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

CLC HAPPENINGS

Reader’s Advisory Roundtable meets tomorrow to talk about poetry!

Set the Stage meets Wednesday to talk about grant writing.

The CLC Board of Trustees meets Thursday. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Legislative Session started in Hartford last week.  As a reminder, this is the ‘long session’ where legislators will be debating a two-year budget.

eBooks

• Senator Tony Hwang introduced a library ebook bill two weeks ago.  The language in the bill is old.  My guess is that this bill will be abandoned, and another bill will be introduced with language similar to last year by Representatives Blumenthal and Kavros DeGraw. 
• The Planning and Development Committee voted to raise an ebook bill on Friday.  No bill number yet.
• The Government Administration and Elections Committee voted to raise an ebook bill on Friday as well.  Senator Sampson and Representative Mastrofrancesco voiced their opposition. Also no bill number yet.

Book Banning

• Senators Bob Duff and Ceci Maher have introduced SB 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.  The bill is quite short.  Watch for a more comprehensive piece of legislation later in session. 
• Representative Josh Elliot has introduced HB 5508:  An Act Concerning the Freedom to Read.  It has been referred to the Education Committee.

NEWS OF NOTE

Libs of TikTok went crazy over the book banning bill I referenced above.

Culture Wars break out at the Capitol around libraries and other issues.

eBooks made the CT Mirror’s weekly news roundup at the Capitol.

Southbury library remains closed as town needs millions of dollars for repairs.  Note:  Southbury library will be moving into a temporary location shortly.

West Hartford celebrates Carol Waxman’s 40^th anniversary at the Library

Fairfield unveils their One Book One Town.

Granby Public Library is getting a refresh!

Towns around Westport are celebrating Take Your Child to the Library Day!

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

Have a good week,

Ellen

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Ellen Paul | Executive Director

Connecticut Library Consortium

860-344-8777 | www.ctlibrarians.org

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