Connecticut Library Leader Ellen Paul Named to National “Movers & Shakers” List

Recognition highlights role in advancing ebook legislation in Connecticut and beyond

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC), has been named a 2026 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, a national recognition honoring 50 individuals whose work is shaping the future of libraries and access to information. 

Paul is being recognized for her leadership on Connecticut’s recent ebook legislation, an effort to address the high cost and restrictive licensing terms that libraries face when providing digital books to the public. As demand for ebooks has grown, these pricing models have placed increasing pressure on municipal budgets and limited access for library users.

Working in coordination with the Connecticut State Library, the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut Association of School Librarians, and national advocacy partners, Paul helped lead a multi-year effort to advance legislation aimed at improving access to ebooks while protecting taxpayers.

“This is about protecting taxpayers and making sure libraries can continue to serve their communities,” said Paul. “This kind of policy helps level the playing field between local libraries and large publishers, and ensures people across Connecticut have fair access to digital books.”

Connecticut’s action has helped spark a broader national movement around ebook policy. Similar legislation is now being considered in multiple states, as policymakers look for ways to address rising costs and access challenges in the digital marketplace.“Ellen’s work has helped put Connecticut at the center of a national policy conversation,” said Katie Bauer, Chair of the CLC Board of Trustees. “Other states are now looking to this model as they consider their own approaches. We are thrilled to see Ellen recognized for her work.”

Since joining CLC as director in 2021, Paul has also led efforts to strengthen the organization’s financial footing and expand shared purchasing programs that now return an estimated $7 million in annual savings to Connecticut libraries each year.

The Library Journal Movers & Shakers program, established in 2002, recognizes individuals across the country for leadership, innovation, and impact in library services and policy. See Paul's Movers & Shakers profile at https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/ellen-paul-movers-shakers-2026-advocates.

About the Connecticut Library Consortium
The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) is a state-mandated nonprofit organization that supports, strengthens, connects, and champions Connecticut libraries. CLC provides purchasing contracts, professional development, and other value-added services for its public, academic, school and special library members, and promotes libraries as fundamental to a literate, equitable, and just society. Learn more at https://www.ctlibrarians.org.

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – June 4, 2025 – Connecticut’s leading library organizations applaud today the General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 1271, calling it a critical step toward preserving free expression, protecting local decision-making, and ensuring that library shelves remain open to everyone. The legislation was included in Connecticut’s fiscal year budget bill, which passed both the State House and Senate.

The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC), Connecticut Library Association (CLA), and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL) now urge Governor Ned Lamont to sign the legislation into law.

“This bill gives us what every community deserves: clarity, fairness, and trust,” said Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium. “This bill protects a library’s ability to carry books like the Bible as much as it protects books about gender identity. It puts books by conservative authors side-by-side with liberal points of view. It’s not about who’s right, but the right to be heard, the right to think, and the right to choose in the safety of our libraries.”

S.B. 1271 requires public and school libraries to adopt clear, written policies outlining how materials are selected and how challenges to those materials are handled. The process must be locally governed, open to residents, parents, students, and school staff, and follow a fair, transparent process. Earlier provisions that raised concerns, such as language about defamation lawsuits, were removed during public negotiations.

“We’ve seen too many headlines across the country about books disappearing from shelves because one group shouted the loudest,” said Scott Jarzombek, President of the Connecticut Library Association. “This bill says, ‘Not here.’ Connecticut communities deserve thoughtful, consistent policies, not reactive and performative politics.”

“School libraries have always been spaces where students can explore the world and begin to understand themselves,” said Val DiLorenzo, President of CASL. “That doesn’t mean every book is right for every reader, but it does mean students deserve the chance to choose with guidance, not censorship.”

Materials under scrutiny often deal with real-life topics, consent, identity, mental health, and personal safety, that many young people and adults are already navigating, often without context. The bill ensures that decisions about those materials happen within communities, not through blanket bans, online, or nationally-motivated campaigns.

Key Provisions of S.B. 1271

• No book removed just for being offensive. The law makes clear that a book cannot be pulled solely because someone disagrees with it. Challenges must cite educational or professional concerns.
  
• Local voices matter. Only town residents, parents, students, or school staff can file formal challenges—and they must do so in writing.
  
• Protects library staff. Librarians following board-approved policy cannot be sued or harassed simply for doing their jobs.
  
• Materials stay available during review. Books remain on shelves until the challenge process is complete.
  
• Policies must be public and inclusive. Every library must publish its collection policy, ensuring collections serve diverse populations and do not discriminate.

About the Connecticut Library Consortium

The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) is a state-mandated nonprofit organization that supports, strengthens, connects, and champions Connecticut libraries. CLC provides purchasing contracts, professional development, and other value-added services for its 1,000+ public, academic, school and special library members, and promotes libraries as fundamental to a literate, equitable, and just society. Learn more at https://www.ctlibrarians.org.

About the Connecticut Library Association

The Connecticut Library Association (CLA) is a professional organization committed to
improving library services across the state and promoting equal access to information for all
residents. Learn more: https://ctlibraryassociation.org.

