Author Archive: Karen Lindell

Child kneeling near a small structure on the ground made up of sticks, moss, rocks, and acorns.

The Gnome Depot

By Karen Lindell | June 1, 2026

Bunker, children’s librarian at Centennial Park Library (CPL) in Greeley, Colorado, had that opportunity as she prepared for one of her most popular summer programs last year. She also set out twigs, moss, leaves, pine cones, acorns, rocks, grass, berries, and other items gathered from her own home and around the library grounds. Her workshop, … Continue reading The Gnome Depot →

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Lexi Kadis writes: “I was in a state of perpetual déjà vu throughout the spring 2026 semester. Just a year ago, I was on the academic librarian job market—revising CVs, writing cover letters, interviewing—and now, I was helping six MLIS graduate students navigate the job search process. I have learned that supporting MLIS students on the job market takes a great deal of time, energy, and emotional labor, and I wanted to share my experiences and perspective on how to provide effective and sustainable mentorship to MLIS students.”

ACRLog, June 11
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Greta Heng, Patricia Lampron, and Myung-Ja Han write: “While generative artificial intelligence (AI) shows some potential as a supplementary tool, it is not capable of replacing catalogers. Metadata creation is not merely a task of transcription or extracting information from a cover page; it requires critical judgment, subject expertise, and contextual understanding that current generative AI models are not capable of replicating. The inability of these tools to consistently follow detailed cataloging rules, validate authority data, or apply complex subject headings highlights their limitations and immaturity in the library domain. Responsible integration of AI into cataloging workflows must acknowledge these shortcomings and guard against overreliance.”

Information Technology and Libraries, vol. 45, no. 2, June 15
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Joey Wender writes: “On June 4, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft proposal that should alarm schools and libraries around the country. Tucked inside a long document is a direct question: Should the E-Rate program be ‘limited or sunset’? When E-Rate began in the late 1990s, most schools and libraries had little or no internet access. Today, nearly every school in the country has a high-speed connection. The FCC points to that success and suggests the job is finished. The reality is the opposite. That connectivity exists because E-Rate supports it year after year.”

American Libraries Online, June 16, Benton Institute for Broadband and Society Digital Beat, June 11
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Earlier this year, Sarah Lamdan was promoted to executive director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) after joining the Association in 2024 as OIF deputy director. Prior to joining ALA, Lamdan was a librarian and law professor at City University of New York School of Law, where her research focused on information access, privacy, and other legal issues related to librarianship. She is author of two books, most recently Data Cartels, which looks at privacy and access as they relate to data analytics companies and platforms. Lamdan answered our 11 Questions to introduce herself to ALA members.

AL: The Scoop, June 16
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Alejandro Marquez writes: “When I graduated from library school, I wanted to become an administrator. I envisioned myself leading teams, shaping the direction of the organization I joined, and advocating for the people and projects I believed in. However, I encountered persistent constraints around budgets and time, faced overwhelming workloads, and, most significantly, was confronted with the ongoing need to support and mentor struggling colleagues. A significant number of talented and dedicated library workers are saying ‘no’ to traditional managerial roles. This essay will explore the factors driving this trend.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, June 9
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Elizabeth Szkirpan writes: “Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming ubiquitous. Its integration is not just limited to our personal technology but now also includes library resources. Meanwhile, vendors are constantly introducing new tools or integrations into existing products, and we must measure emerging AI platforms against our library’s tried-and-true resources to gauge which ones truly bring a new perspective or added value to our collections. To cut through the noise, I’ve narrowed down my queries for vendors to five questions to better understand how a new AI tool might enhance my library’s user experience.”

American Libraries feature, Summer
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Donna Seaman writes: “Megha Majumdar lit up the book world in 2020 with her first novel, A Burning, a galvanizing tale of social media and tyranny. It became a bestseller, was named best book of the year by many publications, and was a finalist for ALA’s Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Her gripping second novel, A Guardian and a Thief, is set in a near-future Kolkata besieged by the ever-worsening climate crisis. It received this year’s Carnegie Medal, which will be presented to Majumdar on June 27 at ALA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.”

American Libraries Trend, Summer

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