{"id":2274,"date":"2026-01-02T11:43:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/?p=2274"},"modified":"2026-01-26T09:08:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T14:08:44","slug":"litn-dec2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2026\/01\/02\/litn-dec2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Libraries in the News &#8211; December 2025 \ud83d\udcf0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"382\" src=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/MBLC-135yr-logo-1024x382.png\" alt=\"Logo of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with the tagline \u201cFor the common good since 1890\u201d displayed on a teal ribbon beneath the agency name.\" class=\"wp-image-2197\" style=\"width:365px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Library News from Across the Commonwealth and the Nation*<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a news story you\u2019d like to share? Please email the link to <a href=\"mailto:june.thammasnong@mass.gov\">June Thammasnong,<\/a> thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-5562cd8c-c897-4220-8c45-4b171e81670c\" href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FINAL-Libraries-in-the-News-December-2025-.pdf\">[PDF] Libraries in the News &#8211; December 2025<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FINAL-Libraries-in-the-News-December-2025-.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-5562cd8c-c897-4220-8c45-4b171e81670c\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--1\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Local News \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>MBLC Starts Federal Program Rebuild <\/strong>\u2013 MBLC Press Release (12\/5\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On December 3, 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced it had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imls.gov\/news\/statement-agencys-reinstatement-terminated-imls-grants\">reinstated all federal grants<\/a> which were terminated due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/03\/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy\/\">Executive Order 14238<\/a> signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025. The goal of the executive order was to eliminate IMLS &#8220;to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/news\/news-releases\/2025\/nr251205.php\">Link to full press release at MBLC website<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/e6hAC\"><strong>Library Agency Reinstates Grants Canceled by Trump Administration\u2014The New York Times<\/strong><\/a> (12\/5\/2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/regulation\/court-battles\/5634856-library-funding-restored-federal-grants\/\"><strong>Library grants restored after court order<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>\u2013 The Hill (12\/4\/2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/04\/nx-s1-5633347\/libraries-museums-federal-funding-imls-trump-cuts\"><strong>Libraries and museums get federal funding back after Trump cuts<\/strong><\/a>\u2014 NPR(12\/4\/2025)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Blandford receives $5.4M library grant <\/strong>\u2013 The Reminder (12\/10\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BLANDFORD \u2014 The Porter Memorial Library in Blandford received word earlier this month that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has awarded a $5.4 million Small Population library construction grant to the town of Blandford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thereminder.com\/local-news\/hilltowns\/blandford-receives-5-4m-library-grant\/\">Link to full article from The Reminder<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: <a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/news\/news-releases\/2025\/nr251204.php\">This project received a $5.4 million construction grant as part of the MBLC\u2019s Massachusetts Program Library Construction Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>New legislation aims to strengthen protections for school and public libraries <\/strong>\u2013 Athol Daily News (12\/23\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With book-banning attempts on the rise nationwide, Massachusetts legislators are working to strengthen protections for school and public libraries with \u201cAn Act Regarding Free Expression.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/atholdailynews.com\/2025\/12\/23\/massachusetts-libraries-strengthen-protections\/\">Link to full article at Athol Daily<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Plans for new East Springfield Library Branch submitted to state <\/strong>\u2013 Mass Live (12\/31\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SPRINGFIELD \u2013 The city has moved one step closer to replacing the East Springfield Branch Library. Designs for a new building are complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/1THEe\">Link to full article at MassLive<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: This project is being supported by funding from the <a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/programs-and-support\/construction\/background.php\">MBLC\u2019s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Who on Cape Cod was recognized for human rights work? \u2018We rise by lifting each other\u2019 <\/strong>\u2013 Cape Cod Times (12\/11\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HYANNIS \u2014 Harriet Jerusha Korim&#8217;s voice radiated across the room as she led a chorus of &#8220;This Little Light of Mine&#8221; during the <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/3Xi6R\/https:\/www.capecod.gov\/departments\/human-rights-advisory-commission\/about-us\/\">Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/3Xi6R\/https:\/www.capecodtimes.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/11\/13\/free-human-rights-day-breakfast-to-honor-cape-cod-advocates\/87246596007\/\">2025 Human Rights Day Celebration Breakfast<\/a>. Osterville Librarian Cyndy Cotton, and Hyannis Librarian Antonia Stephens joined hands as they headed to the podium to accept the Rosenthal Award at the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission&#8217;s awards ceremony in Hyannis on December 10, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/3Xi6R\">Link to full article from Cape Cod Times<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>On the Infinite Lives of the Library <\/strong>\u2013 Literary Hub (12\/4\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One might say that a library\u2019s most abundant resource\u2014what it lends most freely\u2014is not books and information but time. Time to think, breathe, be, and become. Last spring, in exchange for my service as writer-in-residence, the historic Concord Free Public Library in Concord, Massachusetts lent me six months and the use of a private office upstairs in a refurbished 300-year-old house-turned-working wing just off the Children\u2019s Room. The space had everything a writer could want: a desk, comfy chair for reading, privacy, and good light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lithub.com\/on-the-infinite-lives-of-the-library\/\">Link to full article on Literary Hub<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--2\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National News \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>The Supreme Court Just Opened the Door to a New Era of Book Bans <\/strong>\u2013 Time Magazine (12\/17\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine that you decided to go to your local library to check out a book, but you couldn\u2019t find it on the shelf. You ask the librarian for help locating it, but they inform you it\u2019s not available\u2014not because someone else has checked it out, but because the government has physically removed it after deciding they don\u2019t want you to read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn\u2019t the plot of a dystopian novel, it\u2019s the reality that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed in its recent decision to not hear arguments in the book ban case: <em>Leila Green Little et al.