The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: June 12, 2026
Thank you for supporting Words & Money and helping to establish an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises.
Andrew Richard Albanese
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending June 12, 2026
Among the headlines this week: an Authors Guild survey suggests digital lending hurts authors; the House votes to make the Register of Copyrights a presidential appointee; an appeal is heard in a closely watched book banning lawsuit; and Massachusetts passes its freedom-to-read bill.
Rhode Island Passes Its Library Ebook Bill
With the passage, librarians say there is now a palpable sense of momentum building for action in the library ebook marketplace, with Rhode Island the third library ebook bill to pass into law since 2025.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: June 5, 2026
Thank you for supporting Words & Money and helping to establish an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending June 5, 2026
Among the week's headlines: Congress appears poised to fund the IMLS; James Patterson slams library ebook legislation, as Rhode Island's ebook law advances; the FCC is proposing to 'review' e-rate; and a federal judge rules that Amanda Jones's defamation case against a New Jersey man can proceed.
District of Columbia's Library Ebook Bill Is Signed into Law
The District of Columbia is now the second state or municipality to pass a reworked library ebook law. Meanwhile, a similar bill in Illinois will have to wait until legislators return in the fall, while Rhode Island's effort could head to the floor next week.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: May 29, 2026
Thank you for supporting Words & Money and helping to establish an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 29, 2026
Among the week's headlines: ALA staff members get their union; Knox County officials return Alex Haley's 'Roots' to school libraries; librarians continue to make the case for change in the library ebook market; and New Yorkers push for better library funding.
With a Simple Statement, Have Five Library Organizations Just Called the Publishing Industry’s Bluff on Library Ebooks?
A joint statement released this week by five public library organizations renews calls for the Big Five publishers to negotiate with libraries in the digital library market. Amid surging usage and a spate of library ebook bills, it just might work this time.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: May 22, 2026
Thank you for supporting Words & Money and helping to establish an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 22, 2026
Among the week's headlines: Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter appears before the Senate; Illinois librarians take to the airwaves in support of their library ebook bill; a lawsuit over Utah's book ban law gets its first hearing; and ALA reveals its 2026 intellectual freedom award winners.
Texas Seeks to Resurrect Blocked 'Book Rating' Law, H.B. 900
In a new appeal, Texas Attorney General (and GOP Senate candidate) Ken Paxton's office now asserts that a federal court erred by interpreting the state's role under H.B. 900 as a regulator rather than as mere marketplace participant, an argument the plaintiff appellees call "pure fiction."
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: May 15, 2026
Thank you for supporting Words & Money and helping to establish an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 15, 2026
Among the week's headlines: Congress quietly advances a bill to make the Register of Copyrights a presidential appointee; Baker & Taylor's collapse is still being felt; New York's mayor increases library funding; and a great Q&A with EveryLibrary's John Chrastka.
Duke’s Allison Belan to Succeed Brian O’Leary at the Book Industry Study Group
Belan succeeds Brian O’Leary, who will retire from the role on June 30th.
Anthropic Settlement Appears to Cruise Through Its Final Fairness Hearing
Attorneys told the court that the settlement claims rate had grown to nearly 93%, while the opt-out and objection rates were "minuscule," a strong sign that the deal meets the standard of being "fair, reasonable, and adequate."