6h
Jessi Gold writes: “Before you turn August into a personal performance-improvement plan, here are a few ways to approach the year with less pressure and a better chance of making changes that actually fit your life. Of course, these ideas will not fix the system or the structural pressures that make your work exhausting. But they may keep you from adding a personal overhaul to an already overwhelming list of additional duties as assigned.”
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 21
9h
The Pulitzer Prizes and ALA announced August 19 the national tour of Pulitzer on the Road: Prize-Winning Works That Inform, Empower, and Inspire, a new traveling exhibition that will visit 20 public libraries nationwide. The exhibit will debut in mid-October in Chicago and Dallas. Through vividly designed panels, immersive interactive stations, and compelling storytelling, Pulitzer on the Road highlights the history and significance of the Pulitzer Prizes; connects new audiences with prize winners and their work; and promotes the role of journalism, books, drama, and music in a democratic society.
ALA Communications and Media Relations Office, Aug. 19
11h
ALA invites education programs and posters for the 2027 Annual Conference & Exhibition, to be held June 24–28, 2027, in New Orleans. The Annual Conference explores key challenges and opportunities facing libraries, with professional development rooted in timely research, innovation, and best practices. The submission sites are open now through September 21, and include both proposal submission guides and evaluation rubrics for 60-minute education sessions and poster sessions.
ALA Conference Services, Aug. 24
13h
Senka Stankovic writes: “I’ve noticed that digital tools are fundamental to how we ideate and deliver educational workshops. Born-digital, recently a student, and new to the workforce, I’ve come to believe that many digital tools that are meant to improve learning instead strip away the friction that the acquisition of knowledge requires. In this post, I explore three common classroom technologies: the slide deck, the laptop, and the gadgets. I offer opportunities for reintroducing friction to the classroom that can lead to higher engagement from, and connection with, our learners.”
ACRLog, Aug. 24
3d
Kerry Sheridan writes: “Two former teachers defeated conservatives in the Sarasota (Fla.) School Board race, flipping the board where a conservative majority held sway since 2022. They join two moderates on the five-member board.” The fifth seat, currently held by Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler (who did not run for re-election), will have a runoff, but Moms for Liberty activist Teresa DeWitt finished third and was eliminated. The board is officially nonpartisan, but a conservative bloc has held a majority since 2022. Equality Florida claimed the Sarasota results were part of a statewide trend.
WUSF-FM (Tampa, Fla.), Aug. 18; Florida Politics, Aug. 19; Equality Florida, Aug. 19
4d
Diana Panuncial writes: “September marks Library Card Sign-Up Month, and this year’s festivities are set to a whole new beat with Laufey, a two-time Grammy winner, serving as honorary chair. In 2025, the musician collaborated with four major US public library systems and Reykjavík (Iceland) City Library to release Laufey Book Club library cards. Today, special-edition library cards are more than just credentials. Whether they are featuring famous figures or commemorating culture and history, they’re something to flaunt. Here’s a look at other cards that are striking a major chord.
American Libraries feature, Aug. 24
6d
David Gewirtz writes: “I have long accepted one fundamental truth: Google knows everything that I do. But not everyone wants Google to access everything in Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Chat, particularly professionals who use the commercial Google Workspace service. And yet, did you know Google defaults to allowing Gemini access to all Workspace services? In this article, I’ll show you how that process works. Then, I’ll show you how to turn it off for your company.”
ZDNet, Aug. 18
