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Phil Morehart writes: “The AASL National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, began on November 14 with a bang: a rousing performance by the Central High School drumline and dance team. AASL Executive Director Sylvia Norton followed with news that more than 2,300 library professionals had registered for the biannual conference—record-breaking attendance numbers. Keynote speaker Ellen Oh, children’s book author and president and cofounder of We Need Diverse Books, kept the momentum going as she described a serious issue—the lack of diversity in children’s books.”
AL: The Scoop, Nov. 15
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British author and translator of Chinese literature Julia Lovell has won the $75,000 2019 Cundill History Prize for Maoism: A Global History (Bodley Head, 2019) at a gala at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Juror Charlotte Gray said that “Julia Lovell has drawn on an extraordinary range of sources for the first panoramic study of this formidable, fragmented political movement.” The two runners-up, Mary Fulbrook’s Reckonings: Legacies of Nazi Persecution and the Quest for Justice (Oxford University Press) and Jill Lepore’s These Truths: A History of the United States (Norton), received a Recognition of Excellence Award and $10,000 each.
The Bookseller (UK), Nov. 15
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Christine Ro writes: “As the death toll from the US opioid epidemic continues to rise, public and private institutions are seeking to help in whatever way they can. Libraries are no exception. As trusted, non-partisan organizations, public libraries have a unique role in spreading information. But some have gone further than sharing information about opioids, to play a more active role in public health. Drawing on the recent report by PLA and OCLC, Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities, here are seven of the ways libraries are combating the opioid crisis.”
Book Riot, Nov. 15
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Katisha Smith writes: “The game of poker combines skill and strategy with a little luck. Since its introduction into US culture, poker has continued to gain popularity. The game has gone from recreational activity at Wild West saloons to spawning professionals who compete in million-dollar tournaments. Whether you are looking to learn the tricks of the trade, wanting to improve your technique, or just need a good story centered around the game itself, we have the 21 best poker books for your learning needs and reading enjoyment.”
Book Riot, Nov. 15
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Rebecca Koenig writes: “Students who take online college courses may not realize it, but they are the beneficiaries of a special bill of rights. Its goal? To ensure students can access books and other academic resources, even if they’re nowhere near a campus. ACRL maintains in its ‘access entitlement principle,’ which functions as a sort of library bill of rights, that all students of an institution of higher education ‘are entitled to the library services and resources of that institution,’ including access to a librarian, regardless of location. But serving distance learners is no simple task.”
EdSurge, Nov. 14
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Diana Dill and Alice Kalinowski write: “Sharing knowledge and information in the workplace significantly affects an organization’s ability to operate effectively and efficiently. Among the various types of workplace learning, tacit knowledge is one of the most difficult to codify and share. Considering that most workers switch jobs and careers multiple times, organizations must think about how tacit knowledge is shared, particularly in cases of employee turnover. Building a community of practice (CoP) can help. CoPs are a vital element of a successful knowledge management strategy and function most effectively when not bound by formal rules and procedures.”
American Libraries feature, Nov./Dec.
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Carrie Smith writes: “Virtual and augmented reality are two of the fastest-growing areas of technology. While popular games like Pokémon Go and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite have introduced augmented reality (AR) to pop culture, the immersive and interactive aspects of virtual and augmented reality can increase engagement with learning as well. Short of creating a full-service virtual reality (VR) lab, libraries can make these technologies available to learners through common devices.”
American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.
