[CASL-L] This Week in CT Libraries: 2.24.25

[Ellen Paul]

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

CLC HAPPENINGS

The Maker Space Roundtable<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1927320> meets this morning at the Gunn Memorial Library.

Wednesday, we're hosting a vendor webinar with Thorndike<https://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1922937> to talk about new titles in large print and your CLC discount!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

eBooks

  *   HB 6958<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB-6958> had a public hearing last week.  A number of librarians testified.  Here is a link to watch<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BgcBT7REFo>.
  *   No news on S.B. 1234<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=1234>, which is currently in the Government Administration and Elections Committee, since the public hearing three weeks ago.
Budget

  *   State Librarian Deborah Schander met with the Appropriations Committee last week.  The committee is still accepting written testimony<https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=app>.
Freedom to Read

  *   SB 1271<https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB-1271>: I believe that this bill will be voted on in the Children's Committee at their Tuesday morning meeting but no agenda has been posted yet.   Again, I'm guessing here, I would think that there will be a number of proposed amendments before the committee will vote.
  *   A new bill popped up in the Education Committee last week:  HB 7014<https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB07014&which_year=2025>.  There is a public hearing on Wednesday.  Here is the agenda<https://cga.ct.gov/2025/EDdata/pha/pdf/2025pha00226-R001000ED-pha.pdf> with a link to testify verbally or submit written testimony.


NEWS OF NOTE

Greenwich Library receives a $5M boost to their endowment for their popular signature series<https://greenwichfreepress.com/around-town/arts/greenwich-library-announces-transformative-5-million-endowment-to-support-acclaimed-signature-series-228030/>.  And here<https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-02-21/5-million-endowment-permanently-funds-popular-speaking-series-at-greenwich-library>.  And here<https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/greenwich-library-signature-series-endowment-ct-20175960.php>.

CT Association of School Librarians President Jenny Lussier appears on the Two T's in a Pod Podcast from CEA with Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff to talk about the Freedom to Read bill.<https://cea.org/why-connecticut-needs-a-freedom-to-read-bill/>

Top Bridgeport School Staff Member, who was working in the Bassick High School Library, files complaint alleging unsafe and inhumane working conditions.  <https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-janene-hawkins-schools-bassick-20159120.php>  From the article: "The district did not immediately clarify whether others are still working out of the library or have been moved due to the issues Hawkins' has raised."

Luca Bartlomiejczyk of the Edith Wheeler Library is quoted in this piece about AI content in Hoopla<https://www.404media.co/ai-generated-slop-is-already-in-your-public-library-3/>.  The article made enough of a splash for Hoopla to reverse course<https://www.404media.co/public-library-ebook-service-to-cull-ai-slop-after-404-media-investigation-3/>.

CT Supreme Court and State Library Evacuated Friday after museum staff find WWI artillery shells. <https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/ct-supreme-court-evacuated-hartford-ww1-artifact-20178222.php>

Ferguson Library is all over the news: Stamford's Finance Board fails to support East Side Library Branch. <https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-finance-board-east-side-library-20174010.php>
Also, East Side Branch moves to space above restaurant.  <https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-library-branch-prime-restaurant-20165514.php>  And, CT artists create 'greatness' at Ferguson Library.<https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-02-19/ct-artists-create-greatness-at-stamfords-ferguson-library>

And a bit of national book news.  Kelly Jensen of BookRiot has a small piece about how tariffs will impact book costs for readers... and presumably libraries.<https://bookriot.com/how-tariffs-will-impact-book-costs-for-readers/>

Drop me a line if you or your library is in the news and I've missed it!

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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