News Corp, PRH bidding for Simon & Schuster | American Libraries Magazine

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is making a play for Simon & Schuster. The powerhouse publisher was put up for sale by its owner, ViacomCBS, in March, and the company has since fielded more than half a dozen inquiries, according to three people familiar with the process who declined to be named because the matter remains confidential. In addition to News Corp, which already owns HarperCollins, the other leading bidder is Penguin Random House, according to the people. Penguin Random House, the largest book publisher in the United States, is owned by German media giant Bertelsmann.

New York Times, Nov. 17

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“Last spring, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) subcommittee of the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Value of Academic Libraries Committee shared a survey to check the temperature of DEI at our institutions and within our units. The two questions we posed were: What does equity mean to you or your library? What is the status of DEI programs and initiatives at your institution? Based on your anonymous responses, we identified a few trends and common challenges, which we hope can strengthen our unity towards addressing these challenges.”

ACRL Insider, Oct. 30
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Byron Tate writes: “A proposal to cut funding to Saline County (Ark.) Library by a third was narrowly defeated on November 3. Saline County Quorum Court voted in May to place a measure on the ballot, giving voters the opportunity to cut the library’s tax base of 1.7 mills to 1.1 mills, which would have amounted to a loss of $1.7 million. The attempt to reduce the funding has its roots in a disagreement that Saline County Judge Matt Brumley and Republicans on the Quorum Court” had over library content with former Executive Director Patty Hector.

Arkansas Times, Nov. 4, May 18; Arkansas Advocate, Aug. 27
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Megan Bennett writes: “In response to the proliferation, and polarized response to, of the use of artificial intelligence (AI), ALA designed its Guidance on the Use of AI in Libraries to help institutions develop AI policies and procedures with professional values in mind. American Libraries spoke with AI Policy Working Group cochairs Chip McAuley and and Ed Sanchez about the origins of the guidance and how the working group aimed to represent library workers with varying perspectives on AI use.”

AL: The Scoop, Nov. 3
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Witt Salley writes: “A library can collect thoughtful teen feedback and still leave participants unsure how their answers informed a decision. Teens contribute time and ideas, and they deserve to know what the library did with their input and what happens next. Building on the Association for Library Service to Children’s discussion of program evaluation, I recommend identifying the decision teens can influence and planning how staff will report back before collecting feedback.”

ALSC Blog, Oct. 31
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Lori Misaka and Jessica Regitano write: “Have you ever been asked to explain the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries to a colleague, an administrator, or someone who wants to know more about what happens in your school library? Maybe you’ve been the one asking those questions yourself! That’s where the “Getting Started with the AASL Standards” one-pager comes in. This resource was created to help school librarians introduce the standards in a way that’s approachable, practical, and easy to share.”

Knowledge Quest, Oct. 27
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Rachel Bachman writes: “After enough time reading to children, you begin to notice certain patterns. Not necessarily in what books they enjoy, but in how they enjoy them. Some children want to hear the same story a hundred times. Others have very strong opinions about the second page. Some listen with rapt attention, while others appear to be conducting an entirely unrelated investigation of the ceiling tiles. Which brings me to my entirely unscientific attempt at classification. After years of reading picture books to children, I have concluded that there are several distinct species of storytime attendee.”
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Lish McBride writes: “It’s the spooky season, the time for tricks and treats, and today I bring you whimsy that has a little of both. Horror is the salty to whimsy’s sweet, each one bringing out hidden nuances and subtle flavors you might not catch otherwise. They also make a pretty good team. Studies show that horror can act as a safe space to process trauma in multiple ways. While horror helps you process, humor is there to help you cope. They combine to make a powerful psychological tool, a one-two punch in the gut of trauma!”

Reactor, Oct. 26

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