Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Did everyone have a good holiday? I took two days after Christmas off for the first time in, like, forever, and it was much needed. Catching up on sleep, getting together with friends, doing a bit of cleaning around the apartment…very simple and very restorative. I’m ready to take on a new year!
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
This is more tangentially related to libraries, but some universities are now restricting access to TikTok across campus.
Worth Reading
This is an older article from Library Journal, but it’s a reminder that burnout is still very much an issue in every library.
Book Adaptations in the News
Netflix has commissioned a second Fear Street trilogy.
A preview of the upcoming Luther movie.
Banned & Challenged Books
The very real trauma from book bans.
The books that have been banned in state prisons.
The chair of the Moms for Liberty, Tarrant County (TX) has separated from the national group over issues related to political affiliation and school choice issues.
Meet the Florida English teacher trying to ban 150 books from school libraries.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry: “Taxpayers should not subsidize the sexualization of our children.”
Newly-elected Maine State Representative Mike Soboleski argued against “inappropriate” books at a recent MSAD 58 school board meeting.
Kelly Jensen’s Body Talk is staying in the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle/High School (NH) library, but middle schoolers will need permission to check out the book.
10 books have been formally challenged at Old Rochester Regional School District (MA), including All Boys Aren’t Blue, Lawn Boy, and The Hate U Give. Basically a Top 10 list of the most banned books in the country.
Surprisingly, the Darien (CT) Board of Education did not have a formal challenge policy in place, so they’re exploring options now.
And neither did the Cranston Public School District (RI). The district has not received any complaints, but they wanted to have something in place. Again, I’m glad they’re taking preemptive action, but I’m really surprised there wasn’t already an existing policy.
The Blair County (PA) District Attorney’s found no evidence for criminal charges against the Hollisdayburg Area teacher who had a copy of Gender Queer out on her desk. SHOCKING.
Souderton Area (PA) residents argue gender identity and inappropriate books at a recent school board meeting.
Beaufort County (SC) School District elects to keep The Lovely Bones and Stamped on high school shelves, but they will pull the young readers edition of Stamped from the elementary schools.
Clark County Public Library (KY) has elected to restrict Gender Queer checkouts to patrons 18 years or older, unless a parent signs a permission slip.
Robertson County (TN) has removed Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me from all middle school libraries.
A Georgia parent is upset to find an “inappropriate” book at a private business.
The Crawford County Library System (AR) is moving all of the LGBTQ+ books from the children’s section, thanks to the efforts of a far-right religious group.
The state of the library wars happening in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Lansing (KS) schools remove a social justice unit from high school English classes because of a single parent.
Gunnison County (CO) residents have made multiple attempts to get law enforcement involved with removing books from the public libraries. So far, all attempts have been unsuccessful.
A parent was upset that they’re being called hateful bigots and homophobic fascists for protesting “inappropriate” books in schools. I mean, just because they’re targeting the LGBTQ community and making comments that lead to a fake bomb threat against the Capo Unified School District..you’d think they were doing something bad! /s
Drag events faced at least 141 protests and significant threats in 2022.
How Gender Queer became America’s most banned book.
Ashley Hope Pérez: “Young people have a right to stories that help them learn.”
Books & Authors in the News
Biggest literary stories of 2022.
The BBC makes a case for why Don DelLillo is America’s greatest living writer.
Numbers & Trends
Best-selling books of the week.
Pop Cultured
The best international true crime podcasts for the winter.
On the Riot
4 simple ways to include board games and gaming in libraries.
Check out Book Riot’s 2023 Reading Log!
What this Rioter learned from reading through an award longlist for the first time.
6 questions to help you shape your reading practice.
The kitties keep being adorable together! And they keep sleeping on the orange blanket! Such sweet babies. I’ve spent some great quality time with these snuggle bugs this weekend.
Okay, everyone. I’ll see you next year! Let’s kiss 2022 goodbye!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.