Books

Judge Orders Return of Books on Race and Gender to School Libraries on Military Bases

SMGN Publishing October 22, 2025

Court finds book removals were politically motivated rather than educational A federal judge has directed the U.S. Department of Defense to restore books discussing race and gender in five school libraries located on military bases, following a lawsuit filed by students who argued their First Amendment rights had been violated.

Hungarian Author László Krasznahorkai Awarded 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature

SMGN Publishing October 9, 2025

Honoring a visionary and deeply philosophical literary legacy Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai, aged 71, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Nobel Committee announced on Thursday. The recognition celebrates his visionary and compelling body of work, which captures the tension between human endurance and the transformative power

2025 National Book Awards Finalists Highlight Literary Diversity Across Genres

SMGN Publishing October 8, 2025

A celebration of creativity and recognition of achievement The finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards have been announced, showcasing a diverse group of writers from various backgrounds and literary fields. Among the 25 nominees are novelists, poets, translators, and journalists whose works stand out for their innovation and narrative

Kamala Harris shares insights in new memoir about presidential bid

SMGN Publishing September 23, 2025

Key themes from 107 Days Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has released her memoir, 107 Days, recounting the brief but intense period of her presidential campaign after Joe Biden stepped aside. The book presents reflections on loyalty, political decisions, personal challenges, and open questions about her future. Loyalty and

Henry Huggins Turns 75: A Childhood Classic That Shaped Generations

SMGN Publishing September 10, 2025

A simple boy and his dog In 1950, author Beverly Cleary introduced readers to Henry Huggins, a third grader whose ordinary life changed when he adopted a stray dog named Ribsy. This moment marked the beginning of a friendship that became central to six books and captured the imagination of

NEA ends long-standing Creative Writing Fellowship in the United States

SMGN Publishing August 28, 2025

A program with more than 50 years of history comes to a close The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the cancellation of its long-running Creative Writing Fellowship. This program, for decades, supported influential authors in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Over the years, the fellowship became a vital

From Insult to Identity: The Evolution of the Word “Nerd”

SMGN Publishing August 21, 2025

The uncertain origins The term “nerd” has been part of everyday language for more than seventy years, though its exact origins remain unclear. A widely accepted theory suggests it first appeared in the 1950 children’s book If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss, where it was listed among imaginary

Boston Public Library launches AI-assisted project to digitize historic public records

SMGN Publishing August 11, 2025

Partnership to expand access to government archives The Boston Public Library, one of the nation’s oldest and largest public library systems, has begun a project with Harvard University researchers and artificial intelligence specialists to expand access to its extensive collection of historic government documents.The archive includes congressional reports, oral histories,

New Book Recounts Life Inside a WWII Japanese American Concentration Camp

SMGN Publishing July 22, 2025

A Family’s Journey Through a Difficult Historical Chapter Together in Manzanar: The True Story of a Japanese Jewish Family in an American Concentration Camp, by author Tracy Slater, presents a true account of life inside the Manzanar camp, one of several facilities where the U.S. government confined individuals of Japanese

Hungarian Monastery Battles Insect Infestation to Protect Centuries-Old Books

SMGN Publishing July 14, 2025

Hungary’s Oldest Library Takes Emergency Action to Preserve Cultural Heritage At the Archabbey of Pannonhalma, a thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery in northwestern Hungary, conservation teams are racing against time to save nearly 100,000 books from a beetle infestation. The monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds around 400,000 volumes, including codices

Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Kennedy Center Name Change

Sarah Olivella March 26, 2026

Legal Challenge Targets Name Change of National Cultural Landmark A new legal battle in Washington, D.C. is placing national attention on the future identity of one of the country’s most prominent cultural institutions. Representative Joyce Beatty has filed a motion in federal court seeking to require the Trump administration to

Maine Senate Primary Heats Up as Democrats Clash

SMGN Publishing March 26, 2026

Democrats Engage in Costly Primary Battle The race for a key U.S. Senate seat in Maine is rapidly intensifying as two leading Democratic contenders invest millions of dollars in a competitive and increasingly contentious primary. The contest centers on efforts to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, a longtime figure

Annapolis Sock Burning Festival Welcomes Spring

Sarah Olivella March 26, 2026

A Chesapeake Bay Tradition Signals the Arrival of Spring Every year in Annapolis, hundreds of residents and visitors gather to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather in an unconventional way: by burning their winter socks. The tradition, known as the Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning, has become a defining