Protest zine defends library threatened with cuts

The Brum Library Zine Ella Creamer writes: “As a teenager in the 1970s, novelist Jonathan Coe spent hours in Birmingham (England) Central Library. Now, Coe is among the writers featured in a newly launched ‘protest zine’ rallying against the wide-ranging cuts to library services proposed by Birmingham city council. In March, Birmingham city council approved what were thought to be the biggest budget cuts in local authority history, including a targeted £2.3m reduction in the library budget. The number of council-funded community libraries would be reduced from 35 to either 27 or 17, depending on which proposal is pursued.”

The Guardian, Sept. 23

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Tony Lombardozzi writes: “There are a lot of moving parts and milestones to consider before starting a construction project. It may be difficult to determine where to begin. Predesign is all the preparation and planning that needs to happen before you even start thinking about design and construction implementation. Predesign may be the most difficult stage for staff because the project is still abstract, but the project will progress more smoothly if you can articulate your wants and needs. Predesign is split into four areas: needs assessment, program development, budget development, and project delivery preparation.”

American Libraries Trend, Sept./Oct.
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Paula Mauro writes: “While Banned Books Week ended on September 28, writer, director, producer—and Banned Books Week honorary chair—Ava DuVernay stresses the importance of continuing the work of amplifying marginalized voices. ‘This banned book effort is an agenda by people who want to make some of us less free, to silence the voices of some of us,’ DuVernay tells American Libraries. ‘We can overcome this, but we have to work together.’ DuVernay recorded a video conversation with Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Julia Garnett.”

AL: The Scoop, Oct. 2
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On October 3, the ALA Executive Board released a statement on what library professionals can do to support communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The full statement highlights opportunities to donate to local relief efforts and the ALA Disaster Relief Fund, which will distribute funds in cooperation with ALA chapters, volunteer time to local libraries and relief organizations, and advocate for policies and funding to ensure libraries can continue critical work during and after disasters.

AL: The Scoop, Oct. 4
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Florian Kastner writes: “JPG was developed to compress photos with lossy compression, which greatly reduced file sizes–a decisive advantage in the early days of the internet when storage space and bandwidth were still scarce resources. With the enormous progress in computer and software technology, the possibilities for image compression have also developed further. Today, modern image formats offer far better compression without compromising image quality. For many photographers, designers, and website operators, it’s becoming increasingly unattractive to rely on the outdated JPG format.” AVIF, JPEG XL, WebP, and HEIC/HEIF are likely to take its place.

PC World, Sept. 27
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Nick Dedeke writes: “In an earlier article, I discussed a few of the flaws in Europe’s flagship data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Building on that critique, I would now like to go further, proposing specifications for developing a robust privacy protection regime in the US. If a country like the US developed a different privacy approach, it would bring choice and a new perspective into this important segment of protection of the privacy of data subjects.”

Ars Technica, Sept. 28
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Brian Stephens writes: “Lack of high-speed internet is a significant problem in almost 75% of communities served by the nation’s K–12 schools, according to Funds For Learning’s annual E-Rate Applicant Survey. A key change to the E-rate program’s rules aims to narrow the ‘homework gap’ by making Wi-Fi hotspots that schools and libraries loan to students and patrons eligible for E-Rate discounts. For funding year 2025, Wi-Fi hotspots are eligible for Category One discounts. However, schools and libraries must follow a slew of requirements in order to take advantage. Here’s a closer look.”

THE Journal, Sept. 24
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Danielle Costello writes: “Unsurprising to anyone who has ever known me, when I think about my favorite games, I have a very hard time deciding on a rank order. Favorites to me exist on a wide, joyful, and ever-increasing plane. Since I’m hoping to keep this list to a reasonable length, I’m sharing some of my favorite categories of games and some standout examples. Please enjoy!” The list includes examples of board games, role-playing games for groups and individuals, and video games in several genres.

ALA Games & Gaming Round Table, Sept. 30

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