This week Tayla is joined by Emily Drabinski, incoming president of the American Library Association, and Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. They get into the controversy of book challenges and censorship, which poses a threat to free expression and vital library services all over the United States. They also discuss cozy mysteries, trash TV, and balancing reading for work and for pleasure. This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Rhode Island Library Association Annual Conference, held May 24-25 at the Providence Public Library.

Podcast disclaimer

Like what you hear? Rate and review Down Time on Apple Podcasts or your podcast player of choice! If you’d like to submit a topic for The Last Chapter you can send your suggestions to [email protected]. Our theme music is Day Trips by Ketsa and our ad music is Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes. Thanks for listening!

Books

Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

Family Values by Melinda Cooper

Libraries and the Global Retreat From Democracy edited by Natalie Green Taylor, Karen Kettnich, Ursula Gorham, and Paul T. Jaeger 

Burglars Can’t Be Choosers (Bernie Rhodenbarr #1) by Lawrence Block

Dog On It (Chet & Bernie Mystery #1) by Spencer Quinn

Browse books by Connie Willis

AV

Shrinking (2023- )

Superstore (2015-2021)

Summer House (2017- )

Maine Cabin Masters (2017- )

The Bachelorette (2003- )

Q-Force (2021)

Other

American Library Association

ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom

WisCon Science Fiction Convention

LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund

Rhode Island Library Association

fREADom in Rhode Island