Outreach Services Interest Group - OSIG - MLA

Say hello to us at National Night Out in Easton! It is a gorgeous evening with fun, food, and giveaways, until 7pm.  🚔🚔

This year’s Banned Books Week coincides with ALA’s official 150th anniversary. To mark the occasion, ALA has released a list of the 150 most challenged books documented from 1990, when ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom began tracking book challenges, through 2025.

The full list of the 150 most challenged books - those that have been targeted for restriction or removal in libraries and schools - spans contemporary titles such as "Gender Q***r: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe and literary classics such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck.

“Every book on this list is a reminder that readers have the right to explore ideas and decide for themselves what to read,” said ALA President Maria McCauley. “For 150 years, ALA has worked alongside library workers to keep that choice open to everyone. We ask for support for our libraries so the next generation has that same freedom.”

See the full list at ala150.org/150books.

"Books are for everyone. Books should be read. Books should be uncensored. Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read." -ALA 📖

October 4 - 10 marks the 2026 Banned Books Week. Check back throughout the week as we share more about challenged and banned books and celebrate the freedom to read.

Today, Maryland Humanities is announcing that our CEO Lindsey Baker will depart the organization this fall after six years of dedicated leadership. Her last day will be October 8, 2026.

Since joining Maryland Humanities in 2020, Lindsey has led the organization through extraordinary moments of change—from the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2025 federal funding crisis. Lindsey has led with creativity, compassion, and vision, strengthening our role as a statewide advocate for the humanities and championing initiatives like the SHINE grant program, which has provided $2.5 million in state funding to humanities organizations across Maryland.

But Lindsey’s impact extends beyond any single program or initiative. She has helped build a culture rooted in collaboration, equity, and a belief in the power of our shared stories to connect us.

We are deeply grateful to Lindsey for her six years of service to Maryland Humanities.

Please join us in thanking Lindsey and wishing her all the best in her next chapter.

Read the full announcement: https://www.mdhumanities.org/maryland-humanities-announces-leadership-transition-of-ceo-lindsey-baker/

On the Shelf with Sabine Simonson - Frederick Douglass Day 2026 Frederick Douglass Day 2026 in Easton, Maryland will take place on ...

Congratulations to 'The Librarians' on the well-deserved Emmy win for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking!

'The Librarians' is a powerful documentary that follows public and school librarians as they unite to combat book banning and defend intellectual freedom on democracy's front lines amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond.

Thank you to filmmaker Kim Snyder and all the courageous librarians and advocates who shared their stories to help shine a light on the fight for the freedom to read.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4gVRleC

📸 Photo courtesy of Amanda Jones

Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Dolly Parton led a lifelong commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to discover the joy and power of reading. The program provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five regardless of their family’s income. Thank you Dolly! We will miss you. The Talbot County Free Library honors your work and the Imagination Library of Talbot County is your legacy. Read to a child and remember Dolly.

Are you going to this year's National Book Festival? 📚

Stop by Maryland's table in the Roadmap to Reading to meet our state's "Great Reads from Great Places" authors, Lisa D. Brathwaite and Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson!

🎟️ Tickets are free but required, so be sure to get yours today! https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/53683959/2026-library-of-congress-national-book-festival-washington-national-book-festival-2026

See you all this Saturday!

Join our team! 👋 We’re hiring for two positions:

Library Associate Substitute — Eldersburg Branch
Help at the customer service desk, support in-branch and online services, and lead programs as needed. Substitutes may be assigned to multiple branches as needed.

Experience Design Assistant — Exploration Commons
Engage visitors in the Makerspace and Teaching Kitchen, support hands-on programming, and provide light administrative help.

Learn more and apply: https://library.carr.org/employment