Whether physical or virtual, a library is the nursery of democracy and its shelves are the embodiment of free expression. In the Age of Trump, many librarians take their jobs more seriously than ever.
Immediately after the November 2016 U.S. election, reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer, the American Library Association faced a revolt from many of its members, following the release of a statement (later rescinded and referred to as “a draft”) in which ALA leaders offered to work with the new Trump Administration on issues of common interest.
“Librarians are pressuring ALA to acknowledge their political battles, and stand with them,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “To be sure, librarians don’t need the ALA to activate them politically. In her report for PBS-TV’s Newshour, Elizabeth Flock recently cited a number of examples of local librarians standing up for their core values in the face of Trump’s recent executive actions, and unabashedly taking politically active stances.”
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Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.