National Library Week: Take Action for Libraries Day

Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.
National Library Week 2025 Censorship
Did you know … “The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to defend each person’s right to read under the First Amendment and to ensure free access to information.”

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024
“Every year, the American Library Association compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books based on reports from the field and media coverage.”
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10 

National Library Week 2025: Top 10 Challenged Books of 2024

Check out … “The State of America’s Libraries Report” Published annually by the American Library Association, the 2024 report covers topics including:
-Censorship
-Artificial Intelligence
-Sustainability
-Broadband access
-Mental health
-Attacks on those defending free
-State legislatures impact on access
-Court overturning book band law
-Libraries creating a sense of place

https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/state-of-americas-libraries-report-2025-WEB.pdf

What can you do to help?

SHOW UP FOR OUR LIBRARIES

-Contact your members of Congress
-Help spread the word to friends and in social media
-Keep up to date by following ALA on social media

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries

#ForOurLibraries
#NationalLibraryWeek
#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary

National Library Week: “What Draws You To The Library”

What do you LOVE about our Library? NLW2025: What draws you to the library?Why did you come to the Library today? Let us know!!!

Visit our “What Draws You To The Library” cart and fill out a book shape with your reason in writing or as a drawing! We’d LOVE to know what you LOVE about your Library.

The cart is mobile and will be moving around the building … so keep your eyes out for it this week and let us know what you LOVE about the Library! 

You can also leave us a comment here letting us know what you LOVE about your Library.

#DrawnToTheLibrary
#NationalLibraryWeek
#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary

Right to Read Day

Right to Read Day 2025

Monday, April 7, 2025, is Right to Read Day

“For National Library Week, we’re “Drawn to the Library.” What can you find at the library? In a word: FREEDOM. For Right to Read Day, we’re “Drawn to Freedom” — the freedom to read, the freedom to access information, the freedom to find community — all of the opportunities our libraries provide.”

To learn more … https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-read-day/

#NationalLibraryWeek
#RightToRead
#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary

National Library Week: The State of America’s Libraries 2023 Report

The State of America’s Libraries 2023 Report

Thank you for joining the SUNY Cortland Memorial Library in celebrating National Library Week!

To finish out the week here is the American Library Association’s “State of America’s Libraries Report 2023”
https://www.ala.org/news/sites/ala.org.news/files/content/state-of-americas-libraries-report-2023-web-version.pdf

In 2022, the global COVID-19 pandemic entered its third year; political, economic and digital divides grew; and book challenges and bans surged across the country. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked a record 1,269 book challenges, the highest number of demands to ban books reported since they began compiling data about censorship in libraries. But despite all these challenges, libraries thrived, pivoting to offer new and updated services to their communities. Adaptation and innovation shined in 2022, proving that there truly is “more to the story” at libraries.

#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary

National Library Week: Outreach

National Library Outreach Day April 10, 2024

National Library Outreach Day celebrates library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.

National Library Outreach Day is an opportunity for library advocates to make their support known—through thanking library staff, writing a letter or e-mail to their libraries, or voicing their support to community leaders.

National Library Outreach Day is coordinated by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).

Find the SUNY Cortland Memorial Library reaching out on social media …
Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/SUNYCortlandMemorialLibrary/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sunycortlandmemoriallibrary/
Instagram (Teaching Materials Center) – https://www.instagram.com/memoriallibrarytmc/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/cortlandmemlib/
Library Blog – https://sites.cortland.edu/library/

#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary

National Library Week: National Library Workers Day

National Library Workers Day : Libraries work because we do

What is National Library Workers Day?
NLWD is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
https://ala-apa.org/nlwd/

Nominate a stellar library worker!
Nominations may come from library users, students, children, colleagues, faculty, or management. Please visit the Galaxy of Stars to see your nomination. It will be updated weekly.

Galaxy of Stars – New York Read about amazing library workers in NY.
https://ala-apa.org/nlwd/?tag=NY

#NLWD24
#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary

National Library Week: Right to Read Da

Don't let censorship eclipse your freedom to read. Right to Read Day April 8, 2024

National Library Week: Monday, April 8th,2024 – Right to Read Day
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-read-day/

Over the last few years, censors have accelerated their attempts to remove or restrict books and programs in schools and public libraries. In 2023, the American Library Association documented efforts to censor 4,240 unique book titles in schools and public libraries, a stratospheric increase from 2022’s previous record of 2,571 unique titles. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/2023-book-bans/

Organized pressure groups have used their power—and long lists of titles—to wage an aggressive campaign to empty library shelves of all books they deem inappropriate instead of allowing people to decide for themselves what they and their children read. These groups have redirected their aim from schools to public libraries, which saw a 92% increase in the number of titles challenged over the previous year. Nearly half of the titles impacted were by or about LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of color. On #RightToReadDay, Monday, April 8, we’re asking you to take action and raise your voice for the right to read.

#sunycortlandmemoriallibrary