There are many barriers to earning a Master of Library Science degree, particularly for those in minoritized populations, and moving the needle for would-be librarians has proved to be a challenge. Initiatives to increase diversity in librarianship have been slowly increasing. Among these, the Pathways to Leadership program at Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), launched in 2021, is a particularly strong example of how wraparound support can look—and succeed.
Anyone who attended this year’s American Library Association (ALA) Annual Convention in San Diego hoping to hear more about artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on libraries was not disappointed. “Breaking Boundaries: Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT to Transform Library Services,” one of the earliest panels on Saturday morning, was presented to a full house—five conjoined rooms with every seat taken.
Many college and university libraries have amassed special collections and are digitizing these collections to share them more widely. Yet, institutions often struggle to find sustainable solutions for accomplishing this work. Skidmore College is solving this problem with the help of a flexible suite of services for digital collection stewardship from ITHAKA.
Disability Pride Month commemorates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. In recognition of this month-long observance, the following list promotes the destigmatization of disability, combats ableism, celebrates visibility, and honors the accomplishments, influence, strengths, and joys of the disability community. These titles, and those selected from previous years, are available as a downloadable spreadsheet.
The American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exposition included many announcements from library vendors. Here’s a roundup of some of the news from this year’s show floor.
At this year’s ALA Annual, a few speakers went beyond tales of being avid library users as children to tell stories that painted vivid pictures of what libraries, literacy, and unfettered access can mean to a kid who is looking to understand their world a little better.
Ladies-in-waiting, the only king of Haiti, polar exploration, and JFK top history topics in mid-winter.
“What better way to fight [challenges to libraries] than go back and do my librarian degree and really make a difference, and motivate more young people to say, ‘Hey, this could be me in eight years.’”
Celebrated author Anita Desai returns with a new novel, Kim Jiyun's bestselling Korean healing-fiction book appears in English, and multiple authors debut with intriguing titles.
The CWA Dagger Award winners and longlists for the Toronto Book Awards and the Mo Siewcharran Prize are announced. NYT recounts “the Most Memorable Literary Moments of the Last 25 Years.”
Resource sharing between libraries is nothing new, of course — but what is new is the ease with which potential resource-sharing partners can find each other. We spoke with three librarians who play leading roles in the Rapido/RapidILL resource-sharing community.
Ed. by Sarah Hartman-Caverly & Alexandria Chisholm
This collection is a welcome resource for librarians who feel strongly about privacy literacy but are unsure where to start. Essential reading for scholarly-communication librarians, public librarians, and teaching librarians.
An expertly conveyed history of the Soviet dissident movement and the individuals involved. For readers interested in the history of censorship, human rights, international law, or the Soviet Union. It’s one not to miss.
Readers interested in true crime or the legal system will be delighted with Rosenberg’s narrative gift. They won’t want to miss her memoir’s unique perspectives.
A highly readable account of murder and systemic racism. This title is a compelling example of how to take stories that made headlines and find the deeper, more nuanced narrative strains that rarely come across in the media.
Libraries are undergoing a thrilling transformation with the integration of AI and linked open data. This shift towards data-centric operations underscores the growing importance of enhanced collaboration and increased community engagement. Don’t miss out on this chance to shape the future of your library.
Hisham Matar’s My Friends and Matthew Longo’s The Picnic: A Dream of Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain win Orwell Prizes. Poets & Writers publishes its 24th annual roundup of the summer’s best debut fiction. South Carolina censorship law goes into effect.
Frankly, I should have seen it coming, but personal growth and change can be so subtle that you sometimes don’t realize you’re doing it until you’ve done it. In my case, things started small: snapping a photo of a wildflower while on a walk, admiring my friend’s summer crop of vegetables.
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