<\/em> v. <em>LlanoCounty<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/7341120\/book-bans-supreme-court-first-amendment-reading\/\">Link to article from Time Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>US librarians tackle \u2018manufactured crisis\u2019 of book bans to protect LGBTQ+ rights <\/strong>\u2013 The Guardian (12\/15\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In at least half a dozen states, librarians have joined forces with civil rights groups to oppose book bans, often facing personal and professional repercussions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/15\/us-librarianbook-bans-lgbtq-rights\">Link to article on The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>More Than \u2018Dusty Books\u2019: Why School Libraries Are Essential Infrastructure (Opinion) <\/strong>\u2013 Education Week (12\/10\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a strategic mistake to forget librarians when combating learning loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edweek.org\/teaching-learning\/opinion-more-than-dusty-books-why-school-libraries-are-essential-infrastructure\/2025\/12\">Link to article on Education Week<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Supreme Court declines to hear appeal on Texas book ban case that allows officials to remove objectionable books from libraries <\/strong>\u2013 PBS (12\/9\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) \u2014 The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal on a Texas free speech case that allowed local officials to remove books deemed objectionable from public libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-appeal-on-texas-book-ban-case-that-allows-officials-to-remove-objectionable-books-from-libraries\">Link to article from PBS<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>NASA&#8217;s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts <\/strong>\u2013 The New York Times (12\/31\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Holdings from the library at the Goddard Space Flight Center, which includes unique documents from the early 20th century to the Soviet space race, will be warehoused or thrown out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/9R8wY\">Link to article on The New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Library Agency Reinstates Grants Canceled by Trump Administration <\/strong>\u2013 The New York Times (12\/5\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Institute of Museum and Library Services restored the funding after a federal court ruled that moves to dismantle the agency were unlawful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/e6hAC\">Link to article from The New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/regulation\/court-battles\/5634856-library-funding-restored-federal-grants\/\"><strong>Library grants restored after court order<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>\u2013 The Hill (12\/4\/2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/04\/nx-s1-5633347\/libraries-museums-federal-funding-imls-trump-cuts\"><strong>Libraries and museums get federal funding back after Trump cuts<\/strong><\/a>\u2014 NPR(12\/4\/2025)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Book distributor shutting down deals logistical blow to libraries <\/strong>\u2013 NPR (12\/29\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker and Taylor is among a few companies that act as the distribution middle man between libraries and publishers. The company&#8217;s announcement that it is shutting down is a blow to librarians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/29\/nx-s1-5638892-e1\/book-distributor-shutting-down-deals-logistical-blow-to-libraries\">Link to article from NPR<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>The cultural works becoming public domain in 2026, from Betty Boop to Nancy Drew<\/strong>\u2013 NPR (12\/26\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A new year means a new parade of classic characters and works entering the public domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under U.S. law, the copyright on thousands of creations from 1930 \u2014 including films, books, musical compositions and more \u2014 will expire at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, meaning they will be free to use, share and adapt after nearly a century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/26\/nx-s1-5649395\/public-domain-2026-copyright-betty-boop-pluto\">Link to article from NPR<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>The Most Popular Books in US Public Libraries in 2025 <\/strong>\u2013 Book Riot (12\/19\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What were the most popular books checked out in US libraries in 2025? Here are the top fiction and nonfiction titles across 40 libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/the-most-popular-books-in-us-public-libraries-in-2025\/\">Link to article from Book Riot<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/29\/nx-s1-5645098\/libraries-most-borrowed-books-2025\"><strong>Genre fiction and female authors top U.S. libraries&#8217; most-borrowed lists in 2025<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>\u2013 NPR (12\/29\/2025)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>This Artist Put 2,500 of Her Favorite Books in a Massive Rotating Library on Miami Beach <\/strong>\u2013 Smithsonian Magazine (12\/8\/2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 20-foot-tall installation, titled \u201cLibrary of Us,\u201d featured titles that hold personal meaning for British artist Es Devlin\u2014who invited visitors to sit on nearby benches and read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/this-artist-put-2500-of-her-favorite-books-in-a-massive-rotating-library-on-miami-beach-180987810\/\">Link to article from Smithsonian Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--3\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.196), 16px);\"><em>*Links provided to external (non-MBLC) news stories are done so as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the MBLC. MBLC bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Library News from Across the Commonwealth and the Nation* Have a news story you\u2019d like to share? Please email the link to June Thammasnong, thank you! Local News \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f MBLC Starts Federal Program Rebuild \u2013 MBLC Press Release (12\/5\/2025) On December 3, 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced it had reinstated [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[296],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-litn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2274"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2303,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2274\/revisions\/2303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}