Saturday is Freedom to Read Day of Action; New Jersey State Library receives IMLS grant for information literacy initiative; Scholastic reveals next "The Hunger Games" cover; and more in News Bites.

Freedom to Read Day of Action is Saturday

Saturday, October 19 is the Freedom to Read Day of Action. Libraries, bookstores, and community organizations across the country are hosting rallies and events to mark the day of advocacy.

“At a time when our nation and the world is full of division, there is one place in almost every community with a welcome for everyone,” ALA president Cindy Hohl said in a statement. “At the library, we can make ourselves at home with a familiar story—and we can step outside our comfort zone with a book about unfamiliar places, characters, and ideas. There’s no limit to what we can learn, including how to participate in this democracy that gives us the freedom to read. I call on communities across the nation to show up for their libraries—and each other—on October 19.”

Check the Unite Against Book Bans website to find events near you and other ways to get involved, including educating others about book bans, reaching out to legislators, and signing the Freedom to Read Pledge.

PEN America, a Unite Against Book Bans coalition member, will be hosting various events, including a screening of the documentary, Banned Together, followed by a panel discussion at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.

PEN announced that later this month it will release the Index of Book Bans, a searchable database of banned books by state, school district, author, and title, along with new information on the latest wave of K-12 public school book censorship.

NJ State Library receives information literacy grant

The New Jersey State Library has received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant for nearly $750,000 for the State Library's "Reimagining Information Literacy” initiative, which has a goal of helping certified school library media specialists, public librarians, academic librarians, and classroom educators teach students about information literacy. 

In January 2023, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to require that information literacy be taught in public schools. In anticipation of the new information literacy standards, the State Library and partnering agencies have already begun working to develop replicable models and tools for information literacy education and support resources for the public school and library workforce.

The IMLS funding will be used to develop online training modules, professional development resources, classroom curriculum, and other support for New Jersey’s public school and library workforce.

Cadow, Reynolds honored

Kenneth M. Cadow has won the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature for Gather, his YA novel about a boy living in poverty with his mother, who is addicted to opioids.

The Educational Book and Media Association (EBMA) named Jason Reynolds the recipient of the 2024 Jeremiah Ludington Memorial Award. The award, named after EBMA’s founder, is presented annually to an individual who has made “a significant contribution to the educational book world.” Past recipients include Jeff Kinney, Jerry Craft, Joseph Bruchac, Nikki Grimes, Jane Yolen, and Kate DiCamillo.

Kerlan establishes an endowed curatorial chair

The University of Minnesota's Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature, which holds more than 100,000 children’s books, original manuscripts, correspondence, artworks, galleys, color proofs, and more from over 1,700 authors and illustrators received the largest donation in its 155-year history.

The $2 million contribution from Glen and Cathy Miranker establishes an endowed curatorial chair for the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, which is free and open to the public. It ensures that the Kerlan will always have a librarian archivist with a background in children’s literature, child development, and literacy.

The Kerlan has a new exhibit opening on November 14th as well, called Journey to Joy: Rise, Relevance, Representation in Children’s Picture Books, which is curated in consultation with award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney.

Scholastic reveals "Sunrise on the Reaping" cover

Scholastic revealed the cover of Sunrise on the Reaping, the next book in "The Hunger Games" series by Suzanne Collins. The book will be published March 18, 2025.

Literati opens e-commerce store

Literati announced the launch of its new e-commerce store, featuring a selection of books and educational products. This platform is designed to help schools raise funds for books and educational supplies.

Up to 20 percent of each purchase from the Literati Store will benefit schools, as customers can select their child’s school at checkout. If their school isn’t currently part of the Literati program, they can choose to support literacy nonprofits through Literati’s giveback program.

Mackin acquires Booksource

Mackin announced it has acquired Booksource, the St. Louis-based provider of books for classroom libraries and school curriculum.