It's already the middle of May??? At least we have @libraryreads.bsky.social to make us feel better. Happy LibraryReads Day!

It's no mystery why we ❤️ our May issue🕵️Our latest BOOKLIST is PACKED⤵️ 🔎Spotlight on Mysteries & Thrillers (your patrons will thank you) 🤓Spotlight on Reference 📚Spotlight on Series Nonfiction (including Spanish SNF Preview) 💼Our latest #Backlist: Workplace Woes And more! Preview: bit.ly/4niCM7m

🎉150 Years, One Memorable Night. Join us for an evening of connection and celebration. The ALA 150 Celebration For Our Libraries. Limited tickets available—reserve your spot today. https://bit.ly/4qJALBq No conference registration required—this evening is open to all. #ALAAC26

Most folks who talk about books would agree that a beach read means an escape. But the destination is very different for every reader. To serve these readers’ diverse needs, we present our annual "To Beach Their Own" list--because "beach read" is different for every patron: bit.ly/4mZx0aB

Just a few more days to contemplate June picks for LibraryReads @libraryreads.bsky.social...here are a few suggestions with starred reviews in Booklist and which I think are great.

What brings you #LibraryJoy? Show us with your original creative work: a drawing, painting, poem, essay, photo, video, song, comic panel—you get the idea. Submit your original piece by the end of #NationalLibraryWeek (4/25) for a chance to win a $150 VISA gift card! Submit at ilovelibraries.org/joy

It's National Library Workers Day, our favorite day of #NationalLibraryWeek where we celebrate the hardworking, dedicated professionals who power possibility in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning. Thank you, library workers - libraries work because YOU do! #NLWD26

In honor of #NationalLibraryWeek, we are opening up our April issue of Booklist to everyone from April 19-25. This issue has everything from our spotlights on picture books and health and wellness titles to (drumroll) our always popular "To Beach Their Own" list! Start reading now: bit.ly/3n2BDBb

From threats to (and victories for) intellectual freedom, to increasing services for incarcerated people, to a whirlwind of legislative and legal battles, 2025 proved pivotal for our nation's libraries. Read more in our State of America's Libraries Report: A Snapshot of 2025: https://bit.ly/3ORpvpE

it's national library week, please go ask your local public librarians for a book recommend; we need a break from the photocopier. #booksky

The list of 2025's most challenged books was release this morning as part of ALA's State of America's Libraries Report. Of the 4,235 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2025, these were the top 11 most frequently targeted for censorship: https://bit.ly/3TE4cHi #NationalLibraryWeek

LibraryReads Day!!!

Congratulations to our newest LibraryReads picks for May 2026! These are the fresh new titles that public library workers in the USA voted for as top reading suggestions. You can find a print-friendly PDF at libraryreads.org.

MORE NEWS: ALA & our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social have prevailed in our lawsuit to preserve the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)! Our binding settlement agreement with the Dept. of Justice protects the agency and its congressionally mandated work. More: www.ala.org/news/2026/04...

How to Predict the Buzziest Books via @bookriotpod.bsky.social and How to Help Patrons via @ala-booklist.bsky.social @booklistaudio.bsky.social @booklistsusan.bsky.social raforall.blogspot.com/2026/04/how-...

I'm too delicate to work today. All this moon stuff is making me so emotional! I'm a mess. Human progress and technology, man. It's getting me.

Beach Reads: The Booklist Edit. Our April issue of BOOKLIST is HERE and oh books, is it good: 🏖️Our always popular "To Beach Their Own" list 🎨Spotlight on Picture Books 🏥Spotlight on Health & Wellness 📚Spotlight on Relationship Fiction 💭A new #MangaEssentials & more! Read now: bit.ly/4csX7mH

Heading to PLA in Minneapolis? RSVP for our evening author panel! bit.ly/YourEveningI...

Angry about the firing of Rutherford TN Library Director Luanne James? Make a donation to the Merritt Fund, which is devoted to the support, maintenance, medical care, and welfare of librarians who are denied employment rights because of defense of intellectual freedom www.ala.org/aboutala/aff...

Our recommendation? Listen to this in daylight. It's the @summerscares.bsky.social episode of the #ShelfCarePodcast! Listen now as host @booklistsusan.bsky.social 🎤talks with author Jennifer McMachon 🤡 receives some MG insight from editor Julia Smith 📚 the NYPL connection and more: bit.ly/4t49nj8

LibraryReads Day!!

Just a reminder that this brief survey is still up, and we'd love to hear your thoughts!

