Bookish News: 19 May 2023

Book bans, sanctuary libraries, new releases, and Little Free Libraries

Booksellers Advocate for Trans/Nonbinary Employees, Denounce Anti-Trans Legislation

Publishers Weekly: In response to recent spikes in anti-trans legislation, particularly in the South, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance hosted an hour-long virtual panel discussion May 18 billed as “A Conversation on Supporting Trans/Nonbinary Staff and Community.”

A Bill in Connecticut Would Fund Sanctuary Libraries

BookRiot: A couple of weeks back, I shared a roundup of pending legislation across several states and at the national level which would ensure the right to read. There is another bill worth highlighting during this legislative session that is making positive progress in Connecticut.

What Should You Read Next? Here Are the Best Reviewed Books of the Week

LitHub: Featuring new titles by Emma Cline, Jonathan Eig, T. C. Boyle, Samantha Irby, and More

A free speech group is suing a Florida school district over book bans

NPR: The largest book publisher in the country has joined free speech group PEN America, parents and authors to push back against book banning, filing a federal lawsuit in Florida's Escambia County.

Little Free Library Announces 2023 Outstanding Achievement Awards

Publishers Weekly: The Little Free Library (LFL) has announced the winners of the fifth annual Todd H. Bol Awards for Outstanding Achievement, all of whom "embody LFL’s mission to build community, inspire readers and expand book access for all," the nonprofit organization said in a statement. The awards are named for LFL founder Todd Bol, who created the first Little Free Library book-sharing box in 2009 in Hudson, Wis. The award announcement comes during LFL's inaugural Little Free Library Week, which runs May 14-20.