About the Connecticut Association of School Librarians

The Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL) represents K–12 library media specialists working to help students become lifelong learners and critical thinkers. Learn more: https://casl.wildapricot.org.

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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – May 30, 2025 – Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium, issued the following statement today following the introduction of legislation by the State of New Jersey legislature to regulate how e-books are priced and licensed for public libraries and school libraries:

“New Jersey’s announcement is an important step forward for library users everywhere. The digital licensing system we’ve lived under for more than a decade is broken, and taxpayers and patrons ultimately pay the price. New Jersey’s move to join Connecticut in the fight against Big Publishing is exactly what’s needed to reset the balance between public access and publisher profit.”

The Connecticut General Assembly passed–and Governor Ned Lamont signed into law–S.B. 1234/Public Law 25-9, a law aimed at curbing predatory digital licensing practices. Connecticut’s legislation includes a trigger clause requiring that states with a combined population of 10 million or more, including Connecticut, pass substantially similar laws before Connecticut’s can take effect. If it becomes state law, the combined populations of NJ and CT far surpass the 10 million trigger required by Connecticut.

Under current terms, for example, publishers charge libraries up to 10x to “rent” or “lease” a single e-book license, compared to the retail cost to individual consumers. Then, libraries are forced to re-rent the same title after 26 loans or two years, whichever comes first.

About Connecticut Library Consortium
The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) is a state-mandated nonprofit organization that supports, strengthens, connects, and champions Connecticut libraries. CLC provides purchasing contracts, professional development, and other value-added services for its 1,000+ public, academic, school, and special library members, and promotes libraries as fundamental to a literate, equitable, and just society. Learn more at https://www.ctlibrarians.org.

Click here to view the press release PDF

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – May 15, 2025 – The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC), Connecticut Library Association ( CLA), and Connecticut Association for School Librarians ( CASL) celebrate the Connecticut House of Representatives’ 106-38 passage of long-awaited legislation to protect libraries and their patrons from predatory e-book and audiobook pricing by the Big Publishing industry.

S.B. 1234 was passed 35-1 by the Senate on May 8, and now heads to Governor Ned Lamont’s desk for his signature. The legislation was championed by Connecticut State Representatives Matt Blumenthal and Eleni Kavros DeGraw, and State Senator Tony Hwang.

“This vote affirms that the State of Connecticut is no longer willing to be handcuffed by Big Publishing’s unfair pricing for digital content,” said Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium. “We are public institutions built on the promise of equitable access to information, while the publishing industry is built on the premise of profits.”
Libraries are essentially forced to lease their e-book collections according to publishers’ restrictive and non-negotiable licensing terms. The legislation prohibits Connecticut libraries from agreeing to publishers’ restrictive e-book licensing terms if those terms include artificial rental limits, prevent retention of collections over time, or prevent sharing of access across CT library systems, and other important provisions, including egregious pricing for e-books and audiobooks.

Connecticut’s approach is uniquely deliberate in its regulation of libraries, not publishers. In contrast, Maryland enacted legislation in 2021, which was immediately challenged in court and ultimately struck down as unconstitutional for conflicting with federal copyright law. New York passed a nearly identical bill, but Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed it, citing the Maryland ruling. Connecticut has taken a different path, leveraging state authority to establish clear restrictions on the types of contracts libraries can enter into without overstepping federal copyright protections.

“This is about fairness and protecting taxpayers,” said Scott Jarzombek, President of the Connecticut Library Association. “This bill puts our state, and those who join us in this fight, on a more equal and appropriate footing with the publishing industry for the digital age.”

Publishers have often claimed that restricting digital content pricing and terms hurts authors, but publishers, not libraries, determine how and how much authors are paid. Libraries support both authors and publishers, but they are not parties to the publishing contracts that govern author compensation. These agreements are private and negotiated directly between the author (or their agent) and the publisher. Libraries have consistently supported fair compensation for authors and would welcome changes to publishing contracts that ensure authors receive a larger share of digital revenues.

The three organizations now call on Governor Ned Lamont to sign the bill into law, which provides a roadmap for other states to follow. Outlined in the bill's ‘trigger’ clause, this legislation requires other states to enact substantially similar laws before enforcement in Connecticut begins. This mechanism is designed to protect the state from retaliatory action and legal exposure—ensuring Connecticut won't have to stand alone.

“Our goal isn't just to protect Connecticut libraries, it's to spark a national movement of all libraries, librarians, and the communities and schools we represent,” said Jenny Lussier, President of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians. “This is as much a movement of values as it is affordable access.”

Libraries across Connecticut have watched their digital budgets strain under unsustainable pricing, with some spending up to 20% of their annual budgets just replacing expired, high-demand digital titles rather than expanding collections. 

About the Connecticut Library Consortium
The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) is a state-mandated nonprofit organization that supports, strengthens, connects, and champions Connecticut libraries. CLC provides purchasing contracts, professional development, and other value-added services for its 1,000+ public, academic, school and special library members, and promotes libraries as fundamental to a literate, equitable, and just society. Learn more at https://www.ctlibrarians.org.

