News and Updates
Do you need a library card?
Do you need a library card but can’t afford one?
LANI has established a Library Card Assistance Fund to help pay for library cards for people who live outside the CLN taxing district and can’t afford the $50 annual fee.
Fall 2026 Censorship News
“We Need To Tell The Story”: Literary Advocates Nationwide Reflect On Five Years of Relentless Attacks on the Freedom to Read
Banned Book Week 2026
Save the date: Banned Books Week is scheduled for Oct. 4-10, 2026. PEN America is part of the Banned Books Week Coalition, shining a spotlight on the freedom to read each year. We invite readers, authors, educators, librarians, and everyone who opposes censorship to get involved during Banned Books Week 2026. Learn more about PEN America’s groundbreaking research and how you can take action!
Censored Books
At the Community Library Network, the discussion around censored children's books has sparked an important debate about the role of parents in deciding what their children should read. While some titles that tackle themes such as race, gender identity, and complex family dynamics are often challenged, it's crucial to recognize that parents are in the best position to understand their children's individual needs and maturity levels.
The Court Case in Oregon That Could Have Book Censorship Repercussions
SCOTUS is primed to take up a censorship case, and a concerning lawsuit out of Oregon is worth keeping an eye on.
For years, conservatives have claimed they’ve been subjects of unrelenting censorship. Most of that discourse has centered on being “silenced” on college and university campuses nationwide, and much of it has been patently untrue.
Are We Facing a Future Without Diverse Stories
As book bans become increasingly prevalent, diverse books for young readers are disappearing from library shelves across the United States.
We step into other people’s experiences through literature, use our imaginations, exercise critical thinking, enhance language skills, and better understand cultures and communities. Children’s literature works the same way. A child’s perspective in books and stories takes things beyond their experience and makes them approachable. Literature is an essential part of the ways that humans connect.
“‘Diversity’ should just be called ‘reality.’ Your books, TV shows, movies, articles, and curricula must reflect reality.”
— Tananarive Due, author, and American Book Award winner
The question we are exploring today is not the importance of literature. Instead, we are exploring why diversity is critical in children’s books.