In The News

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending July 24, 2026

Among the headlines this week: two major conservative groups have joined a closely watched book banning lawsuit in Colorado; School officials in Tennessee rethink their book banning policies; Stephen King's response to Utah's latest book ban; and what Carla Hayden told a group of library students.

Conservative Groups Join Legal Fight in Closely Watched Freedom to Read Lawsuit

In a statement this week, the right-wing Heritage Foundation announced that it will be wading into a closely-watched book banning lawsuit in Colorado, Crookshanks, et al. v. Elizabeth School District, along with another prominent conservative group, the Alliance Defending Freedom. The case will be the first for the Heritage Foundation's recently announced Legal Action Center.

The conservative groups will partner with the county's lead attorney, Jonathan Mitchell, the former Solicitor General of Texas who successfully argued the stunning reversal of a key Fifth Circuit book banning decision in Little v. Llano County in 2025.

According to a report in Chalkbeat, the district brought on the conservative groups to "mount a vigorous, well-resourced defense of its policies on the merits,” the statement said, amid "a tumultuous time for the district," including "a financial crisis caused by overspending, leading to staff layoffs and other cuts this summer."

The case involves the Elizabeth School District in Colorado, where administrators in 2024 enacted a new policy that led to the banning of 18 books including classics like Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Beloved, as well as frequently banned books like Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give; Looking for Alaska by John Green; and Smoke by Ellen Hopkins. The bans prompted a lawsuit led by the ACLU of Colorado on behalf of two students, the NAACP, and the Authors Guild, which argued that the bans were based on illegal viewpoint discretion and should be reversed.

On March 19, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney agreed with the plaintiffs, and issued a preliminary injunction ordering the district to return the books to library shelves, holding that it is unconstitutional—under both the federal and Colorado Constitutions—"to remove books from a school library merely because the District 'disagree[s] with the views expressed in the books." As Words & Money reported, in January, the district abruptly abandoned a planned appeal on the eve of oral argument. The case is set to go to trial in December in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

After 'Roots' Controversy, Tennessee County Rethinks Its Book Ban Policies

As reported by local affiliate WBIR, the Knox County, Tennessee School Board convened on July 22 "to discuss policies surrounding library materials," its first meeting since district leaders made national headlines for banning, then ultimately reinstating Alex Haley's seminal work Roots under the state's Age Appropriate Materials Act. "The board is now proposing a new process to evaluate library materials, one that includes more stakeholders in decisions about book bans," the report notes.

The report notes that the county has banned "124 books since 2024," with Roots the only title to be reinstated. But according to reporting in the Knoxville News Sentinel, Knox County Schools leaders could also go back and review those decisions should the new policy be adopted by the board, which could be adopted sometime next month.

Opposition Mounts as GOP Senators Introduce Companion to House Book Banning Bill

This week freedom to read advocates are urging the Senate to reject a recently introduced companion bill to a pernicious Republican-backed book banning bill, known as H.R. 7661. As reported in LGBTQNation, the Senate bill, S. 4925, like its House counterpart, would prohibit the use of Elementary and Secondary Act funds for programs, activities, or materials that include “sexually oriented content” and “for other purposes.” It's unclear whether the measure, introduced by Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), James Lankford (R-ID), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has any chance of advancing ahead of the midterms.

In an alert last week, the American Library Association urged members to contact their senators with their opposition. EveryLibrary this week also released a statement slamming the bill. "S. 4925 threatens that mission by creating powerful incentives for schools to remove books and educational materials rather than risk losing federal funding. When fear becomes the standard for building school library collections, students lose access to knowledge, history, literature, and the diverse voices that define our nation," the EveryLibrary statement reads. "We call on the United States Senate to reject S. 4925 and stand with students, educators, school librarians, authors, publishers, and millions of Americans who believe that the answer to a book you dislike is not government censorship."

GOP Lawmakers Doubles Down on Trump's Attacks on the Smithsonian

Via "congressional intelligence platform" Legis1, a House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency in which GOP lawmakers reiterated the Trump administration's attacks on the Smithsonian. "The tension centered on a fundamental disagreement, namely whether museums presenting multiple perspectives on American history, including the role of racism, slavery, and systemic inequality, constitute 'bias' or legitimate scholarship," the report notes. "Republicans argued that identity-focused exhibits divide Americans. Democrats contended that acknowledging historical complexity strengthens rather than weakens national understanding."

