Thompson-Allen, Gail | American Libraries Magazine

Gail Thompson-Allen retired as manager of programming and community engagement at Russell Library in Middletown, Connecticut, in December.

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The Public Library Association has released “Family Engagement for Spanish-Speaking Community Members” a new workbook that provides case studies and planning tools to help library workers better engage Spanish-speaking families. The guide is available for free download in English and Spanish and includes templates, worksheets, best practices, and other easy-to-implement resources for moving programming from involvement to true engagement, exploring a multitude of Spanish-speaking identities, utilizing resources on community mapping and partnership development, and engaging families in community conversations.

Public Library Association, July 16
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Alejandro Marquez writes: “The immediate aftermath of a hospital visit is a whirlwind of logistics—coordinating care, offering support, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. And then, I have to go to work. The shift in focus is jarring. Suddenly, I’m expected to compartmentalize, switch gears, leave behind the anxieties swirling in my mind, and focus on instruction, deadlines, and research consultations. I am arguing for a fundamental shift in how we acknowledge and address the impact of life’s challenges on our work lives.”

Choice Toward Inclusive Excellence, July 14
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Rachel Rosenberg writes: “Regardless of what kind of library you work in, you’ll likely have to provide readers’ advisory, a task that can be as daunting as it is fun. It can feel like a gamble to suggest books you haven’t read yourself or in an unfamiliar genre, especially when there’s so much out there. Here are a few books that will help level up your skills.”

American Libraries column, Summer
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ALA’s Council has adopted “Guidance on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Libraries,” a new resource designed to help libraries develop and revise policies for the ethical, human-centered use of artificial intelligence. Developed by ALA’s AI Policy Working Group, the guidance reflects the perspectives and expertise of members from across the association. The working group considered the practical, philosophical, ethical and operational implications of AI for libraries and library workers. The adopted guidance affirms ALA’s role in supporting libraries of all types as they navigate emerging technologies while maintaining a humanistic approach to library service.

ALA Communications and Media Relations Office, July 16
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Charlie Osborne writes: “Quishing, or QR code-based phishing, embeds malicious links in QR codes to bypass traditional phishing filters and slip through security nets. What makes this tactic more dangerous than traditional phishing, especially for businesses, is that victims use their handsets to scan a QR code, bypassing network-based security and safety nets, such as phishing detection. QR codes, especially those you aren’t expecting, should be treated with the same suspicion as emailed links or attachments.”

ZDNet, July 13
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Wintre Foxworth Johnson et al. write: “Targeting books by or about Black people has a long history in the US. When these books are taken out of circulation, they become less available to children of all backgrounds. We describe Black livingness as Black children’s fiction by Black authors that depicts Black children and families as whole, joyful, thriving, and engaged in everyday acts of living. Children’s literature can humanize Black people in a way that news coverage, television, films, and school textbooks and curriculum often do not, helping to combat racial bias and stereotypes.”

The Conversation, July 14; English Teaching: Practice and Critique, vol. 20, no. 4, Nov. 2021
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Meg Ecclestone writes: “In 2025 I was very privileged to take a research leave, finally able to step out of the hustled days of work life. Time slowed down dramatically during my leave. When I returned to the library after my leave, I felt unmoored from the busyness that surrounded me. Time was moving at the pace of a high-speed train, but I was an onlooker. I risked getting left behind, sure, but I’d been a passenger on that train before, and I knew its final stop was Burnout Station. Perhaps I was fine to miss the trip.”

Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, vol. 21, no. 1, July 9

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