NEW: Congress has begun preparation for next year's federal budget, and they need to hear from library advocates like you. The best way to show up #ForOurLibraries during the budget process? Take action. Tell your Representative to #FundLibraries in FY 2027: ala.org/showup

New month, new books, new issue! Our March issue of BOOKLIST is stacked (pun intended) with lots of new recs⤵️ 🌳Spotlight on Environment & Sustainability 📚Spotlight on YA Fiction 🌻Focus on Poetry 🏒Hockey Romances ☘️A leprechaun-themed backlist It's all here and more! Preview now: bit.ly/4uavwxE

Registration is open for this year's Readers' Advisory Ideas and Practice workshop. Take your RA services to the next level, learn about trending genres, and connect with other RA providers just as passionate about matching the right book to a reader as you are. ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

In an open letter released today, ALA employees announced the formation of a union with @afscme31.bsky.social. If certified, the union will represent more than 100 ALA workers. https://afscme31.org/news/american-library-association-employees-forming-union-afscme

Making Book Recommendations By Thinking Like a Reader NOT a Librarian raforall.blogspot.com/2026/02/maki...

Vote for your April LibraryReads titles by March 1st! Here are a few humble suggestions: @libraryreads.bsky.social

Public library professionals, take note: advance rates for #PLA2026 end Friday, February 20. Join us April 1–3 in Minneapolis for 100+ sessions, inspiring speakers, bestselling authors, and an exhibit hall packed with solutions. Register now to save! https://www.placonference.org/registration

What Becky doesn't mention is that it is also chock full of Heated Rivalry references. #relevant

Yaaaaas LibraryReads!

"Hold the line. Hold the light. Hold each other." Emely Rumble offering some powerful words at @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social's Recharging in Challenging Times. #ALAVirtual26

Watched THE LIBRARIANS documentary last night. It wasn't new news for me (as a devoted follower of @oif.bsky.social and @heykellyjensen.bsky.social), but it was still enlightening, empowering, frustrating. School librarians save lives! I cried! Recommend!

Now *that's* how you do readers' advisory!

📣Hey library workers--we want to hear from you! Tell us which tools are most useful to you and your staff during real-time RA interactions with adult patrons. Ahh, don't you just love nerding out over readers' advisory🤓📚❤️➡️: bit.ly/4btwpdG

The top ten most discussable books reviewed in Booklist over the past 12 months cover topics like science and nature, the beauty industry, and the infinitely complicated dynamics of family. Get those program planners out and check out our Top 10 Book-Group Books: bit.ly/3ZNZ2Ls

Our February issue of BOOKLIST, spotlighting History and Historical Fiction, is a must read! 📚Tons of new history recs (youth, adult, and audio) 🎤An interview with #LaurieHalseAnderson 🌷Spring 2026 Youth Preview 💭A new #MangaEssentials and so much more! Preview now: bit.ly/4qaZYnV

Free online RA training, now in its third year with a whole new set of topics! Woo!

Booklist Guide to Graphic Novels - call for submissions. Deadline EXTENDED! They are interested in a wide variety of topics relating to comics, manga, and graphic novels in libraries and the deadline has been extended until February 9th @ala-booklist.bsky.social airtable.com/appa8wgGSwLw...

Votes for the March LibraryReads are due Feb. 1st; here are my humble suggestions @libraryreads.bsky.social:

Yesterday was the announcement of all of the Adult Books & Media Awards from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social. I have a full post with backlist access and more: raforall.blogspot.com/2026/01/usin...

Thanks for the shout out, @raforall.bsky.social! It's a quick survey!

We are honored to announce the 2026 #ALA_Carnegie winners: 🥇#Nonfiction: Yiyun Li, THINGS IN NATURE MERLY GROW 🥇#Fiction: Megha Majumdar, A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF Congratulations to our winners and publishers, @macmillanlib.bsky.social and @prhlibrary.bsky.social🎉 Read more: https://bit.ly/46gpBfU

2026 Reading List: Year's Best in Genre Fiction for Adult Readers Announced. Find the list of winners at https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/

genre fiction fans! here’s the reading list, which covers adult fiction in eight (!) genres, each with a winner and a four-title shortlist

the 2025 ALA Notable Books list for adults has been released! I am so proud of the work that we did narrowing down hundreds of books into this list of 26 exceptional titles in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry

"The number of downloads...surged by 529% after Mr. Mamdani’s news conference" "there had been 3,000 people on a waiting list to access a limited number of e-book copies" "2,000 people applied for a library card over the weekend, roughly twice as many as had applied by this time last year" A win!

New pod is out featuring my convo(s) with @ahsimlibrarian.bsky.social and Donna Seaman, and a note from @booklistaudio.bsky.social! Listen now! Or later!

This is a real short survey and would help us out a lot of folks who do RA would fill it out! TYSM!