The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: October 31, 2025
Thank you for supporting Words & Money, an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises. If you're
Andrew Richard Albanese
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending October 31, 2025
Among the week's headlines: Llano County lawyers don't want the Supreme Court to review a key book banning case; Texas school boards are asking Chat GPT to help identify books to ban; tech lobbyists want Trump to stop copyright lawsuits over AI; and a new Dr. Seuss book is set for 2026.
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Help Him Fire the Register of Copyrights
The administration’s bid for Supreme Court intervention comes after an appeals court last month found the administration likely lacked the authority to dismiss Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: October 24, 2025
Thank you for supporting Words & Money, an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises. If you're
Judge Rejects 'Government Speech' Argument in DoD Book Banning Case
Despite the government's arguments to the contrary, DoDEA school libraries “lack the quintessential elements of government speech,” judge Patricia Giles held, explaining that public school libraries “have historically been loci of intellectual freedom.”
ALA Announces Longlist for Andrew Carnegie Medals
Next up, a six-title shortlist—three each for the fiction and nonfiction medals—will be announced on November 18, 2025. The two medal winners will then be announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Court Permanently Blocks Texas 'Book Rating' Law
The controversial 2023 law was viewed by many as the most high profile of a wave of book banning laws at the state level, and would have required book vendors, as a condition of doing business with Texas public schools, to review books for sexual content.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending October 24, 2025
Among the week's headlines: publishers urge the Supreme Court to hear a key book banning case; a new Texas book banning law sparks concern; Pennsylvania legislator to introduce a 'right to read' bill; and an unexpected windfall for Carnegie libraries.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: October 17, 2025
Thank you for supporting Words & Money, an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises. If you're
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending October 17, 2025
Among the week's headlines: the publishing world gathers for the Frankfurt Book Fair; North Dakota librarians look to move past right wing political attacks; more on the fallout from Baker & Taylor's collapse; and a program to preserve censored National Park signage goes live.
Deborah Caldwell-Stone, ALA's Stalwart Freedom to Read Advocate, Let Go in Cost Cutting Move
Caldwell-Stone's departure was part of a broader wave of job cuts announced this week as the ALA grapples with a financial shortfall and moves ahead with a recently adopted plan to modernize the association.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: October 10, 2025
Thank you for supporting Words & Money, an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises. If you're
ACLU of South Carolina Sues Over School Book Bans
ACLU reps say a newly enacted regulation has “sown chaos and confusion among school employees,” and prompted “a culture of fear among school librarians.”
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending October 10, 2025
Among the week's headlines: Penguin Random House hosts a powerful gathering of freedom to read advocates; a wrongly fired Wyoming library director wins a settlement; 'And Tango Makes Three' authors appeal their loss in a Florida courtroom; and ALA announces a new, virtual winter event.
After Years of Financial Stress, Baker & Taylor Collapses
In a sudden end to what many saw as a slow-moving inevitability, the nearly 200 year-old company is ceasing operations after a foreclosure sale to ReaderLink fell through.
The Words & Money Weekly Newsletter: October 3, 2025
Thank you for supporting Words & Money, an independent media venture that aims to properly center libraries in the 21st century reading, writing, and publishing enterprises. If you're