Herewith, the topics that drew reader attention in an eventful first week of February 2025. Parse away.

School Librarians Celebrated at Sundance Film Festival Screening of Documentary, ‘The Librarians’
By Kara Yorio

There were tears and standing ovations as librarians, including Martha Hickson and Amanda Jones, watched their stories of fighting against censorship chronicled in the new film.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Now More Than Ever. | From the Editor
By Kathy Ishizuka

Given the current backlash, with anti-DEI legislation and sentiment festering, we risk losing ground on fairness and equality when we need it most.

2025 Youth Media Awards Winners
By SLJ staff

SLJ covered the award announcements on children's literature's biggest day.

Mac Barnett Named 2025-26 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
By SLJ staff

The Library of Congress ambassadorship will celebrate the power of picture books.

Move Over, Middle Grade: It’s Time for Young Teen Lit
By Christina Chatel and Marcia Kochel, on “Teen Librarian Toolbox”

This story begins with two middle school librarians, miles and miles apart, who both feel passionately that what publishers call middle grade literature is not what their students need or want.

Sunday Reflections: When the Information Just Disappears
By Karen Jensen

Teen librarian Jensen on the disturbing erasure of government websites.

Publishers, Authors Sue Idaho Over Book Removal Provisions in Law
By SLJ staff

In the latest lawsuit battling censorship, Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks have filed a lawsuit challenging an Idaho law that restricts books in both public and school libraries.