Latest Library Links
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Beatrice Downey, Courtney Shareef, and Natalia Umaña write: “With the recent rise of anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion legislation across state and federal levels came the sunsetting of many initiatives intended to increase underrepresented demographics in various industries. As early as 2024, resident librarians worried about the longevity of diversity residency and fellowship programs, which were designed to recruit and train Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) librarians. During the 2025–2026 academic year, we confirmed what others suspected: A large number of library residency and fellowship programs were ending or pausing their programs.” -
Jennifer Chapman writes: “Efficiency is one of the main selling points for new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools, but efficiency is oftentimes the result of the AI tool and invisible human labor. Reading a white paper from Glean’s Work AI Institute about AI’s hidden human labor made me think about the invisible labor librarians are doing. This post looks at some of the ways law librarians are performing this labor and creating an illusion of efficiency for primary users.”RIPS Law Librarian Blog, June 19; Glean Work AI Institute, June 10
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Judith L. Silva and Zachary Voras write: “Academic libraries face the challenge of what Melissa Tedone and Rosie Grayburn called ‘poison books.’ Researchers at large institutions are conducting studies of library holdings, testing books for heavy metals, identifying health and safety guidelines, and sharing new knowledge via published case studies. Small- to mid-sized academic libraries, however, may lack equipment, expertise, funding, or time to investigate their holdings, or the space to safely segregate such items, and must develop their own strategies to address health and safety issues surrounding bibliotoxicology. This case study explores activities at a medium-sized public university.”RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage, vol. 27, no. 1, Spring
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Macy Kinney writes: “Playwork, according to the Play Foundation, is ‘an approach to working with children that aims to support and facilitate the play process—and the profession that practices this approach.’ Playwork has its roots in the adventure playground of the UK and Europe, so is less familiar to those of us in the US. Playwork professionals, like children’s librarians, include reflexive practice, audits of their space, and critically examining the rules of a space as they impact children. We can apply tools we already use to looking at how play functions in our libraries.” -
James Whitfield writes: “With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now underway, there has never been a better moment to understand what the World Cup actually is: where it came from, how it grew, and why it matters in ways that go far beyond the sport itself. These are the best books about the World Cup ever written. Whether you want the complete historical sweep, the inside story of a single tournament, or the biography of the player who defined an era, this list has it.” -
ALA has started an auction of a rare selection of more than 200 READ posters, spanning decades of library promotion, advocacy, and pop culture history. Bidding began June 18, with a live online auction taking place July 10. Among the highlights are sought-after posters featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Taylor Swift, Yoda, the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and WWE personalities, along with autographed posters from more than 30 celebrities including Michael J. Fox, Bette Midler, Paul Newman, Sting, and Oprah Winfrey. See the full catalog and bid at Heritage Auctions. -
Want to get away from the hustle of conference and into the bustle of American Libraries’ home city? Here you’ll find staff members’ favorite jaunts—from neighborhoods gems to tourist attractions—just a bus, train, or bike ride away. Chicago’s grid system makes it an easy place to explore in between sessions, signings, and celebrations. Originally published for the 2023 Annual Conference, this overview contains recommendations that remain Chicago favorites. -
Marshall Breeding writes: “The library technology industry is at a critical juncture, driven by uncertainties in funding and disruptions in technology, particularly around artificial intelligence. Business transitions have included changes in executive leadership, acquisitions, and new ownership. Despite these shakeups, most vendors advanced along their development road maps, with some launching new or improved products.” -
Jennifer Billock writes: “We’ve compiled a master list of restaurants and cafés to try while attending the 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition. From healthy breakfasts to decadent splurges and feasts, these establishments will provide whatever you need to keep your energy up for a long day of learning or feed your soul afterward. Replace the standard tourist-trap meals with big and bold flavors from around the world. All the spots mentioned, organized by neighborhood, are easily accessible by public transit, a leisurely walk, or a quick ride share from McCormick Place.” -
Ojas Kulkarni writes: “Pro wrestling has happened in some very unusual places over the years. Fans have seen matches in stadiums and empty arenas, cruise ships, beaches, swamps, parking lots, malls, military camps, and even WWE headquarters. Now, another unexpected location has joined that list. Professional wrestling is taking place inside libraries. Lucha Libro was established in 2024 by Jerry Rocha and Victor Dwight. It combines children’s storytime with live professional wrestling. The wrestling style takes inspiration from the Mexican tradition of Lucha libre.” -
Emily Villanueva and Romany Craig write: “This article outlines the development and implementation of a pop-up reference service at the University of Lethbridge (Alberta) Library as an innovative response to declining reference interactions. This initiative was designed to connect with students who were unaware of the resources available at the library. Findings suggest that pop-up reference services play an important role in library outreach, providing individualized experiences that students desire while eliciting reference questions that otherwise would not have been asked.”From lockdown to pop-up: Reimagining reference in a changed world
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Claire Baytas writes: “Librarians, faculty, students, and others across higher education are increasingly and understandably concerned about how widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is affecting the climate and the planet broadly speaking. In order for the higher education community to make informed choices about AI tools, AI literacy curricula must address these pressing environmental dimensions of the technology. We have published a LibGuide focused on the Environmental Impacts of AI. Its articles, reports, podcasts, videos, data trackers, and other types of resources address environmental impacts throughout the AI lifecycle.”
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