[CASL-L] This Week in CT Libraries: 2.10.25

[Ellen Paul]

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

CLC HAPPENINGS

CLC is thrilled to welcome Stephanie Smith as our new Events and Special Projects Coordinator this morning! Stephanie is the former Teen Librarian at the Avon Public Library with previous experience at a number of public libraries across the State.  You can reach her at ssmith at ctlibrarians.org<mailto:ssmith at ctlibrarians.org>.  Watch for a full introduction to her in our next newsletter.  In the meantime, please join me in welcoming her!

The Social Justice Roundtable<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1853058> meets on Tuesday to talk about bridging the digital divide with digital navigators.

Wednesday is busy with three roundtables.  Northwest Library Directors<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1893397&group=> in the morning.  Association Libraries<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1925367&group=> and Academic Libraries:  Access Services<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1925315&group=> in the afternoon.

Thursday is a HR webinar with EANE<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1922978&group=> talking about generational differences in leadership and communication.

Friday is the CRPA Performer's Showcase<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1918145&group=> in Newington and the Academic Library: Technical Services Roundtable at University of Hartford<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1920798&group=>.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

eBooks

  *   The Government Administration and Elections committee heard public testimony last week on  the ebook bill: S.B. 1234<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=1234>.   You can watch the recording here<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3gwG2PSVnM>.  A number of librarians testified.
Budget

  *   The Governor presented his two year budget last Wednesday<https://portal.ct.gov/opm/bud-budgets/fy2026-fy2027-biennium-governors-budget/fy2026-fy2027-biennium-governors-budget>.  A little bit of good news for the State Library.  Stay tuned, now it's the legislature's turn to weigh in.  I believe that State Librarian Deborah Schander will meet with the Appropriations Committee on 2/20 and public testimony on the State Library budget will be the same day in the afternoon.
Freedom to Read

  *   A new bill popped up late last week.  SB 1271<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB-1271>: An Act Concerning School and Public Libraries.  It was introduced by the Children's committee and is already scheduled for a public hearing this week on Thursday<https://cga.ct.gov/2025/KIDdata/pha/pdf/2025pha00213-R001500KID-pha.pdf>.  Will it happen with the projected weather?  I don't know.
  *   Still a lot of other bills but, after this week, I'm only going to report on them if there is action.  Bookmark them if you want to follow them on your own.
     *   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

Book belonging to the Norfolk Library in the UK mistakenly returned to the Norfolk Library in Connecticut. <https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/book-returned-to-library-after-3-000-mile-mistake/ar-AA1yr5Qr>   And here<https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/norfolk-library-helps-book-find-its-way-back-home-across-the-pond-to-the-uk/3495130/>.  And here<https://www.wattonandswaffhamtimes.co.uk/news/24910799.book-back-norfolk-3-000-mile-usa-library-mistake/>.

The Town of Manchester, building a new state of the art library, eyes other downtown projects.<https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/central-ct-town-looks-for-transformative-main-street-project-to-help-spur-downtown-renaissance/ar-AA1ys6Lw>

Hartford Public Library receives $20K grant to support the Preparation for Academic Transition to Higher Education program<https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/hartford/hartford-public-library-receives-20k-grant-for-minority-advancement/>.

Visitors got a last look at the Royal Charter of 1662 at the CT State Library's museum. <https://www.msn.com/en-us/society-culture-and-history/history/ct-state-library-visitors-got-last-chance-look-at-least-for-a-while-at-royal-charter-of-1662/vi-AA1yqc16>

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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