11h
Amelia Schafer writes: “The Chicago National Archives holds hundreds of thousands of Bureau of Indian Affairs records spanning nearly two centuries, but the site is set to close by the end of September. There is no clear answer about where the documents are going or when they’ll next be accessible. There are maps, photos, court records, first-hand testimonies, Indigenous language materials, genealogies, and more stored in the archives, all of which is at risk, according to tribal historians. According to a leaked inter-agency email, San Francisco and Seattle’s National Archives are both slated to close as well.”
ICT, Sept. 6; Federal News Network, June 25
15h
Aster Zhao writes: “Across all three platforms, the strongest use case for these AI features is early-stage research: learning unfamiliar vocabulary, assessing whether a document is relevant, or locating a useful passage in a long text. Database embedded tools can lower the barrier for novice researchers because they operate in databases libraries already license. Their limitations are equally clear. None of these tools are well suited for expert, transparent, or reproducible searching. The tools generally support one document, chapter, or viewed result set at a time—not synthesis across a full literature. Output quality is another challenge.”
Katina, Sept. 11
19h
Amelia N. Aldred writes: “In July, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way for Act 372, a law that promotes censorship in libraries and other places, to go into effect. This is part of an ongoing lawsuit, Fayetteville Public Library v. Murray, that challenged sections of Act 372. Here are the facts about Act 372, the Eighth Circuit Court decision, and how advocates can support libraries and library workers in Arkansas.”
Unite Against Book Bans, Sept. 10
1d
“Given the increasing threat US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) poses to immigrant and refugee communities across the United States, Toward Inclusive Excellence is returning to the topic of how best to support these communities on college and university campuses. Our September 2 webinar brought together three academic librarians to share the steps and protocols they have employed on their campuses, along with suggestions for how academic librarians can respond to this moment.” The Public Library Association hosted a similar webinar in February, but this webinar specifically focuses on the academic library community.
Choice: Toward Inclusive Excellence, Sept. 2, American Libraries feature, Summer
1d
ALA’s Nominating Committee is seeking nominees for the positions of ALA president-elect, executive board member, and councilor-at-large in the 2027 spring election. The president-elect will serve a three-year term as president-elect in 2027–2028, president in 2028–2029, and immediate past president in 2029–2030. The committee will select no fewer than 18 candidates for the 12 at-large council seats. Councilors-at-large and executive board members will serve three-year terms beginning in 2027. For more information or to nominate a candidate, visit the ALA Election website. The nomination deadline is October 31.
ALA Governance Office, Sept. 10
2d
Amy Hardin writes: “Library renovations can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re juggling tight budgets, big community expectations, and a building that’s showing its age. The good news is you don’t have to choose between ‘do nothing’ and ‘tear it down.’ Most successful library upgrades live somewhere in the middle: a smart, phased plan that protects your long-term vision while making meaningful improvements right now. Here are a few practical ways to think about approaching a library renovation.”
American Libraries Online, Sept. 15
3d
Violet Fox writes: “In March 2025, I wrote about anticipatory obedience at the Library of Congress (LC), describing how LC fast tracked changes to the Library of Congress Subject Headings relating to the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali. When Trump issued an executive order on August 27 directing federal agencies to change Lake Ontario to Lake America, catalogers around the world waited to see how LC would handle the changes. On September 3, LC scheduled a proposal to change the subject heading, and on September 11, the change was approved. The speed with which this happened is astounding.”
ACRLog, Sept. 12; Mar. 28, 2025
