By SLJ Staff

School librarians from the United States attended the Sharjah School Librarian Conference in the United Arab Emirates. SLJ spoke with AASL president Becky Calzada and 2016 School Librarian of the Year Todd Burleson about the event.

After public outcry, most of the 381 books removed from the Naval Academy are back; Texas legislation sends bill to governor that requires school boards or "advisory councils" to approve every new library book and review complaints; and Alabama Public Library board praises precedent set by Fifth Circuit decision in Little vs. Llano County.

The National Coalition Against Censorship is launching a new Teen Advocacy Institute over the summer; a read-in is scheduled during ALA Annual to support the push for librarians in Philly schools; the lawsuit against Lucy Calkins is dismissed; and more in this edition of News Bites.

EveryLibrary responds to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' Little v. Llano County decision, which will allow the government to remove or restrict access to books from public library shelves.

In a rare win for those fighting book bans in South Carolina, a book on Billie Jean King is returning to the shelves; advocates and school staff are fighting back against censorship in Pennsylvania and Ohio; and more in the latest Censorship News.

The actress and literacy advocate accepted an award at the PEN America Literary Gala and expressed her anger about the state of censorship in the United States, also noting her appreciation for librarians and others pushing back on the attacks on books, authors, and access.

The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed and illustrated by Hatem Aly is the winner of the Irma S. Black Award. Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Jason Chin earned the Cook Prize.

An Ohio man burned 100 books he checked out at a public library; military academies and schools that serve children of military members continue to battle book bans; South Carolina has banned more books than any other state; and more in censorship news. 

The Republican governor of North Dakota said no to legislation he called redundant and misguided; Texas legislators want to dictate where books are in bookstores; students and librarians continue to fight book bans across the country.