Hello, library friends! We’re taking an in-depth look at some important news, including the rise of many library fulfillment programs in the absence of Baker & Taylor and federal law updates. Let’s dive in.
Battle of Library Fulfillment Programs
More updates on how companies are trying to fill the Baker & Taylor-sized void: There’s Amazon, Brodart, Liberia, and Follett Expanding your preordering services. Ingram and Penguin Random House has partnered on a new print-on-demand service for librariesWhich will offer POD access to 200 of Penguin Random House’s backlist titles, including books by Harlan Coben, Janet Evanovich, Nalini Singh and others. And ThriftBooks launches LibraryAdvantagewhich will allow library personnel to order “everything from new releases to out-of-print editions”, as well as a buyback program that will allow libraries to earn store credit. For libraries exploring these new options, I’ll be interested to see whether they stick with one primary fulfillment service or whether they create a more customized collection management system across multiple services.
Federal Library Legislation Update
Kelly Jensen has an update on the status of the three federal censorship bills currently moving through Congress. There are still legislative hurdles to clear on all of these, but we need to keep telling our representatives that they need to vote ‘no’ on all three. And in addition to these three bills, the FCC wants to eliminate the E-Rate program that provides affordable Internet access to schools and libraries because students are “getting too much screen time.” (Obviously, this is a deliberate attack on public education and digital access, but they’re not going to say that out loud.) Like all of her legislative updates, Kelly has some steps you can take to show your support for the E-Rate program.
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National park visitors protest Trump’s historic abolition
OK, this isn’t directly related to libraries, but I think it’s a good example of how people are finding new ways to protest against this administration. Last year, Trump told national park visitors to report any displays or exhibits that say “negative” things about Americans (past or present). 35,000 public comments were submitted, but AP recently learned Most of these comments were critical of the administration and its efforts to erase history. And when you consider that more than 320 million people visit national park sites, comments represent only 0.01% of all visitors. Friends, fight by any means necessary and remember that this administration is extremely ineffective.
