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Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe writes: “Almost every discussion I have about Unsub, whether with librarians or publishers, at some point turns to assumptions about what decisions librarians will or will not make with respect to retaining subscriptions if they turn away from the Big Deal model for subscribing to journal content. Today I share the results of looking at the retained title lists from seven libraries that walked away from Elsevier’s Big Deal package.” -
The National Coalition against Censorship is asking University of Kentucky to cancel its plans to remove a 1930’s-era mural depicting aspects of Kentucky history, including slavery. Some students have demanded its removal because they consider it demeaning to people of color on campus. In 2018, the university commissioned an installation by Karyn Olivier, a noted Black artist, that was painted above the mural and is intended as a response to it. -
As colleges and universities gear up for distance learning or a limited return to campus, streaming media is emerging as a key tool. These products for libraries focus on films, art, and music and make streaming a valuable resource for both independent study and structured lessons, on and off campus. -
Though the daily news is filled with reports of climate change, severe weather, environmental distress, and endangered species, children’s librarians and educators might be uncertain how to incorporate these topics into their current curriculum. Christine M. Kirker’s 25 Projects for Eco Explorers, published by ALA Editions, presents more than two dozen ready-to-use projects on environmental topics that can be integrated into K–5 educational lesson plans and library programming for children aged 4–10. -
The Library Leadership and Management Association’s PR Xchange Committee has announced the winners of this year’s PR Xchange Awards Competition. This year, there were 25 “born digital” winners and 25 “originally print” winners. A complete listing of this year’s winners is available at bit.ly/2020-PRXchangeAwards -
Deborah Takahashi writes: “Teen library staff has the opportunity to provide teens with a safe space to open up about their feelings and provide them with resources to educate and empower themselves. Sadly, BIPOC youth face a variety of factors that may prevent them from discussing their mental health to accessing care, and that is where libraries can help.” -
In a July 13 statement, the Public Library Association called on public library workers to commit to structural change and to take action to end systemic racism and injustice. PLA thanked members of its Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice for its guidance and leadership in development of this statement and call to action. -
Melissa Sokol writes: “In light of the pandemic my library system had to adapt our Summer Reading Program, which means the kids are not able to pick out their own prize books. While I am limited to what is in our stock pile when awarding prize books, I am starting to explore what I can offer these fans of made-up worlds and futures that feature people from diverse backgrounds as main characters.” -
Core Virtual Forum, November 18 and 20, has announced its keynote speakers, Meredith D. Clark and Sofia Leung. Clark is a journalist, assistant professor in media studies at University of Virginia, and faculty affiliate at the Center on Digital Culture and Society at University of Pennsylvania. Leung is a librarian, facilitator, and educator offering tailored workshops, training, consultations, coaching, and collaborations that employ antiracist, antioppressive frameworks. -
Robert Ambrogi writes: “Recent years have seen an unprecedented surge in the use of technology and artificial intelligence within the legal profession, and the betting money says the pandemic will only further accelerate that surge. With that comes both opportunities and challenges for law libraries. As technology and AI push the boundaries of legal research and knowledge management, some may wonder, ‘Is the future of the law librarian threatened by a robot revolution?’” -
On July 6, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that visas for international students in the US may be revoked if they are not taking in-person classes in fall 2020. The Association for Library and Information Science Education announced in a July 9 statement that it opposes the enforcement of this policy as it imposes rules that are harmful, cruel, and impractical to thousands of international students who are currently enrolled in US higher education institutions. -
How you and your staff react to a threat is paramount to the success of your response. The inability to react effectively may damage your facility or collections and could contribute to injury or death. This excerpt from Library as Safe Haven: Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians (ALA Neal-Schuman) provides planning tools for libraries.
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