[CASL-L] This Year in CT Libraries: 2024 in Review

[Ellen Paul]

Good morning, Connecticut library friends.

It's been two years since I launched the This Week in CT Libraries newsletter. The idea was simple: share news stories (and CLC happenings) to make us all feel more connected, and perhaps encourage libraries to pursue positive press.  I look forward to putting it together for you each week, I hope you look forward to reading it.

So, on this last issue of 2024, let's take a moment to reflect. Let's look back over the last year at some of our biggest news stories: our highest highs, our lowest lows, and the themes that have emerged along the way.

Book challenges continue to perpetuate around the State.  This year we saw an author visit rescinded at  in the Fairfield School district<https://www.ctinsider.com/fairfield/article/fairfield-schools-chad-sell-author-book-event-18600133.php>, a very high profile challenge in Goshen<https://www.goshennews.org/debate-continues-over-gender-queers-place-goshen-public-library> that raged on for months, a debate in the Brookfield school system<https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/brookfield-school-board-votes-challenged-book-18692227.php> and complaints in the Milford school system about Heartstopper<https://www.milfordmirror.com/news/education/article/heartstopper-books-milford-schools-18688186.php>.

But it wasn't all bad. We started the year with an opinion piece published by former CT Supreme Court Justice Joelle Katz in the CT Law Tribune<https://www.law.com/ctlawtribune/2024/01/08/book-banning-isnt-new-but-its-more-pernicious/> in support of a Libraries for All Act.  Hearst CT Media Editorial Board published an effective opinion piece<https://www.ctinsider.com/opinion/article/banned-books-libraries-ct-19780331.php> in the midst of banned books week.  And some of our legislators honored Banned Books Week in Norwalk<https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2023-10-03/ct-librarians-encourage-reading-banned-books-its-the-freedom-of-choice>.

Digital equity took center stage this year with a number of legislators (like Senator Blumenthal,<https://ctmirror.org/2024/01/10/ct-digital-access-affordable-connectivity/> Congressman Larson<https://www.govtech.com/network/connecticut-residents-bracing-for-loss-of-acp-subsidiary> and Congressman Courtney<https://www.yahoo.com/news/internet-courtney-constituents-push-continuing-013300947.html?guccounter=2>) standing in libraries calling for a continuation of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program.  The State launched its digital equity plan<https://www.courant.com/2024/01/03/ct-is-well-wired-but-thousands-still-have-no-internet-the-state-has-a-17-million-plan-to-change-that/> and it included libraries!  And the State Library launched its IMLS funding Digital Navigator<https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/equity-project-puts-digital-navigators-new-haven-19820446.php> program in six libraries to lots of press.

We also got a ton of press this year during the legislative session.  The ebook bill was again raised in two committees<https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2024/03/22/digital-book-costs-for-libraries-debated-in-government-committee/>, and although it got some national press with Sarah McCusker on Market Place<https://www.marketplace.org/2024/06/20/librarians-e-book-library-publishing-industry/>, Sandra Enimil on NPR<https://www.npr.org/2024/08/29/nx-s1-5091277/e-books-are-expensive-for-libraries-some-states-are-trying-to-change-that> and Colleen Bailie in a widely distributed AP article<https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/03/12/libraries-ebooks-audio-books-cost-laws>, it was sidelined on the floor of the house after several hours of debate<https://www.ctinsider.com/politics/article/ct-libraries-e-books-prices-bill-house-dead-19431244.php>.  Also on the docket was a bill to require school districts to have reconsideration policies<https://ctmirror.org/2024/03/14/new-bill-could-curtail-authority-local-school-boards-ban-books/> in place.  After a strong public hearing, it died in committee<https://insideinvestigator.org/librarians-back-book-banning-bill-for-connecticut/>.

