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Gary Phillips writes: “In an effort to combat the rise of misinformation, Garden State students are getting a new addition to their curriculums. Governor Phil Murphy signed bipartisan legislation (New Jersey Senate Bill 588) Wednesday that requires K–12 instruction on information literacy under the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. In doing so, the Democrat made New Jersey the first state with such a mandate. Under the new bill, students will develop critical thinking skills while learning how to find information, produce and spread information online, and the difference between facts and opinions. Per a news release, information literacy includes digital, visual, media, textual, and technological literacy.” -
ALA Treasurer Peter Hepburn writes: “We are approximately one-third of the way through ALA’s fiscal year, which runs from September 1, 2022, to August 31. The most uncertain days of the pandemic seem to be behind us. Like many of our libraries and, indeed, many of us, the Association has been through a lot. A lot. With some sense of relief, and even excitement about times ahead, I bring you an overview of the current state of ALA finance.” -
ALA President Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada writes: “When faced with unprecedented and seemly insurmountable obstacles in the world and in libraries, I ask myself: What is our professional responsibility to one another to overcome shared challenges? The answer is often to connect to institutions of collective cooperation, like our democratic society and our member-led Association. One of our greatest strengths is the simple and singular tool of using our united voice. When we unite our voices, we have the volume and power of a choir to amplify messages and make positive changes.” -
As we greet 2023, American Libraries caps off 2022 with its Year in Review. Our staffers have compiled a list of the stories that affected libraries and librarians over the past year. From continued book challenges and the reversal of Roe v. Wade to preservation efforts in Ukraine and wins for rural and tribal libraries, the profession was at the forefront of some of 2022’s biggest news stories. -
Alison Marcotte writes: “Last year, ALA debuted LibLearnX virtually because of the pandemic. This year, for the first time, the conference will be held in person. LibLearnX—which will take place January 27–30 in New Orleans—is intended for members and nonmembers to engage in collaborative learning activities, networking opportunities, celebrations, and author talks. Designed for active learning, the conference will offer more than 120 educational sessions in various formats, created by and for library professionals. Additionally, LibLearnX sees the return of ALA’s Symposium on the Future of Libraries, as well as an all-new Governance Institute geared toward prospective leaders.” -
Emily Martin writes: “It’s time to expand your horizons, RPG-lovers! Whether you’re looking for the best fantasy RPGs aside from Dungeons & Dragons or whether you want to explore something entirely different, this list of tabletop role-playing games has a little bit of everything for you. We’ve got mysteries. We’ve got superheroes. We’ve got teen gangs. We’ve got vampires. We’ve got aliens. We’ve got cyberpunk. And so much more.” -
Lyndsay Wasko writes: “Here are some entirely satirical classes I would have liked to see in my MLIS course catalog. This list is based on my program, so your curriculum might have actually included a few of these. Jealous!” Wasko’s course offerings include Fantastic Cardigans and Where to Find Them, Dunking on Dewey, and Reluctant-But-Viral Librarian TikToking. -
Jerry Craft writes: “The parents and politicians who fight to ban books like mine will never entertain the idea that our books help kids who feel like outsiders see that they are not alone. They will never see the humor, or the love, that we pour into our pages. Instead, they invent things that never actually happen in some of the books that they work so hard to ban. They throw out terms such as Marxism, even though they couldn’t tell you whether it is based on the writings of Karl or Groucho. And I sincerely doubt that anyone who criticizes a middle-grade book for teaching critical race theory even knows what this is. But this is the same angry mob mentality that will create more authors who feel the need to write their own stories, only to eventually have their books banned.” -
Carrie McBride writes: “Lest your holidays be too sweet and saccharine, how about a dash of mystery and even a sprinkling of murder? These holiday-themed cozy mysteries won’t keep you up at night with fright, but may keep you up turning the pages until the crime is solved.” -
Richard Byrne writes: “Clipping a section of a video that you’ve already uploaded to your YouTube account can be a convenient way to remedy a small problem that you didn’t notice when you initially uploaded it. For example, after uploading you might notice that you forgot to cut out a section of downtime or transition between scenes (like stage change-overs at school music recitals). You might also use the clipping function to remove the appearance of people who don’t want to appear in a published video.” -
Molly Enking writes: “As the days grow cold and dark, many families are struggling to heat their homes due to rising costs of living. Now, libraries across the United Kingdom have a plan to help: They’re becoming ‘warm banks,’ which are spaces for people who need a place to keep warm in the winter. Many libraries already function as de facto community centers for their communities’ underserved residents. Now, they’re providing free clothing, warm drinks or soups, hygiene products, and more in anticipation of growing demand this winter.” -
Maureen Johnson writes: “At one time wealth came from the land, and those who owned the land were all powerful. Times have changed. Everyone wants to eat the rich, and the rich do not want to be eaten. The impoverished noble is one of the deadliest creatures on earth, and the manor house is their weapon of choice. Should you insist on visiting a manor, familiarize yourself with this basic guide. You’ll last an extra day or so, and that may be time enough for you to make your escape.”
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