Author Archive: Reanna Esmail

Community Archives, Collective Power

By Reanna Esmail | June 2, 2025

Archivists decide which histories are told and which are not, as well as who has access to these resources. The books on this list address problematic archival histories, practices, and structures, while also reimagining the archive as a potential site for community-building. Disputed Archival Heritage Edited by James Lowry Building on his 2017 edited volume … Continue reading Community Archives, Collective Power →

A Storied History

By Reanna Esmail | January 2, 2025

The Library: A Fragile History By Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen The global history recounted in this six-part title demonstrates the role information access plays in societies, with the final two sections focusing on the US and the West. Although its length may seem overwhelming, this is a straightforward read whose clear message that … Continue reading A Storied History →

Instruction Junction

By Reanna Esmail | June 3, 2024

Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning By Audrey Watters Artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionize education—or so many tech tycoons and venture capitalists commonly claim. As this title demonstrates, these promises are not novel, and their echoes can be heard in histories of educational technologies once known as teaching machines. Putting current AI hype into … Continue reading Instruction Junction →

Finding Funding

By Reanna Esmail | January 2, 2024

The Grant Writing Guide: A Road Map for Scholars By Betty S. Lai This is one of those books that accomplishes everything it promises. Divided into manageable tasks, the chapters provide practical advice, sample templates, and guided exercises to help applicants articulate their projects. Lai demystifies the grant writing process while thoughtfully reflecting on its … Continue reading Finding Funding →

Seize the Data

By Reanna Esmail | June 1, 2023

Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism By Safiya Umoja Noble Understanding algorithms is crucial for library workers grappling with emergent technologies such as artificial intelligence chatbots and their effect on information access. This is one of the first major books to examine algorithms and how they may perpetuate biased representation, remaining on point … Continue reading Seize the Data →

Latest Library Links

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On June 3, ALA announced $10,000 Building Library Capacity Grants to 16 libraries across the country to serve new Americans. The grants are supported through a three-year grant from the Mellon Foundation. Each year has focused on helping add capacity to different segments of the library community. The grants are intended to bolster library operations and services including literacy and other skill development, developing collections, staffing, expanding outreach, and maintaining and amplifying existing service strategies or adding new ones to make an impact.

ALA Chapter Relations Office, June 3
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Tommaso Bardelli, Sindy Lopez, Tammy Ortiz, and Laura Brown write: “America’s prisons and jails are information deserts. Restrictions on internet access, combined with limited library services and widespread censorship of both print and digital materials, severely restrict incarcerated individuals’ connection to the outside world. Legal information is no exception. Although access to legal information is a constitutionally mandated right, incarcerated people face significant—and often insurmountable—barriers to exercising that right. In this project that was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, we examine the national landscape of legal access in prison.”

Ithaka S+R, May 29
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Catherine Hollerbach writes: “In addition to being the state’s capital, Annapolis is a college town bustling with activities. Community members are very involved and committed to supporting the US Naval Academy (USNA) and its students, faculty, and staff. When something happens on ‘the Yard,’ it impacts the community as well. The members of the community surrounding USNA took the removal of nearly 400 books [from USNA’s Nimitz Library] personally, reacting with surprise and concern.” The Associated Press reported May 21 that all but 20 books have been returned to the library.

Public Libraries Online, June 2; Associated Press, April 4, May 21
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After significant flooding in western Maryland on May 13, Allegany County (Md.) Library (ACL) had to close two locations. George’s Creek Library reopened May 19 after minor damage to the building and no damage to collections or historical items. However, the Westernport Library remains closed after severe damage, with an early estimate of damage to the building’s collections at more than $270,000. ACL is accepting cash donations to its recovery project fund to replace furniture and damaged collections and restore computer access.

Allegany County (Md.) Library, May 19, May 29; WBAL-TV (Baltimore), May 14
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Cindy Hohl writes: “Wopida Tanka! (Many thanks!) As I reflect on my story wheel coming full circle, I am blessed to be surrounded by humble leaders who are the true helpers of society. In my final column as ALA president, I am taking this opportunity to recognize them, as it is always right to celebrate the human spirit by honoring good people. Over the past year, I hope that I have brought encouragement to colleagues across this field as we work together for a bright future. I am not sure what’s next, but I am grateful for this experience.”

American Libraries column, June/July
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Alison Marcotte writes: “The City of Brotherly Love is also a city of firsts: The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, is considered the country’s first public library. Philadelphia was the original capital of the United States. And ALA held its inaugural Convention of Librarians there during the Centennial Exposition in 1876. ALA returns to this historic and vibrant city for its 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition, to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center June 26–30. This preview offers a small sample of what to expect. For registration information and a complete list of events, visit alaannual.org.”

American Libraries feature, June/July
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Emma Roth writes: “If you’ve ever wondered how the Internet Archive uploads all the physical documents on its site, now you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the process. The Internet Archive launched a new YouTube livestream that shows the digitization of microfiche in real time—complete with some relaxing, lo-fi beats. The livestream shows a close-up look at one of the five microfiche digitization stations at the organization’s Richmond, California, location, along with a look at the document that it’s working on. It runs from Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern.”

The Verge, May 22

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