from library and school shelves, with librarians emphasizing free access to information and the right of readers to choose materials for themselves.