The Prison Library Support Network, established in 2015, works to meet the information needs of people who are incarcerated through a nationwide letter-writing project. Since the reference by mail program started in 2021, the New York City–based collective of librarians, graduate students, and activists has responded to nearly all of the 3,000 queries it has received from people in prisons across the United States, with the majority of letters coming from Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Florida.
Nardia Cumberbatch, librarian at Florida’s Valencia College, was named a 2024 Library Journal Mover & Shaker for her work in helping the college achieve the Sustainable Library Certification Program, the second academic library in the country and the first library in Florida to have done so. We recently spoke with Cumberbatch about what it took to earn that certification and its resulting impact.
This month’s must-see documentaries include a consideration of affirmative action, architect and designer Eliot Noyes’s modernism, and Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final concert film.
Academics have a shared goal of making their work highly accessible for a worldwide audience—and they agree that F1000Research, which is part of Taylor & Francis and supports researchers in all subject areas, is an effective platform for achieving this goal.
The RUSA Book and Media Awards are announced, including the Notable Books List, Reading List, Listen List, Essential Cookbooks, Dartmouth Medal, and Outstanding References Sources List. Percival Everett’s James and Kevin Fedarko’s A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon win Andrew Carnegie Medals. Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz by József Debreczeni is awarded the Sophie Brody Medal.
“[I]nformation access is wielded as a disciplinary tool against people who are incarcerated. Knowing that, we work to meet their needs despite the surveillance and restrictions they face.”
The finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Awards and the longlist for the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize are revealed. Mick Herron wins the Crime Writers Association Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement. Novelists are wondering if their careers will survive without BookTok. Penguin Random House parent company Bertelsmann has agreed to a strategic partnership with OpenAI.
Dr. Ashleigh Faith, MLIS, PhD from EBSCO dives into "Libraries of Future Past," exploring how science fiction predicted today’s AI challenges: navigating information overload, discerning truth, and ethical knowledge pursuits. While AI helps, humans—especially librarians— are crucial in organizing and helping unearth trustworthy information.
A wonderful collection by an expert storyteller, in a translation that lends vibrancy to the essays. Ideal for readers interested in Jewish studies and literature.
This book is a timely, uplifting resource that speaks to both the heart and mind. With a deep understanding of Scripture and descriptions about her journey, Herr expertly helps readers who want to integrate faith into their professional lives and navigate workplace challenges to reclaim a sense of purpose and hope.
Readers who enjoy richly detailed biographies that read like fiction will appreciate Hoffman’s latest. Many will note comparisons to modern televangelists and women religious leaders.
Peacock’s lyrical writing will draw readers in and keep them interested. This memoir will appeal to those interested in one man’s experiences in several contemporary music spaces.
This is the perfect guide for readers ready to move from balancing their checkbook to investing in the stock market and themselves. Many finance books that target women focus primarily on personal debt and overall budgeting, but this one takes a much more aggressive, ambitious approach. Highly recommended.
Rice’s stories about fair trade and conscious capitalism will prove intriguing and engaging to readers who work in international development or aspire to.
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JOB OF THE WEEK The Wilkinson Public Library is seeking a Library Director.
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