The Library Unbound: Milne Library News

Celebrate National Library Week

What draws people to the library? Everything! From books and electronic resources to research assistance, information literacy sessions and creative outreach & programming, libraries are essential to a thriving university community.

April 6–12 is National Library Week, a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. At your Milne Library, we invite you to join the celebration! Whether you're visiting the library online or on-site or haven’t visited in a while, it is the perfect time to explore all the library has to offer. Your library provides services, collections and friendly expertise, ensuring that everyone has access to resources that educate, inform, inspire, and connect.

Whatever interests you, your library has something for everyone. Whether you’re working on an assignment, engaging in scholarship and research, or looking for information,  Milne Library is here to support you — your hub for learning, creativity, and connection, helping students, staff, faculty and all members of our community explore new ideas and opportunities.

Through this National Library Week and every other week take time to rediscover the library and see how it draws us together as a community. Whether you're visiting for books, resources, research help, or a place to connect, Milne Library is here for you. First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries of all types across the country each April.  

In support of National Library Week, the ALA released the State of America’s Libraries 2025.  As in recent years, the 2025 report documented censorship in libraries from the previous year. In 2024, ALA recorded 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials across all library types. This is a decrease from the 1,247 attempts that were recorded in 2023 but still the third-highest number since ALA began tracking library censorship in 1990.  Censorship and book banning are at odds with open and free enquiry, and counter to the intellectual freedom principles that animate our shared mission of teaching, learning and growth.

The book bans and challenges at public, school, and university libraries documented by ALA in 2024 involved 2,452 unique titles. Here are the 10 most-frequently challenged books, with links to the catalog records of titles available to you at Milne:

1. All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
2. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
3. (tie) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
6. (tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green
7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
8. (tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
9. Sold by Patricia McCormick
10. Flamer by Mike Curato

According to the report, the most common reasons for book challenges were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and inclusion of topics on race, racism, equity, and social justice.  In 2024, organized groups—including pressure groups, board members, administrators, and elected officials—initiated nearly 72% of censorship attempts. That number is up from 2023, when organized campaigns were tied to 35% censorship attempts.

What can we do to show support for our libraries on any day of the year? If you have 5 minutes:

1. Call Your Members of Congress.

Use this form to make a call in support of federal library funding. Enter your address in the form, and then click the call button to receive a phone call that connects you with your elected officials.

Call on Congress to protect IMLS

2. Email Your Members of Congress.

Use this form to email your members of Congress. Enter your address in the form, and then click the "Send email" button to contact your elected officials. Your message can be customized--tell your story!

Email Congress to protect IMLS

3. Help spread the word on social media.

Follow this link for social media graphics and sample social posts to help get the word out!

Social Media Toolkit

ALA also announced that the theme for Banned Books Week 2025 is “Censorship Is So 1984,” invoking the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell. The book is a cautionary tale about the dangers of censorship. This year, Banned Books Week will take place October 5–11. Look for future announcements this summer of our Banned Books Week programming.

For more information about Milne Library visit library.oneonta.edu or on Instagram @milne.oneonta.