|
|
 LibLearnX Debuts with Strong Attendance By Meredith Schwartz & Lisa Peet The first iteration of the American Library Association’s new LibLearnX conference more than met its attendance goals despite having to debut virtually rather than, as originally intended, in person. Just shy of 2,183 people attended, 109 percent of the goal of 2,000. |
|
|
|
|
 SPONSORED BY BAKER & TAYLOR INC. Part of the Inclusion Revolution Join Baker & Taylor and a distinguished panel to explore the topic of dismantling racial inequity in the library workplace. How can libraries grow more diverse collections and implement changes that promote inclusivity? Register now for the chance to win a bundle of titles, including panelist Daisy Auger-Dominguez’s latest book. Register now›› |
|
|
|
 Missing Books | Editorial By Meredith Schwartz Seeing a joyous post from someone reading their first new novel in years got me thinking about how libraries can serve readers who miss reading: by validating the ways they’re already interacting with narrative, surfacing further narratives to suit that current level of engagement, and providing a pathway to the level they want to regain. |
|
|
|
 How-Tos at LibLearnX 2022 Tackle Cultural Change By Lisa Peet Several sessions at the American Library Association's inaugural LibLearnX conference, which ran virtually January 21–24, offered practical, actionable approaches to complex situations. Useful presentations included how to create information in-house classification systems for comics and graphic novels, use and understand U.S. Census Bureau data, implement a collection diversity audit, build teen-led programs, create Genius Hour research programming, and many more. Two notables tackled issues of how to improve libraries’ internal culture to benefit their staff. |
|
|
|
SPONSORED BY PROQUEST, PART OF CLARIVATE  O’Reilly for Public Libraries Meets New Demands on Workforce Development The pandemic accelerated existing trends in remote work, e-commerce, and automation, with up to 25 percent more workers than previously estimated potentially needing to switch occupations. These shifts have forced public libraries to take a close look at their workforce development programs O’Reilly for Public Libraries [OPL], has become an increasingly important tool in this arena. Read More››› |
|
|
|
 KCLS, BiblioCommons Machine Learning Pilot Profiled at LibLearnX By Matt Enis Machine learning (ML) tools can potentially help patrons discover relevant content and services as they search a library’s catalog. However, ML tools need to be trained with a lot of good data to generate good recommendations, and initially, contextual recommendations generated with high-quality library metadata may be more effective at achieving the same goal. In addition, some patrons may express privacy concerns regarding ML projects that leverage catalog search data. These were a few of the topics discussed during the “Personalization in the Catalog with Machine Learning and Linked Data” online session at the American Library Association’s LibLearnX virtual conference on Sunday, January 23. |
|
|
|
| "I know a lot of people who say they’ve stopped reading in the last six years. They mean that they have largely stopped reading new books, especially fiction." | | |
|
|
|
 2022 PEN American Literary Award Finalists Announced | Book Pulse By Anita Mechler The 2022 PEN American Literary Award finalists are announced. The best seller lists feature Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner, Enough Already by Valerie Bertinelli, and The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation by Rosemary Sullivan. Interviews explore conversations from Daphne Palasi Andreades of Brown Girls, Imani Perry of South to America, David Sanchez of All Day Is a Long Time, and Dolly Parton co-author of Run, Rose, Run. |
|
|
|
| SPONSORED BY EX LIBRIS, PART OF CLARIVATE  Fisk University: A Small Library Optimizes E-Resource Management The unique Nashville institution transitioned to Alma for unified resource management, automation and cloud-based services, which improved student, faculty and staff experience. “Ex Libris solutions helped us broaden the use of technology within the library and provide innovative learning experiences for our students.” —Dr. Brandon A. Owens, Sr., Dean of the Library |
|
|
|
 A Game Of Fear by Charles Todd Tops Holds This Week | Book Pulse By Kate Merlene A Game Of Fear by Charles Todd leads holds this week. Six LibraryReads and ten Indie Next picks publish this week. People’s book of the week is Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. USA Today rounds up February rom-com reviews. Maus by Art Spiegelman tops the Amazon bestseller list. |
|
|
|
 Word Games: Wordle and More By Jennifer Dayton Wordle. It feels like the entire English-speaking world is addicted. Players are tasked with guessing a five-letter word in six or fewer attempts. |
|
|
|
From the Pages of infoDOCKET ... |
|
|
|
 The Godfather at 50: A Booklist No Fan Can Refuse By Mahnaz Dar It’s been 50 years since the release of The Godfather, the movie that created the template for the modern gangster film, resurrected Marlon Brando’s flagging career and set Al Pacino on the path to stardom, and generated countless unforgettable quotes. To mark the occasion, LJ has curated a list of titles that are musts for fans. |
|
|
|
 2022 Gotham Book Prize Finalists Announced | Book Pulse By Anita Mechler The 2022 Gotham Book Prize finalists are announced. Many books are being challenged and banned by schools across the southern United States. Interviews abound with insights about Natasha Brown of Assembly, Grace Cho of Tastes Like War: A Memoir, Bryan Washington of Memorial, Kim Fu of Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, Imani Perry of South to America, Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka of The Roughest Draft, and more will be adapted for television. |
|
|
|
| Reviews STARRED REVIEWS OF BOOKS AND MEDIA  In pro media, Michelle Goodridge and Matthew Rohweder's Librarian’s Guide to Games and Gamers: From Collection Development to Advisory Services is this week's starred selection. "A superb book for early-career librarians, librarians who are new to games and gaming, academic librarians hoping to install games into the collection, and anyone looking for a fresh perspective on gaming." The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Baby Problem, by Julie Phillips, is one of this week's starred literature selections. "Phillips’s powerfully researched, thoughtful, sensitive examinations will be of interest to literary scholars as well as to general readers grappling with their own oscillating creative and pragmatic selves." Claire Kohda's debut novel Woman, Eating is "a genuinely fresh take on the vampire mythos.... A delicate, consistently surprising riff on the vampire narrative, and a stealthy, subversive story of one young woman’s declaration of self." And Blank Pages: And Other Stories, by Booker short-listed Irish writer Bernard MacLaverty, is one of this week's starred short story collections. "The 12 stories that make up MacLaverty’s seventh collection emphasize his mastery of image, characterization, and dialogue. He remains one of the most graceful storytellers in modern literature." See All Reviews››› |
|
|
|
 Job Zone utilizes unique job matching technology to help you find the perfect job (and employers find the perfect candidate), whether you’re actively seeking or just keeping an eye out for your possibilities. Log on today and check out our newest features, including automated job and candidate matches, and email alerts. JOB OF THE WEEK Johnson County Community College (KS) seeks an Assistant Professor/Librarian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
