Soundtracking June

with the ALA Editions Staff

Sophia's Song of the Month:

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott Heron

Peggy's Song of the Month:

"Daffodil Lament" by The Cranberries

Sam's Song of the Month:

"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

Angela's Song of the Month:

"Home" by Depeche Mode

Ramon's Song of the Month:

"Fantasy" by Earth, Wind & Fire

Rachel's Song of the Month:

"Hallelujah" by k.d. lang

Rob's Song of the Month:

"Summer Song" by Ronnie Foster

Valerie's Song of the Month:

"Black Butterfly" by Deniece Williams

Team's Songs of the Month:

"Brave" by Sara Bareilles and "Hercules Muses Medley" directed by Michael Korte and performed by LaVance Colley, Tre 'Rebel' Edward's, Cameron Wright, Keenan D. Washington and James Wright Chanel

Drop us a line!

News in a Flash

Welcome to the June 2025 issue of Libraries Rock Worlds, ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman's monthly newsletter.

Here are eleven things you need to know right away:

1. AASL and ALA Editions announce the second edition of the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. It is scheduled to ship late this summer.
2. Now out: Invention and Innovation (published by the Library of Congress in association with the American Library Association) and Inspiring Teens, Tweens, and Families to Make a Difference in the World: Programming to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals (by Amanda Moss Struckmeyer). Learn more about Amanda's book from her video presentation in May and panel discussion in April, or read some of her free advice on sustainability in the stacks.
3. Shipping soon: Generative AI and Libraries: Claiming Our Place in the Center of a Shared Future (by Michael Hanegan and Chris Rosser) and Navigating Difficult Situations in Public Libraries: The PLA Guide to Trauma-Informed De-Escalation (by Margaret Ann Paauw). Michael & Chris's short video presentation about generative AI in libraries and Margaret's overview will help establish deservedly great expectations for their books, along with additional resources you can find online from those prolific authors such as Michael Hanegan's article OpenAI's Deep Research and the Future of Learning and Work.
4. We're excited to share recordings of "If We Could Have Just 10 Minutes of Your Time," a trio of virtual events we presented in May just below.
5. Our Public Library Workers event featured 10-minute presentations on trauma-informed de-escalation in public libraries, service animals in the library, developing the collective power of library workers, supporting creative writers, and community-led library planning.
6. Our Academic Library Workers and LIS Instructors event featured presentations on creative technology spaces in academic libraries, STEM librarianship, the legacy of Black women in librarianship, organizing your library, and new ideas for records and information management.
7. Our final event was geared towards All Library Workers and featured presentations on the ripple effect of library staff well-being, sustainability inspiration for youth and families at libraries, experimentation to create positive change for libraries, grant winning tips, and creating fundable grant proposals.
8. Register now for our next free one-hour virtual event, Wellness and Stress Reduction Tips for Library Workers- June 9 at 9:30 AM (Central).
9. Catch us in Philly at the ALA 2025 Annual Conference & Exhibition! Adjacent to the ALA Store, stocked with a bevy of new and noteworthy titles, you'll find a whimsical e-zine and golden ticket vending machine courtesy ALA Editions author Megan Lotts for ALA's Public Supporter Program. And you won't want to miss the numerous sessions, programs, and events by many of our other authors. Register now to experience it all.
10. At our free information literacy Zoom event on July 16, experts in the field will answer commonly asked questions. Register today and submit your own queries.
11. We're thrilled to unveil a selection of merch and apparel drawn from our recent books! Show off your library joy while helping to fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library and information professionals worldwide.

Recent Raves

Watch Be the Light: A Spring/Summer 2025 ALA Editions Book Buzz

In a new video, ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman staff share their ALA origin stories, talk a bit about their passions, and highlight 25 exciting titles from the new digital catalog. Watch it now.

Our Current Best-Selling Titles

Coming This Summer

News from Around ALA

• Dr. Nicole A. Cooke, Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina, will deliver the 2025 Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture at the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition. Presented by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), "We Will Not Be Erased: A Manifesto for Library Liberation" will take place on Monday, June 30 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET in Room 112 A B at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
• ODLOS invites you to attend "Libraries Respond: Advocating for Queer Literacy in 2025" on Thursday, June 5 at 3:00 PM (Central). In our current climate, the attack on queer literacy has a ripple effect on our library communities through book bans, criticism on inclusive programming, and isolating members of the LGBTQ community. Join our panel discussion made up of ALA round table members that will highlight their experiences and perspectives on overcoming the challenges that LGBTQIA+ library professionals face and persevere through. Register for this free, 90-minute Zoom session.
• Registration is now open for the sixth annual United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees - Friends - Foundations. This year's online learning event for library Trustees/board members, Friends, Foundations, fundraisers, and those who work with them will be held July 29 - 31, with July 29 focused on Trustees/Board Members, July 30 on Foundations and fundraising, and July 31 on Friends. Participants may purchase registration for one or more days, or the full event. Early bird savings are available through July 11.
• The Fundamentals Web Courses from Core focus on the following areas: fundamentals of acquisitions, cataloging, metadata, collection assessment, collection development and management, digital library projects, electronic resources acquisitions, preservation, management, universal design for learning, and institutional repositories. Courses are 4 to 6 weeks in length and are repeated throughout the year. Students have 24/7 access to the course material. Instructors moderate live weekly chat discussions and provide instruction. Seats are limited and sessions often sell out in advance. Reserve your spot now.
• Join public library workers from around the country at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, to explore how Yiddish literature can provide a springboard for powerful conversations about religion, assimilation, identity, and immigration. Apply by July 14 to be part of the next cohort.
• Discover opportunities and risks with using AI, redesign your instruction models, and develop guiding principles for your library. Join ACRL from 1:00 – 2:00 PM (Central) on Thursday, June 12 for the Online Learning webcast "Developing Information Literacy and AI Guidelines: Blazing a New Trail." This interactive webinar will describe how a library at a private university put together a task force of librarians to develop a guiding principles document for navigating the confluence of information literacy and artificial intelligence, and best practices.