Funding trends in 2025 reflected an unsettled landscape, with few identifiable trends and many questions about what the future may hold.

The 2025–26 Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize has gone to Harris County Public Library, TX, for its prioritization of literacy and equitable access. Out of many deserving entries, two others stood out as well for their strong local partnerships, resilience, and creative approach to service.

The mission at the D.C. punk and indie fanzine collection at the University of Maryland–College Park’s Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library is to collect, preserve, and share self-published materials about the punk and indie music scene in the Washington, DC area from the 1970s through the present day.

Among the more than 100 pages of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, two paragraphs have had outsized influence on library services over the last 30 years. These paragraphs are the basis of the federal E-Rate program which, today, supports internet connectivity for about half of the nation’s public libraries.

From 404 Media (by Claire Woodcock):  Conservative parents’ advocacy groups have been experimenting with using commercially available artificial intelligence tools to help them flag more books they’ve deemed pornographic to be removed from public schools and libraries. Even though LLMs are notoriously error-prone, and the books in question aren’t pornographic, these groups continue to explore […]

The post 404 Media: “‘BLOCKADE’: The Right is Using AI Content Scanners to Try to Supercharge Book Banning” appeared first on Library Journal infoDOCKET.

From a CSU Release: T​he California State University (CSU) has released findings from its first-ever systemwide survey on artificial intelligence (AI), marking the largest and most comprehensive survey to date on generative artificial intelligence (AI)  in higher education. The survey draws on more than 94,000 responses from faculty, staff, and students, offering key insights into higher […]

The post New Report From California State University (CSU): “Ahead of the Curve: What the Nation’s Largest Public University System is Learning about AI” appeared first on Library Journal infoDOCKET.

“CommonsDB Explorer Helps You Discover Declarations About Public Domain and Openly Licensed Works” From a CommonsDB Blog Post: Since launching the CommonsDB Explorer late last year and moving the prototype registry into active testing, we have focused on scaling up the volume of registry declarations. The registry has now surpassed one million declarations, thanks to the contributions […]

The post Openly Licensed Works: CommonsDB Surpasses One Million Declarations appeared first on Library Journal infoDOCKET.

From WTVF: The Rutherford County Library Board voted in an 8-3 decision to fire library director Dr. Luanne James. The controversy began when James refused to comply with a board order to relocate 132 children’s books to the adult section of the library. The board recently deemed the books inappropriate, citing LGBTQ+ themes, female empowerment, […]

The post Tennessee: Rutherford County Library Board Fires Director After She Refuses to Relocate 132 Children’s Books appeared first on Library Journal infoDOCKET.

Libraries aspire to be a place where everyone belongs — but what does that commitment look like today when it is being both tested and expanded? In this episode, we explore how libraries are redefining sanctuary: partnering with nonprofits and social service agencies, navigating uncertain immigration policy, and balancing the needs of the most vulnerable with maintaining a welcoming and safe space for families and the broader community.

We consider crime and crime stories through an information lens. From the Serial podcast to seventeen copies of James Patterson on our shelves, we all love a good mystery. But, lying beneath every cold case, wrongful conviction, and uninvestigated crime is an information failure. Buckle up, because we're about to ruin your next true crime binge.

Art by AI? In this episode we look at AI filling our playlists, our literary magazines, and gulp, even our library shelves. Does an embrace of AI alienate institutions like libraries from their communities, or is it an embrace of a new creative medium? How do you draw the line between AI slop and AI assist?

The Keeper by Tana French is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

August 2026 Prepub Alert: forthcoming titles to know, share, and buy; plus a downloadable spreadsheet of all the titles and an Edelweiss catalog with plot summaries, author profiles, and more.

AI is reshaping academic libraries but responsible adoption matters. Discover how embedded AI in Alma and Primo helps libraries support student research, improve workflows, and build confidence without disrupting trusted systems or professional judgment.

 

 

Upward Bound by Woody Brown is the April Read with Jenna book club pick; Mothers and Other Strangers by Corey Ann Haydu is B&N’s pick. Vice President J. D. Vance will publish the book Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith on June 16. John Green’s first novel for adults, Hollywood, Ending, comes out September 22. LibraryReads and LJ offer read-alikes for top holds title The Keeper by Tana French. Sandie Jones’s novel The Other Woman will be adapted as a TV series. Plus, LJ has a new prepub alert, featuring titles publishing in August 2026.