In The News

After Scheduling Order, Dispute Over Register of Copyrights Firing Will Stretch Well into the Summer

Perlmutter had sought an expedited schedule on a motion for summary judgment to mitigate the uncertainty at the Copyright Office. That timeline will now be extended by at least a month.

After Failing to Win a Restraining Order, Former Register of Copyrights Seeks to Fast Track Lawsuit Over Her Firing

Calling her firing "blatantly illegal," former Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter is now seeking to expedite a summary judgment, over the objections of Trump administration lawyers.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 30, 2025

Among the week's headlines: Fallout from the Fifth Circuit's massive book banning decision; Texas moves a step closer to giving school boards control of public school libraries; and Colorado libraries are struggling with ebook costs.

States Oppose Trump Administration's Bid to Stay IMLS Injunction

Citing the potential for further harm, attorneys for 21 plaintiff states are urging judge John G. McConnell not to stay his May 13 injunction pending an appeal by the Trump administration.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 23, 2025

Among the week's headlines: Petitions celebrate Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden; ALA welcomes IMLS employees back to work after court order; and Nevada races to pass a bill that would protect librarians.

In a Stunning Reversal, The Fifth Circuit Deals a Blow to the Freedom to Read

In a closely watched book banning case, the court held that library book decisions are 'government speech' and thus immune from First Amendment challenges, setting up a potential high stakes showdown at the Supreme Court.

Register of Copyright Shira Perlmutter Sues to Keep Her Job

Lawyers for Perlmutter argue that Trump lacks the authority to fire the Register of Copyrights, or appoint a replacement.

D.C. Judge Looks to Delay Decision on IMLS Injunction

Judge Richard J. Leon has proposed extending his temporary restraining order until the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decides how to handle an appeal in a similar case.

DOJ Seeks to Stay Injunction Restoring the IMLS

The move comes as acting IMLS director Keith E. Sonderling said the agency was "working diligently" to comply with judge John G. McConnell's May 13 preliminary injunction, which DOJ lawyers argue is overly burdensome.

Connecticut Passes Library E-Book Legislation

“The Connecticut bill essentially restores the right to negotiate, so libraries aren’t forced into take-it-or-leave-it digital deals," said Ellen Paul, executive director of the Connecticut Library Consortium.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 16, 2025

Among the week's headlines: Authors, library groups urge Congress to resist Trump's Library of Congress takeover; Rhode Island advances its Freedom to Read bill; Patmos Library staff quit over board concerns; and IFLA is alarmed by 'fear and intimidation' facing U.S. librarians.

ALA Urges Court to Deny DOJ’s Motion for Reconsideration in IMLS Case

ALA lawyers say the administration remains determined to dismantle the IMLS.

In a Major Win for Libraries, Federal Judge Orders IMLS to Be Restored

In a rebuke, federal judge John J. McConnell has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reverse the mass terminations of grants and staff at IMLS.

Trump Abruptly Fires Top Copyright Officer

The move comes after the Copyright Office released the third and final part of a wide-ranging review critical of the tech industry's approach to AI, but the firing may have more to do with raw politics than policy.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending May 9, 2025

Among the week's headlines: the Senate votes to kill the FCC's popular WiFi hotspot program; Book Banners lose big in Texas school board elections; Ohio libraries pull a clean sweep at the ballot box; and Library Journal announces its 2025 Movers & Shakers.

Trump Fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Hayden's sudden dismissal "a disgrace" and the latest in the administration's efforts to "ban books, whitewash American history, and turn back the clock.”