[CASL-L] This week in CT Libraries: 2.3.25

[Ellen Paul]

Good Morning CT Libraries, here is what is going on this week.

CLC HAPPENINGS

The Business Librarians Roundtable<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1923477> meets Tuesday to talk about personal branding.

The Eastern CT Library Directors<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1922968> meets on Thursday with a representative from the Employers Association of the Northeast to take your HR questions.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

eBooks

  *   Very fast, very important:   The Government Administration and Elections committee released their ebook bill late last week: S.B. 1234<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=1234>.   They will take public comment and testimony on Friday at Noon.  If you are for or against this bill, this is your opportunity to tell legislators.  No link to the agenda or testimony sign up yet.  My guess is that it will be posted today or tomorrow here<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CommDocList.asp?comm_code=gae&doc_type=pha>.
  *   We still have SB 237<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=237> and we're still expecting one more bills to be released in the Planning and Development Committee .
Budget

  *   The Governor will present his 2 year budget plan to the legislature on Wednesday.  What will it hold for libraries?  I'll tell you next week.
  *   No news here.  Representative Welander (Derby, Hamden, Woodbridge, Orange) has introduced HB 5866:  AN ACT EVALUATING FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5866>  It's goal is to: study and identify funding gaps for public libraries and options for efficiency and sustainability.  More information to come.
Freedom to Read

  *   Still a lot of bills.  After last week's press conference it looks like SB 523<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=523> is gaining some traction with new cosponsors.  I expect that there will be a public hearing in the next two or three weeks.  The Children's committee has two public hearings next week.  One on Tuesday and one on Thursday.  SB523 could be on one of those agendas.
     *   SB 523:<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=523> AN ACT CONCERNING THE CURATION AND RETENTION OF LITERARY MATERIALS CONTAINED IN PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO LIBRARIANS AND STAFF WORKING IN SUCH LIBRARIES.
     *   HB 5508<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5508>: AN ACT CONCERNING A FREEDOM TO READ.
     *   HB 5858<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5858> AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL LIBRARIES TASK FORCE.
     *   HB 5862<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5862> AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
     *   HB 5865<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5865> AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CHILDREN.
     *   HB 5867<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5867> AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
     *   HB 5898<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=5898> AN ACT PROHIBITING THE AVAILABILITY OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL IN PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

NEWS OF NOTE

A man has been arrested for stealing thousands of dollars of books from the Wethersfield and West Hartford Libraries. <https://www.courant.com/2025/01/28/man-accused-of-stealing-books-valued-at-5600-from-ct-library/> And here<https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/connecticut/article/book-theft-case-middletown-20065757.php>.  And here<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/connecticut-man-steals-27k-worth-of-library-books/ar-AA1ybQLX>.  And here<https://www.courant.com/2025/01/30/man-accused-of-stealing-library-books-worth-thousands-in-multiple-ct-towns-selling-them-on-amazon/>.  And here<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/library-book-thief-was-reselling-stolen-books-on-amazon-west-hartford-police/ar-AA1y8UHw>.  And here<https://www.wfsb.com/2025/01/28/man-arrested-stealing-books-library-wethersfield/>.  And here<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/wethersfield-book-theft-tied-to-same-crime-in-other-ct-towns/ar-AA1y5lFf>.  And here<https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/darien/man-steals-5600-in-books-stolen-from-ct-library-cops/>.  And here<https://www.fox61.com/article/news/crime/library-book-thief-reselling-stolen-books-on-amazon-west-hartford-connecticut-police/520-53cca091-dcf3-496e-90bb-da4868ada800>.  And here<https://we-ha.com/police-middletown-man-charged-with-theft-of-books-from-west-hartford-public-library/>.  And there may have been more.  Honestly, I lost track.

The Day covers Take Your Child to the Library Day in Southeastern CT. <https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/initiative-attracts-families-local-libraries-045900915.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAkwSnc7u05iwpgBA2QV60HAKS4WFPpe6AL61YMdykwG9Gcy-DF5JO2GWLmh4mG3EDAZvkDtborQe9xn6OBBn1RyuzSFHbMyMM61EynPoIniaKwtNrf_9YsJSIT7ish6sb3jS1AS94AEKNpACXoFkhXtzqIn-_Mybrl6X5U1mtPD>

Don't miss this rare opportunity to see the Connecticut Charter at the Connecticut Museum of History (run by the Connecticut State Library!) before it's put away for preservation!<https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-01-31/dont-miss-this-rare-opportunity-to-view-legendary-charter-oak-document>

I think I missed this article last week about the 'Don't Ban Library Books' Bill press conference.<https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-01-23/ct-bill-would-defend-libraries-librarians-from-book-bans-and-challenges>

Yay for Jackie Bush, she chaired the national Michael L. Printz Award!<https://patch.com/connecticut/stratford/stratford-librarian-chairs-national-committee>

What do Middletown Residents want for a future ready library?<https://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/new-russell-library-city-hall-middletown-ct-20063064.php>

Former School Librarian Erica Alterio Dies Suddenly, 33: Her 'Presence Was Magnetic'<https://www.msn.com/en-us/family-and-relationships/parenting/ct-mom-former-school-librarian-erica-alterio-dies-suddenly-33-her-presence-was-magnetic/ar-AA1y4KVM>

Saturday is Take Your Child to the Library Day!<https://theday.com/news/696065/saturday-is-take-your-child-to-the-library-day/>

Take Your Child to the Library Day featured on WFSB's Family Friday. <https://www.wfsb.com/video/2025/01/31/family-friday-torrington-winter-festival-take-your-child-library-day-maple-tapping-day/>


Seriously, drop me a line if you or your library is in the news and I've missed it!  The google news aggregator is so much worse than a few years ago when I started this project.  I find myself having to go news outlet to news outlet to make sure I haven't missed anything...

Have a good week,
Ellen


---
Ellen Paul | Executive Director
Connecticut Library Consortium

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

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