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    5 Minute Librarian blog

    Courtney Wolfe writes: “As a programming librarian, it can be hard to consistently provide creative, original ideas for your patrons. But there’s a simple solution for librarians seeking support and inspiration: the blogosphere. On the web there are hundreds of librarians writing about everything from programming ideas to the comical (and sometimes irritating) things patrons do. Programming Librarian talked to a few of our favorite bloggers.”

    Programming Librarian, Apr. 16

  • Latest Library Links

    • 2d

      Tiny Bible discovered in the Leeds librarylivius writes: “Librarians at the Leeds (U.K.) Central Library took advantage of the lockdowns to thoroughly survey and catalogue the rare book and special collections. In the process, they documented more than 3,000 items that had fallen through the cracks, including a Bible so small that you need a magnifying glass to read it.” The survey also found a copy of Oliver Twiss, a low-cost contemporary that lifts heavily from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.

      The History Blog, May 9; The Independent (U.K.), May 5

    • 2d

      Public Library Association logoThe Public Library Association is now accepting applications for public libraries to receive funding to conduct digital literacy workshops using DigitalLearn.org resources. The PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive Program, supported by AT&T, provides up to $7,000 to support outreach and training in local communities. The application deadline is June 10. Library staff can learn more about this opportunity on May 19, 2022, at 1 p.m. Central as part of the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive Office Hour. The webinar also will be archived and posted online.

      Public Library Association, May 17

    • 2d

      Stuffed animalsJulie Kim writes: “Watching an adorable kid lovingly curl up with their favorite stuffed animal can be achingly cute … until you think about where that stuffie has been. The sandbox, the car trunk, the dog’s mouth—oh, my! And then, ugh, what’s been on that stuffie (I have observed a kid burying boogers into the fur of their favorite stuffed lion). Officially grossed out? Fortunately, many stuffed animals and plush dolls are machine-washable. Vinyl dolls should never be submerged in water. But with some supplies and techniques, you can remove grime and even undo a doll’s marker makeover.”

      New York Times, May 12

    • 3d

      Call Number: Setting Up for Self-CareIn Episode 71 of Call Number with American Libraries, “Setting Up for Self-Care,” we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, observed each May. The importance of self-care has become clearer than ever in recent years, especially in the age of the pandemic. In this episode, AL editors speak with Randa Lopez Morgan about Louisiana State University Library’s Relaxation Room, Rebecca Tolley about her book A Trauma-Informed Approach to Library Services, and Michelle Schaub, who implemented yoga classes in the Monona (Wis.) Grove High School library.

      AL: The Scoop, Apr. 16

    • 3d

      Clothing on hangers in a storeMelissa Grasso writes: “I love wearing clothes. Nothing can boost my confidence like a cute outfit. Especially when days can be so…repetitive, clothes bring me life.” Recommendations include creative jumpers, cardigans, suspenders, overalls, and matching sets. However, “if you’re just starting at a new job, aim formal and then you can scale down. Clothes have the power to make you stand out in a good, or bad, way. Use your good sense and, if you have to ask if it’s work-appropriate, then it’s not.

      Hack Library School, May 10

    • 3d

      Law booksPatrick Flanagan, Jill L. Kilgore, and Jennifer Mendez write: “Law librarianship has evolved over the last several decades. Gone are the days when law librarians were thought of as simply the gatekeepers of stacks of books—so long Federal Reporter! Law librarians have been embracing and driving innovation since at least the introduction of microfiche, which may not seem like a disruptive innovation today, but its history proves otherwise. It’s no surprise then that the role of the law librarian has continued to evolve just as the technology used in law libraries has evolved.”

      AALL Spectrum, May/June 2022

    • 3d

      Girl looking at books on a shelfHannah Natanson writes: “Republican lawmakers across the country are proposing legislation that would target online library databases and library management technology—tools built by a half-dozen large companies that catalogue millions of books, journals and articles that students peruse for assignments. These bills—already enacted in Utah and Tennessee, on the verge of becoming law in Oklahoma, and proposed in at least six other states—are broadly similar. They require databases to remove and block student access to material that is obscene, pornographic, sexually exploitative of children or “harmful to minors”—designations that opponents say could encompass a wide range of texts.”

      Washington Post, May 10

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