Building projects and disasters, as always, continue to dominate the news.  The biggest by far was the devastating flooding in Southbury<https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/southbury-public-library-closed-flooding-repairs-19747633.php>.  The flooding in the brand new New Canaan Library<https://www.ncadvertiser.com/news/article/new-canaan-library-flooding-18684901.php> came as a surprise.  Southington opened a new library<https://www.newbritainherald.com/news/new-southington-library-finally-open/article_386317e6-b65f-11ef-85f3-cbb59b5e03f4.html>.  Hotchkiss Library in Sharon<https://www.ala.org/news/2024/08/american-libraries-recognizes-12-libraries-its-2024-library-design-showcase> was recognized in the 2024 Library Design Showcase.  Bloomfield knocked down their old building<https://www.ctinsider.com/capitalregion/article/prosser-library-bloomfield-demolition-18602214.php>.  Maybe a new branch in Allingtown<https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/west-haven-eyes-blake-building-allingtown-library-19773917.php>?  Manchester is getting ready to go<https://www.ctinsider.com/journalinquirer/article/ct-manchester-library-construction-2025-19953998.php>.  Gunn Memorial got a new Maker Space<https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2024/01/12/gunn-memorial-library-gets-makerspace-grant/>.  Bridgeport closed their East Side Branch for renovations<https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/fairfield-county/bridgeport-public-library-east-side-branch-closes-for-renovations/520-bf12ebf3-bbcf-49b4-9622-f3f25aa1eb6f>.  CCSU unveiled a $19M library annex<https://www.bristolpress.com/news/ccsu-celebrates-new-18-8-million-library-annex/article_9deb6bfc-8fb0-11ef-a350-0f0728e9c721.html>.  Region 20 got a new library<https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/region-20-schools-litchfield-first-day-of-classes-19717074.php>.  Wilbur Cross' Library is back open after mold remediation<https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/cross_repairs>.

Speaking of school libraries, 2024 was a mixed bag for school librarians.  Stratford contemplated removing all of their school librarians in a move that was called senseless by CT News Junkie<https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2024/03/07/op-ed-stratford-school-board-decision-to-cut-librarians-is-senseless/>.  Thankfully, ultimately some of the librarians were retained<https://www.ctpost.com/news/education/article/stratford-boe-budget-alternative-ed-librarians-19472129.php>.  In better news, Stamford added school librarians after a long period without them and Jennifer Cirino, a librarian at Staples High School, was Westport's Teacher of the Year. <https://westportjournal.com/education/westports-teacher-of-the-year-makes-students-feel-special/>

But, the biggest winner this year has to be the Hartford Public Library.  They started 2024 strong with a new logo and branding to celebrate their 250th anniversary<https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-01-03/older-than-the-country-itself-hartford-public-library-marks-250-years-with-rebranding>, they opened a new boundless library at West Middle Community School<https://www.ctinsider.com/capitalregion/article/hartford-west-middle-community-school-library-18642144.php>, Homa Naficy, Director of the American Place at HPL was one of 24 winners of the "Great Immigrants, Great Americans Award",<https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/hartford-woman-wins-national-award-for-her-work-connecting-immigrants-to-resources-through-the-library/3344124/> and they reopened their main building after being closed for nearly two years after a devastating flood.<https://www.ctinsider.com/capitalregion/article/hartford-public-library-christmas-flood-reopens-19930226.php>  Congratulations to everyone at HPL for an amazing year!

And finally, just like last year, we had a slew of new library directors.  Congratulations to:  Carrie Tyszka at Berlin Peck, Alessandra Casiello at Bibliomation, Andrew Maloney at Brainerd in Haddam, Jennifer Nash at C.H. Booth in Newtown, Michael Murphy at Cora J. Belden in Rocky Hill, Marianne Smertiuk at Derby Public, Allison Murphy at Scranton in Madison, Evelyn Morgan at East Haddam, Amy Vessella at Kent Memorial in Suffield, Scott Brill at Milford, Viktor Sjoberg at New Britain, Ellen Crovatto and Cheryl Capitani at New Canaan, MaryAnne Pelletier at Tolland, Alicia Hansen at University of Hartford, Sue Stern at West Woodstock, Jennifer Sullivan at Willoughby Wallace in Branford, and Matt Earls at Wolcott.  Phew, that's a lot.  But, interestingly, not nearly as many as last year.

So, that's it. That's a wrap for 2024. Thanks for reading this newsletter. I hope it makes you feel more connected to our Connecticut library community. I'll be back next year with more news and more goings on. Until then have a safe, warm and joyful December.

All the best,
Ellen


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Ellen Paul | Executive Director
Connecticut Library Consortium

860-344-8777 | www.ctlibrarians.org<http://www.ctlibrarians.org/>

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