Latest Library Links
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Sally Sax writes: “Twenty-five years after the US Copyright Office’s first Digital Millennium Copyright Act review, libraries operate in an increasingly noncompetitive digital information environment. A lack of digital ownership rights remains a critical barrier to libraries serving their missions as memory institutions. Library leaders can use the reaction to Sony’s announcement [to end sales of physical PlayStation games] and similar cultural moments to showcase our institutional expertise on digital rights issues, and to advance our interests in library-owned digital collections and federal contract override protections.” -
“The absence of clear personnel policies could lead to confusion, conflict, and organizational risk. As you consider your own personnel policy, the following questions and resources may help support your review and identify areas for improvement. These policies may cover areas such as behavior management, privacy, access to information, emergency response, staff training, hiring, scheduling, leave, performance expectations, grievances, and workplace conduct.” -
Amanda Silberling writes: “At Bangor (Maine) Public Library, patrons turn to librarian Hannah Cyrus when they need help with anything involving technology. Usually, Cyrus’s classes like Intro to Computers get about a dozen attendees. But so many people expressed interest in her first Avoiding Artificial Intelligence workshop that she had to cut off registration at 30 people, open a waitlist, and share the workshop on Zoom. Including the livestream, about 70 people attended each of Cyrus’s first two workshops.” -
Anita Coleman writes: “At the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, ALA showed the world what a library could become. Library 21, as the exhibit was called, imagined a future of networked knowledge, instant retrieval, and universal access. In the summer of 2002, I launched dLIST—the Digital Library of Information Science and Technology—the field’s first open access disciplinary repository for library and information science scholarship. It was built on three convictions that were, in 2002, either ahead of their time or simply unheard of.” -
Amalia E. Butler writes: “As youth librarians, we know how important it is to collect our statistics. We count program attendance, track circulation, tally summer reading participation, document outreach visits, and much more. The numbers are entered, the spreadsheets are filed, and another reporting cycle begins. When we take the time to reflect on the data, it can guide us to meaningful action. Good data helps us ask better questions, understand our communities more deeply, and make more informed decisions about our services.” -
Sam Winemiller writes: “For introverted librarians (like me) in public-facing positions, the parts of our jobs that require the most face time are often the most exhausting. I know messy human relationships aren’t unique to the academe, but the academe does tend to attract many smart and opinionated cooks to a pretty complicated kitchen. When I’ve found myself in such situations where the vibes are distinctly not good, my natural conflict aversion makes it more difficult to contribute. Over the past several years, reminding myself of a few truths has helped me push through these emotional challenges.”ACRLog, July 24; College & Research Libraries News, vol. 87, no. 4, Apr.
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Michael Kozlowski writes: “When it comes to videogames, many players teach themselves using the learning-by-doing method. They load into the game guns blazing as rookies, fail and respawn, and overall have a good time. However, if you are truly passionate or wish to take the pro route, then you might want to go past the videogame streams into novels, developer stories, cultural analyses, and more. Adding the right books to your reading list can make complex games seem less intimidating. Whether they include general practical tips or behind-the-scenes info, they can help players better understand important concepts.” -
Ritoban Mukherjee writes: “Do you ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ that cookie request? Browser cookies don’t just remember your login details: They can track your browsing history across websites, follow you around with specific ads, or even hijack your active browser session to log into your accounts without a password. On the other hand, if you don’t click accept when you see a cookie banner, that can affect your browsing experience—many websites need cookies to function normally. Luckily, cookie management isn’t just a binary choice any more.” -
Elissa Malespina writes: “Stop talking about libraries. I know that sounds strange coming from a librarian. But school boards do not make decisions about libraries in isolation. They vote on budgets, student achievement, district goals, graduation rates, staffing, transportation, and dozens of other needs. When I served on the board, I was not asking whether librarians mattered. I was asking how every dollar supported the goals the district had already established. That distinction matters because librarians sometimes begin with the wrong argument. Our facts have value, but they do not always answer the question decision makers are trying to resolve.” -
Kaitlin Riordan writes: “The Anderson County (Tenn.) Library Alliance is suing the county library board, alleging that the state asked public libraries to adhere to a presidential executive order and a state law that did not apply to them. Last fall, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett issued instructions to public libraries to review their collections in light of President Trump’s executive order on gender ideology in federal policies. The lawsuit says the executive order does not apply to states, violates the First Amendment, and is being used to ‘satisfy a political agenda.’”WBIR-TV (Knoxville, Tenn.), July 17; Nashville Scene, Nov. 10, 2025
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Douglas Soule writes: “A Florida school district that has already removed hundreds of books is questioning whether traditional high school libraries are needed. It’s a situation that book access advocates say represents an evolution in Florida’s book banning practices, where school districts have already removed or restricted more titles than any other state. At a recent workshop, Clay County (Fla.) School Board member Ashley Gilhousen mentioned it would be helpful to talk to school employees about what ‘they see as the benefits of the media center,’ a common term schools use for libraries.” -
Phil Morehart writes: “An ALA delegation attended the United Nations (UN) High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development last week to advocate for libraries as essential partners in advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The delegation’s participation culminated July 15 at the public program ‘Libraries as Catalysts: Driving Equitable and Innovative Action for the SDGs,’ which explored how libraries contribute to resilient communities, informed decision making, sustainability, innovation, and global collaboration.” According to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, one-third of countries reporting on SDGs highlighted the contribution of libraries.
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