Best Books 2019
By LJ
The ravages of the opioid crisis, an elusive serial killer, ghosts of past and present. Stories spanning Regency England to Depression-era Kentucky to 1980s Australia. Explorations of racism and privilege, a journey through music history, and searing indictments of systemic injustice. Readers will discover all of these themes and more in our selection of the most distinguished titles published in 2019.

Also check out School Library Journal's Best YA Books 2019.

The Year in Architecture 2019
By LJ
From open outdoor areas to fantastic and functional fixtures, sustainable systems to to study spaces, LJ's 2019 Year in Architecture roundup celebrates the best new construction and renovation in public and academic libraries across the country.

Libraries Respond to Macmillan Ebook Embargo with Boycotts, Advocacy
By Matt Enis
On November 1, Macmillan enacted its eight-week embargo period for new library ebook licenses. Many libraries have responded by announcing boycotts, as library organizations continue outreach and advocacy efforts.

MIT OA Task Force Releases Recommendations, Publisher Framework
By Lisa Peet
As part of its ongoing work to support open access (OA) both on campus and in the wider world of academia, in October the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) released two documents that will amplify open sharing of MIT resources and clarify communications with scholarly publishers.

AASL National Conference Keynote Speakers Ask Librarians To Support Diverse Representation and Defuse Bias
By Sarah Bayliss, Priscille Dando, & Jennifer Sturge
Ellen Oh opened the 2019 American Association School Librarians (AASL) National Conference with a resounding message: "We need to read diversely, every single one of us,” in order to help kids grow into the best version of themselves, the author and We Need Diverse Books co-founder told the crowd of library professionals in her opening keynote for AASL National conference on Nov. 14.

In Conversation: The 1619 Project
By Stephanie Sendaula
On November 13, Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of The New York Times Magazine's 1619 Project—a special issue dedicated to examining the legacy of slavery—joined New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie for a conversation about journalism and history at Columbia Univversity's Pulitzer Hall. Jelani Cobb, staff writer for The New Yorker and Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism, Columbia University, moderated.

African American Archives: Preserving History and Increasing Access
By April Witteveen
Several new initiatives will expand African American experiences beyond the archives and make them publicly available.

Discovery Education Launches STEM Careers Coalition
By SLJ Staff
Discovery Education and corporate partners have created the STEM Careers Coalition to bring related digital content and real-life STEM experience to K-12 students.

Branching Out, November 2019
By Lisa Peet
Philadelphia’s Temple University unveils its state-of-the-art Charles Library; Long Beach Public Library, CA, opens its newest branch, the Billie Jean King Main Library; Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning completes the Mui Ho Fine Arts Library; and more.

One Quality All Library Leaders Must Have | Leading From the Library
By Steven Bell
Leadership literature offers abundant lists of qualities that experts say define great leaders. That’s supplemented by lists of qualities workers want in their leaders. There’s much variance. Here is the one quality we can all agree is a must for leaders who want to succeed.

New Bestsellers | Book Pulse
By Neal Wyatt
Wrecking Ball (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Book 14) by Jeff Kinney leads 15 new books onto the bestseller lists. Lucy Ellmann, Ducks, Newburyport, wins the Goldsmiths Prize. Bryan Washington, Lot: Stories, wins the Ernest J. Gaines Award.

How to Build a Database
By Jennifer A. Dixon
Digitizing, organizing, and contextualizing primary sources from libraries and archives presents unique challenges and rich opportunities.

Best Books of the Decade, Year, Month, & More | Book Pulse
By Neal Wyatt
More lists come out naming the best of the decade, even as end-of-the-year accountings start to accumulate. The Dublin Literary Award Longlist is announced. Judd Apatow's It's Garry Shandling's Book gets the buzz. Disney+ launches.

 Reviews

WEB-FIRST REVIEWS OF BOOKS AND MEDIA

Me: Elton John Official Autobiography, is one of this week's starred performing arts titles. "Intimate, with brushes of gossip and hard-won wisdom, this compelling work joins the ranks of other masterly rock memoirs. A must-read for John’s many devotees, it will also make fans out of those new to his music." And in fiction, J.P Monninger's novel, Seven Letters, is one of this week's starred selections. "Some of the language in the sex scenes is rather banal, but overall this is an enjoyable read for fans of Nicholas Sparks who want to experience another culture along with their romance.

See All  Reviews›››

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