14h
James C. Zimring writes: “Science seems under assault. Attacks come from many directions, ranging from the political realm to groups and individuals masquerading as scientific entities. There is even a real risk that scientific fact will eventually be reduced to just another opinion, even when those facts describe natural phenomena—the very purpose for which science was developed. Hastening this erosion are hyperbolic claims of ‘truth’ that science is often perceived to make and that practicing researchers may themselves project, whether intentionally or not.”
The Scientist, Dec. 1
15h
Each year Booklist editors are tasked with the impossible: From thousands of 2019 book releases, select seven. These seven picks, dubbed the Top of the List, showcase the year’s most exceptional titles in the following categories: adult nonfiction, adult fiction, adult audiobook, youth nonfiction, youth fiction, youth picture book, and youth audiobook. To see which seven books editors recommend, cherish, and would probably fight to the death over (their meetings are intense) this year, watch this exciting announcement (3:00) from Donna Seaman, Sarah Hunter, and Biz Hyzy.
The Booklist Reader, Dec. 12
15h
Howard LaFranchi writes: “When teenage Danish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived by solar-powered boat in New York in September to speak before the United Nations General Assembly, she garnered so much attention one might think her youthful climate activism was unusual. Actually it’s not. All over the world, in big cities and small villages, in global powers and tiny island nations, young people are mobilizing and marching, as seen in the Black Friday global climate strike. Beyond that, young people are starting their own organizations and innovating greener everyday-living practices, all in the name of addressing climate change.”
Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 6
16h
The ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table has selected Kayla Kuni as its 2020 Emerging Leader. The sponsorship consists of a $1,000 grant towards attendance at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia and ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Kuni is a librarian at Pasco-Hernando State College in New Port Richey, Florida, where she teaches modularized developmental reading and writing and helps future business owners discover resources.
Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services, Dec. 12
16h
In a WebJunction webinar on “Civil Legal Justice: The Crucial Role of Libraries,” law librarian Catherine McGuire, who has conducted extensive trainings with public libraries, will share insights into interacting with patrons who approach the library with civil legal needs. The free webinar will take place on February 11. Participants will learn about the status of civil legal justice in our system, the vital role public libraries can play in reducing the justice gap, and about the multiweek course to be offered in April, which takes a deeper look at supporting people to navigate the complexities of the legal system. Register online.
WebJunction
17h
Choice magazine has published the fifth in a series of white papers designed to provide actionable intelligence around topics of importance to the academic library community. Written by Carol Tenopir, Research Data Services in Academic Libraries: Where Are We Today? offers a unique opportunity to revisit and re-examine findings from a 2012 ACRL survey and white paper about research data services (RDS) by reissuing the survey, appropriately updated, and writing about the changes in thjese services that have occurred in academic libraries in the past seven years.
Choice, Dec. 12
18h
Jeffrey Davies writes: “Stars—they’re just like us! So of course we would want to read a book written by our favorite celebrity if they decided to publish one, right? It could be a memoir, an essay collection, a cookbook, a book of poetry, or a self-help book—it doesn’t matter. If we love the person who wrote it, chances are the bookworm probably won’t be far away. However, sometimes we get so distracted by the stars in our eyes that we fail to realize the moments when celebrity culture clashes with reality. But first, where did this whole idea of the ‘celebrity book’ come from?”
Book Riot, Dec. 12
