In The News

OverDrive Founder Steve Potash Steps Back; Marc DeBevoise Takes Over as CEO

It's the end of an era at leading library vendor OverDrive. On June 23, the company announced that the company's founder and visionary Steve Potash has stepped back from his role as CEO, handing the reins to Marc DeBevoise, who joined the company roughly four months

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending June 26, 2026

Among the week's headlines: the ALA Annual Conference kicks off in Chicago; A former ALA leader comes out against library ebook legislation; E-rate is facing an uncertain future after the FCC votes to reassess the program; and the IMLS releases its latest public library stats.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending June 19, 2026

Among the headlines this week: the 2026 ALA Annual Conference kicks off next week; More response to the Authors Guild's take on digital library lending; a federal judge rebukes Trump's bid to censor signage at national parks; and Arkansans speak out against potential new library restrictions.

Librarians Want the Big Five Publishers to Negotiate ‘Fair’ Digital License Terms with Libraries. Here’s What That Might Look Like

What do libraries want from the major publishers in the digital library market? Hint: it isn't to destroy copyright. Librarians and ReadersFirst organizer Michael Blackwell weighs in on the group's just released proposal for fair digital license terms.

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 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 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 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."

What's at Stake—and What Isn't—as Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement Heads Toward Approval

Dave Hansen, executive director of the Authors Alliance, breaks down the state of play in the AI litigation space after the landmark Anthropic settlement inched closer this week to final approval.

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."