About the Connecticut Library Association
The Connecticut Library Association (CLA) is a 125+-year-old association of professional and paraprofessional library staff working together for the betterment of the state’s people. CLA advises members, presents to municipalities and library-adjacent groups on the operation and maintenance of public, school, academic, and special libraries. CLA members work to ensure that all residents of Connecticut, regardless of geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability, cultural background, religious beliefs, size, or citizenship status have access to essential information, technologies, and collections. Learn more at https://ctlibraryassociation.org.

About the Connecticut Association of School Librarians
CASL is committed to excellence in education by ensuring that students are active readers and effective users of ideas and information to become lifelong learners. The Association provides leadership, professional development, publicity, networking and support to the Connecticut school library community. CASL supports licensed, highly qualified library media specialists and fully funded library programs in all K-12 schools. https://casl.wildapricot.org.

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – May 14, 2025 – The Connecticut Library Consortium, Connecticut Library Association, and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians, urge Connecticut lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1271, legislation to protect the right to read, support local decision-making on book selection and challenges, and keep libraries safe from political targeting.

“In contrast to the algorithm-fed content on the internet and social media, library collections are curated by librarians who care deeply about the communities we serve, and S.B. 1271 establishes a set of guidelines to ensure our decisions adhere to a fair and responsible process,” said Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium. “We are committed to representing all views, which means offering a wide range of books, some familiar, some challenging, some new, but all there to help people grow.”

The bill ensures that local library boards retain control over collection decisions and book challenges, blocking outside attempts to politicize or interfere with what’s available on the shelves. The bill was revised from earlier versions to remove the ability for libraries to bring defamation suits, focusing instead on preserving public trust and shielding library staff from harassment. “The Freedom to Read legislation is about ensuring we hear the concerns of our community through an established process and without the noise of performative politics,” said Scott Jarzombek, President of the Connecticut Library Association. “People target librarians for simply doing their job, which is simply to make sure everyone has the chance to see themselves in a book in the comfort and safety of our libraries.”

School libraries, one of the only places students can reliably access books, have been under siege too.

“As a school librarian, I see the impact every day,” said Jenny Lussier, President of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians. “Students deserve a place to explore who they are and who they might become. Most parents agree with us that our schools are a better place for self-exploration than social media. S.B. 1271 is rational not radical, putting decision-making back in the hands of Boards of Education members, trusted local educators and librarians.”

Generally, S.B. 1271 would do the following:

• Bans Book Removal Simply Because Someone Finds It Offensive. The bill makes it clear: no book can be removed from a public or school library just because someone is of ended by it. That kind of subjective censorship is off the table. Books must only be removed for legitimate educational or professional reasons—not because of who wrote them or what viewpoints they represent.
• Creates a Transparent, Community-Driven Process for Book Challenges Only residents of a town (for public libraries) or parents, students, and school staff (for school libraries) can file official challenges. And they must explain, in writing, exactly what part of the book they object to and why. Anonymous or politically motivated campaigns from outside the community don’t get a say.
• Protects Librarians from Legal and Personal Attacks. The bill protects librarians and library staff from being sued or punished simply for doing their jobs—curating collections that meet the needs of their communities using professional standards. If they follow the policies, they can’t be held personally liable.
• Keeps Challenged Books on the Shelf While Reviews Are Underway. Books being challenged can’t just be yanked off the shelves. They must stay available for checkout during the entire review process. This ensures that no one person or group can silence access before a fair decision is made.
• Ensures Collection Policies Reflect a Diverse, Inclusive Society. Every library must adopt and publicly share clear policies that guarantee collections serve all readers and protect against discrimination. That includes materials that reflect varied backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints. Libraries aren’t supposed to mirror one perspective—they’re meant to reflect the world we live in.

The three organizations backing this bill ask the public to get involved. Lawmakers need to hear directly from residents who value freedom of choice and want libraries to remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming.

Find your State of Connecticut representatives here.

Take action here: SaveSchoolLibrarians.org/caslfreedomtoread2025.

About the Connecticut Library Consortium
The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) is a state-mandated nonprofit organization that supports, strengthens, connects, and champions Connecticut libraries. CLC provides purchasing contracts, professional development, and other value-added services for its 1,000+ public, academic, school and special library members, and promotes libraries as fundamental to a literate, equitable, and just society. Learn more at https://www.ctlibrarians.org.

About the Connecticut Library Association
The Connecticut Library Association (CLA) is a 125+-year-old association of professional and paraprofessional library staff working together for the betterment of the state’s people. CLA advises members, presents to municipalities and library-adjacent groups on the operation and maintenance of public, school, academic, and special libraries. CLA members work to ensure that all residents of Connecticut, regardless of geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability, cultural background, religious beliefs, size, or citizenship status have access to essential information, technologies, and collections. Learn more at https://ctlibraryassociation.org.

About the Connecticut Association of School Librarians
CASL is committed to excellence in education by ensuring that students are active readers and effective users of ideas and information to become lifelong learners. The Association provides leadership, professional development, publicity, networking and support to the Connecticut school library community. CASL supports licensed, highly qualified library media specialists and fully funded library programs in all K-12 schools. https://casl.wildapricot.org/.