Megan Bennett, American Libraries Journalist Profile

Articles

Brewing Connections

2 weeks ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

While creating one of their in-house brews, employees at Johnson City (Tenn.) Brewing Company brought in some unexpected assistants to pour barley into the batch: library staffers. The pre-Prohibition-style lager they crafted together was called 1895, a nod to the founding year of Johnson City Public Library (JCPL), located just a few blocks from the brewery’s downtown taproom.
By the Numbers: Workers’ Rights

2 weeks ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

International Workers’ Day is May 1. 8Date in April that National Library Workers Day was celebrated this year. Since 2004, it has been commemorated on the Tuesday of National Library Week. 25,000Number of library workers represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). AFSCME represents more library workers than any other union in the US.
Amplifying Voices

2 weeks ago | americanlibrariesmagazine.org | Megan Bennett

At George A. Jackson Elementary School in Jericho, New York, educators wanted to help students discover the power of their voices. During the 2023–2024 school year, as part of a unit about natural hazards and disasters, 4th-graders used library and classroom time to create podcasts about their research. After National Public Radio (NPR) recognized one of the projects as a winner in its 2024 Student Podcast Challenge, the initiative has continued to grow. George A.
Newsmaker: Bob the Drag Queen

1 month 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

1 month 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

2 months 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

2 months 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

2 months 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

Feb 11, 2025 | 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.