Stephen King's Response to Utah Book Banners Is a Little Scary

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that it got Stephen King to respond after his books, Different Seasons, became the latest to be banned in all Utah public schools. It's a bit of a disappointing response. “First and foremost, the book wasn’t banned. I assume it’s still in bookstores and many public libraries, because free expression is part of the American ethic,” King wrote. “Ordinarily I say ‘Go to a library or bookstore and find out what the suits don’t want you to read,’ but this case is a little different.” The lackluster response hearkens back to 2023, when Kelly Jensen at Book Riot admonished King for his lack of understanding about the current, politically organized threat to the freedom to read.

Arkansas Librarians Warn that Proposed State Rules for Minors in Libraries Are Unworkable

Little Rock Public Radio station KUAF has piece on the various practical ways the Arkansas State Library Board's proposed new rule requiring libraries to "restrict minors' access to certain materials or risk losing state funding" are simply not workable. "Under the proposal, libraries would have to place sexually explicit materials in sections designated for adults and require parental consent before anyone younger than 16 could check out those materials," the report notes. "Librarians who testified before the board also said many libraries are not physically designed to separate adult and children's collections. Some said they don't have enough staff or space to monitor who accesses materials or to create separate adult-only areas."

Carla Hayden Talks to South Carolina Library Students

The University of South Carolina College of Information and Communication recently had a distinguished guest talk to students: former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

"The nation’s first female Black Librarian of Congress encouraged future librarians at the University of South Carolina to 'get out of the building and truly serve the people,'" the article notes, "speaking to 50 students in USC’s Master of Library and Information Science program as part of the “History of Black Librarianship” course, taught by Augusta Baker Endowed Chair Nicole Cooke. Hayden told the students whatever kind of library they choose to work in, they can make a difference. "I did not have librarians in school who looked like me,” Hayden said. “But you can be that someone for another person, someone who is a sounding board, a non-judgemental, supportive leader who looks like them and makes the library a safe place for all.”

How a Movement to Slash Property Taxes Would Impact Ohio Libraries

An effort to put a constitutional amendment eliminating property taxes on the November ballot in Ohio failed last month, but with organizers vowing to bring the measure back for 2027, Ideastream Public Media has a good report on how such a measure would impact libraries.

"The Ohio Library Council said 2.5% of the $24 billion collected from property owners goes to public libraries each year. Although libraries get some funding from grants and donations, 80% rely on some form of property tax levies, " the report notes. "It kind of blows my mind to think about pulling the rug out of local government, including public libraries." Julianne Bedel, head of the Medina County District Library, told the outlet. "It's not that I don't think that property taxes need to be reformed or looked at. It's that I think it needs to be done in a thoughtful manner with time to make sure that we can manage consequences."

This City Council Put the Future of Their Public Library on the Ballot

NJ.com reports that the public library in Bridgeton, New Jersey is on the chopping block, and residents are not pleased. “An ordinance introduced last month by the city council would place a referendum to dissolve the library on the November ballot," the report notes. "The idea cites its proximity to the Cumberland County Library—just 1.6 miles separate the two—and says it would save taxpayers money.”

Here's One Way to Save on Moving Expenses

In Utah, Townlift, Park City News reports that the Summit County Library has found a way to get patrons to help make the move easier for one of its branch libraries. "During the July 16 Summit County Library Board meeting, library officials announced 'Check Out the Move,' a promotion encouraging residents to borrow books, movies, puzzles, games and other materials before the branch moves," the report notes. "The promotion will run Aug. 1-15. Items borrowed during that period will receive extended due dates into October, allowing patrons to keep their selections while library staff pack, move and reshelve the remaining collection."

Pew: Half of Americans Believe AI Will Increase the Gap Between Rich and Poor Countries

Lots of AI in the news this week, including this release from the Pew Research Center that shows Americans are far more concerned with how AI will impact their lives than winning some kind of arms race. "As concerns persist about the winners and losers of a global AI race, 51% of Americans say that AI will increase the gap between rich and poor countries overall," the release notes, citing findings from a survey of 3,488 adults conducted in June. And while most Americans think it is "at least somewhat important for the U.S. to be the world leader in developing AI.

And Finally This Week...

I'm a big fan of special edition library cards, and as reported by local affiliate KPBS in San Diego, this one looks very cool.

"This month, the San Diego Public Library system celebrates its 144th anniversary, providing free access to community resources and, of course, millions of books. To mark the occasion, the library’s annual Comic-Con-themed library card celebrates that spirit of inclusion—with space aliens," the report notes. The card was designed by Keithan Jones, founder of KID Comics and the annual Black Com!x Day. "What I tried to do with this design is give a feeling of everyone is welcome to the library," Jones told the outlet. “So I figure, let me put an alien family from another world going to the San Diego Library."