(Censorship- Slavery Exhibit Lawsuit)
Federal Judge cites Orwell in restoring Slavery Exhibit -- gift article NY Times Feb. 16.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore displays about George Washington’s ownership of enslaved people at a monument on the site of his former house in Philadelphia. The judge said the government’s claim to have the power to erase and alter historical accounts at the country’s monuments echoed George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984.”
(Library closure)
NASA Library Closed by Trump Administration Library Journal, Jan 22.
The NASA Goddard Information and Collaboration Center (GIC2) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD, closed on Friday, January 2, by order of the Trump administration. In-person services and checkouts had ceased on December 9, 2025.
The facility—formerly known as the Homer E. Newell Memorial Library—was the largest of NASA’s research libraries, serving as a resource for NASA engineers and outside researchers. It housed some 100,000 volumes, including technical manuals, mission data, engineering documentation, and historical research materials used by scientists and engineers to support significant missions such as the Hubble and the James Webb space telescopes. GIC2 had also maintained the collections of the NASA HQ library since 2023, when the HQ library was converted to a visitor center, and hosted the Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, which was taken offline in mid-2025. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/nasa-closes-goddard-campus-library
(Copyright lawsuit)
Anthropic’s Project Panama scanned and destroyed millions of books to build large language AI models. WaPo Jan. 27
Anthropic eventually bought millions of books, often in batches of tens of thousands, according to the filings… Anthropic noted that the AI company was "seeking experienced document scanning services vendor to convert from 500,000 to two million books over a six month period.”
(End of traditional paperbacks in sight)
Saying Goodbye to the Mass Market Paperback New York Times Gift article: Feb. 2.
After almost a century in wide circulation, the mass market paperback is headed toward extinction. Sales have dropped for years, peeled away by e-books, digital audiobooks and even more expensive formats like hardcovers and trade paperbacks, the mass market’s larger and pricier cousin. Last year, ReaderLink — the country’s largest distributor of books to airport bookshops, pharmacies and big-box stores like Target and Walmart — announced that it would stop carrying mass markets altogether. According to Publishers Weekly mass-market paperback publishing is experiencing a severe, long-term decline, with unit sales dropping roughly 84% from 2004 to 2024.
(Book Ban)
New Jersey library pulls Junot Díaz's novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao citing suicide risks Feb. 20, NPR
After multiple suicide attempts by local young people, a New Jersey high school removed famous novel from required list. Opponents pushed back citing censorship.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/20/nx-s1-5708741/junot-diaz-oscar-wao-mental-health-book-bans
(Censorship-obscenity-Iowa)
Iowa attempts to remove exemptions for schools and libraries in state’s obscenity law KCRG Feb. 17
An Iowa Senate subcommittee passed a measure Feb. 16 to remove existing exemptions from state obscenity laws for public libraries and schools.
(Reading)
Reduction in book reviews impacts writers, publishers, readers Poynter Feb. 19
Disappearing book reviews have widespread consequences.
https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2026/why-dont-newspapers-review-books-anymore/
(Reading - Literacy)
Alternate scenario offered as reason for decline in reading
We have been here before. Not just once, but repeatedly, in a pattern so consistent it reveals something essential about how cultural elites respond to changes in how knowledge moves through society.
https://aeon.co/essays/what-we-think-is-a-decline-in-literacy-is-a-design-problem
(Reading - Literacy)
In face of AI surge Physical books a priority at Yale from Yale News.
“The English classroom is increasingly a kind of special place where it’s still possible to converse without the screen.” Amid the rise of artificial intelligence and concerns about distraction, more English professors are turning to no-technology policies that prioritize physical books and reading packets.
(Censorship)
Louisiana Supreme Court rules that defamation case brought by local librarian may go forward Acadiana Advocate Feb. 19
After many back and forth legal maneuvers, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that Amanda Jones, a Louisiana middle school librarian who spoke against censorship by public library board members at a 2022 meeting, could proceed with her case.
(Featured author - Dr. Seuss)
Mrs. Dr. Seuss
Helen Palmer, first wife of Dr. Seuss, had an important influence on his career. Her life ended tragically. Ted Geisel was a great artist and a lousy husband
https://downtownbrown.substack.com/p/the-tragedy-of-mrs-dr-seuss
