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Christine Frascarelli writes: “Our July 2021 Uncorked Reading Challenge theme is books set on an island. I couldn’t think of a more perfect summer prompt. Of course, you could travel via a good book to gorgeous islands like Hawaii and Santorini. In one of my new favorites, Ariadne, get tipsy with Dionysus on Naxos. Or pick up a book set on an imaginary island, books based loosely on real destinations, or books set on larger island countries like Indonesia or Japan. In the process, let Jamaica Kincaid school you on conscious tourism. So, what are some of the best books set on islands to take you there?”
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A pair of Christian parents in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, are suing the East Penn School District, claiming their children should be exempt from lessons concerning the Black Lives Matter movement. Macungie residents Maureen and Christopher Brophy say in their lawsuit that topics discussed in their children’s classrooms such as “systematic racism,” “white fragility,” “religion,” “white privilege,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “police brutality,” are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. They claim those topics are anti-Christian and discriminate against their religion. The lawsuit was filed June 14 in federal court.
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AASL has released its annual list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning. The recognition honors electronic resources that provide enhanced learning and curriculum development for school librarians and their educator collaborators. These user-friendly tools are recognized for fostering the qualities of innovation/creativity, active participation, collaboration, exploration, and information/reference. The technology resources are also evaluated for their application of AASL’s “National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.”
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Betsy Ladyzhets writes: “In the spring of 2020, the first versions of COVID-19 exposure notification systems were released to the public. These systems promised to slow the disease’s spread by providing automated warnings to people who came into contact with the virus. Now, over a year later, residents in more than 50 countries—including half of US states—can opt into these systems. But the big question remains: how well did this technology work?”
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Zac Ginsburg writes: “Whether you’ll keep working from home or return to the office, the pandemic has shown us the importance of a safe, comfortable workspace. For many of us forced to do our jobs where we lived, that meant creating a makeshift station out of whatever space or supplies were available. After nine months of remote teaching, I had back and neck pain, chronic stomach aches, a high baseline of anxiety, and, worst of all, agony in my shoulder that woke me up at night.”
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In Episode 63, Call Number with American Libraries looks at outdoor-related activities with conversations about bugs (most notably the Brood X cicadas) with Ohio County (W.Va.) Public Library, this summer’s best beach reads with Booklist’s Senior Editor of Collection Management and Library Outreach Susan Maguire, and Delmont (Pa.) Public Library’s new outdoor learning center.
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Linda W. Braun writes: “The pandemic has only reinforced questions youth services staffers have asked themselves before: What skills, knowledge, and mindsets are needed to serve young people and their caregivers in the modern age? And in particular, what does it take to reach nondominant youth and families? (That is, those who belong to historically marginalized groups and may have diminished social or political power.) Two recent projects are working to address these questions.”
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Desmond Hunnighen, library information assistant at New York Public Library’s Hamilton Grange Library, writes: “Happy Pride Month! Celebrate Pride with these short story collections that show some of the many dimensions of LGBTQ life. Join the Library in celebrating Pride Month throughout June with book recommendations, free online events, resources, and more.”
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Jordan Smith writes: “It has appeared on numerous ‘Best of’ lists, including The Guardian 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, it has won multiple awards and weathered numerous challenges. Despite all that, Persepolis is still causing controversy 20 years after its publication date. Long Island’s Commack High School removed Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (right) from its required reading list. Jordan Cox, the executive director of instructional services, declined to specify any reasons other than its ‘graphic nature’ in some parts. The decision was made months ago by a committee and announced at a community forum on June 8. Persepolis will still be available to read and for electives.”
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Changes the Ohio Senate made to its version of the state’s next budget bill could set back the state’s work on broadband expansion and threaten existing municipal networks. The House version included $190 million in funding for a new broadband expansion grant program, established by House Bill 2 earlier this year. House Bill 2, which passed the Senate unanimously April 28, included an initial $20 million in funding for that program, with more expected to come from the budget. Then, the Senate unveiled its own version of the bill—one that completely cut broadband funding.
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More and more websites and web services have been launching a way for users to add and display their pronouns recently. The latest addition to the list is Zoom, which has just unveiled the “pronouns” feature for version 5.7 of the video conferencing platform. This new feature adds a dedicated text field on the profile page where users can type in their pronouns and a drop-down menu with sharing controls for the feature.
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Alaina Yee writes: “Each year, laptops improve across the board—between technology advances and the pressure of competition, the hardware inside offers better performance in greater leaps and bounds. That means you don’t need to spend on a premium model to get a solid notebook. Whether it’s a traditional clamshell or a convertible with a 360-degree hinge, spending between $600 and $1,000 can get you a laptop you’ll enjoy using. Moreover, it’ll last the length of the work or school day without trouble. Enough options exist now that finding the right model for you can take some time, so we’ve highlighted our top picks to make the hunt fast and easy.”
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