2024 in Review and Other Library News

Katie McLain Horner Jan 10, 2025

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Katie McLain Horner

Contributing Editor

Katie's parents never told her "no" when she asked for a book, which was the start of most of her problems. She has an MLIS from the University of Illinois and works full time as a Circulation & Reference Manager in Illinois. She has a deep-rooted love of all things disturbing, twisted, and terrifying and takes enormous pleasure in creeping out her coworkers. When she's not at work, she's at home watching the Cubs with her cats and her cardigan collection. Other hobbies include scrapbooking, introducing more readers to the Church of Tana French, and convincing her husband that she can, in fact, fit more books onto her shelves. Twitter: @kt_librarylady

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What did we miss (or forget about) in 2024? This post has you covered, whether you’re looking for the biggest library news items of the year, the most popular library books, or the year in anti-book ban laws. Let’s jump in!

Libraries & Librarians

The Supreme Court is fast-tracking the TikTok legal case in light of a potential January 20th ban.

These were the top library news items in 2024.

And these were the 50 biggest literary stories of 2024.

Boston Public Library, NYPL, and Seattle Public Library reveal their most popular books in 2024.

Censorship Updates

The year in anti-book ban laws and what they actually mean.

School boards tied up by book bans face harassment and struggle to address other issues (which is exactly the point for book banners.)

“[New Hampshire] Gov. Chris Sununu has withdrawn his choice for state librarian over concerns about the nominee’s public opposition to book censorship.” Librarians’ opposition to censorship is a professional hazard, apparently. What a spineless act of cowardice.

“A federal judge is recommending that [the Escambia County School Board in Florida] enter into a settlement with those suing it for book banning, citing how it’s spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to cover legal fees.”

“Do school libraries still carry obscene or highly sexual content? A new bill proposed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would look to not only answer that question but remove any existing pieces.” Y’all…school libraries have never carried obscene content, and these bills are not only stoking manufactured outrage, but threatening educators and librarians.

South Carolina lawmakers have pre-filed a library funding bill which mandates that libraries have to restrict access to certain books or risk losing funding.

“A state Senator said she wants tighter restrictions on access to pornographic materials in Missouri charter schools and digital library catalogs.” Please see my rant about the proposed bill in Pennsylvania, and apply it here as well.

1,100 books have been banned from school libraries in Tennessee as districts comply with the state’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act.

Saydel Community School District in Iowa is pulling 21 books from library shelves “for review.”

Books & Authors in the News

Ooof…Slate did not have a positive reaction to Kristin Hannah’s The Women.

Award News

The National Book Critics Circle is releasing its longlists for the first time in its 50-year history.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

10 life lessons for adults from children’s classics.

Drama in the coloring book community and why it matters.