Publishing & Collecting: Melbourne University bought the 500-year-old witch-hunting book Hammer of Witches for $152,000, despite researchers calling it grossly offensive and linking it to mass killings—an acquisition that raises big questions about how libraries and universities handle toxic history. Book Culture & Community: A new local release, Pat Conroy’s Lowcountry: A History and Guide, aims to turn readers into travelers through the places that shaped Conroy’s writing, while Scottsboro Public Library’s July events keep the focus on romance, mysteries, and kids’ programming. Independence Day Reading: A new W.W. Norton book, Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence, zeroes in on the Declaration’s 27 grievances as the “statement of purpose” behind the Revolution. Summer Reading Lists: From Western water “bedside table” picks to broad summer recommendations, outlets are leaning hard into curated reading—plus a patriotism-themed roundup for the Fourth. New Releases & Buzz: Haruki Murakami’s first novel in about three years, Kaho: The Tale of Kaho, is drawing late-night crowds in Tokyo as fans line up for the release. Quick Hits: A report on faster passport processing in South Sudan (three days) and a reminder that children’s swimming access is still a concern this summer.