Megan Bennett, American Libraries Journalist Profile

Articles

Newsmaker: Bob the Drag Queen

3 weeks ago | drwebdomain.blog | Megan Bennett

Bob the Drag Queen—who won RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2016 and has since starred in other reality shows such as HBO’s We’re Here and Peacock’s Traitors, as well as several comedy specials—released his debut novel this month. Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert (Gallery Books) imagines the iconic abolitionist coming back to life and creating a hip-hop album. American Libraries spoke with Bob about his longtime fascination with Tubman, as well as his inspiration for the novel and accompanying songs.
Newsmaker: Bob the Drag Queen

3 weeks ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

Bob the Drag Queen—who won RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2016 and has since starred in other reality shows such as HBO’s We’re Here and Peacock’s Traitors, as well as several comedy specials—released his debut novel this month. Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert (Gallery Books) imagines the iconic abolitionist coming back to life and creating a hip-hop album. American Libraries spoke with Bob about his longtime fascination with Tubman, as well as his inspiration for the novel and accompanying songs.
Green Lending | American Libraries Magazine

1 month ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett |David Alvarado |Becky Lomax

Jenni Diaz Garcia writes: “After sending out what felt like her hundredth job application, Rachel refreshed her inbox, waiting for any sign of hope. For nearly a year, she cast her resume into the depths of the job market, hoping for a bite—any bite. The process was exhausting, demoralizing, and, at times, surreal. As a queer MLIS graduate who went straight from undergrad to grad school, she knew the job search wouldn’t be easy.
March/April 2025

1 month ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | David Alvarado |Megan Bennett |Emily Udell |Rebekkah Smith Aldrich

The ALA Nominating Committee has selected three nominees to run for ALA president in the upcoming election. The candidates running for the 2026–27 term are Lindsay Cronk, dean of libraries at Tulane University in New Orleans; Andrea Jamison, assistant professor of school librarianship at Illinois State University; and Maria McCauley, director of libraries at Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library.
Newsmaker: John Green

1 month ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

Nearly 1.3 million people died from tuberculosis (TB) in 2023, according to the World Health Organization—despite a cure being developed decades ago. These deaths occur disproportionately in the world’s most poverty-stricken countries. John Green, the celebrated young adult author and vlogger, has been an advocate for TB treatment access since 2019, when he met Henry, a teenager with TB, during a trip to Sierra Leone.
Newsmaker: James W. Lewis

2 months ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

The American Library Association (ALA) recently received the largest gift in its 150-year history: a $25 million bequest from Washington, D.C.–based financial advisor James W. Lewis. The bequest from Lewis, whose love for libraries dates back to his childhood in North Carolina, will provide needs-based scholarships for those training to be librarians.
2024 Year in Review

Jan 2, 2025 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

On January 21, ALA Council approved five new Core Values• access• equity• intellectual freedom and privacy• the public good• sustainabilityCouncil cochairs Erin Berman and Sara Dallas explained the reasons for the changes: “This is a crucial moment for our profession, as our library community faces severe challenges and threats.
Submissions Open for Library Design Showcase

Jan 2, 2025 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

American Libraries is accepting submissions for the 2025 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating new and newly renovated libraries of all types and sizes. The showcase will appear in the September/October issue. We are looking for examples of innovative library architecture that address patrons’ needs in unique and effective ways. We are especially interested in submissions from libraries that are approaching design with sustainability, accessibility, and smaller budgets in mind.
Newsmaker: Neko Case

Jan 2, 2025 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

Growing up in remote, rural areas, singer-songwriter Neko Case found that her love of reading provided an escape. In her forthcoming memoir, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You (Hachette, January), she recalls repeatedly flipping through the same October 1972 issue of Mad magazine, poring over her stepdad’s collection of archaeology books, and forcing herself to finish David Copperfield.
By the Numbers: Literary Phoenix

Jan 2, 2025 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

American Library Association’s LibLearnX Conference in Phoenix will take place Jan. 24–27. 28,000Number of Indigenous artists represented in the Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives (BJBLA), located within the Heard Museum in Phoenix. Like the museum, BJBLA’s holdings include traditional and contemporary American Indian artists’ art, written works, and biographical information. $500Amount that Tom Brodersen spent in 1974 to purchase a bookstore stocked with secondhand books.