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Marshall Gunnell writes: “A family tree is a hierarchical chart that details the connection between members of a family. You can create your own family tree in PowerPoint by using one of Microsoft’s many hierarchy style SmartArt graphics. Here’s how.”

How-To Geek, Jan. 10
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According to the latest data from Pew Research, which incorporates responses from more than 9,200 Americans, around 71% of people now get at least some of their news input from social media platforms. That’s up from 68% in 2018—though Pew does note that changes in their methodology do make direct comparison between the 2018 and 2020 numbers difficult.

Social Media Today, Jan. 12
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Author and former English teacher Rachel Klein writes: “George Orwell’s 1984 is one of those ubiquitous books that you know about just from existing in the world. It’s been referenced in everything from Apple commercials to Bowie albums, and is used across the political spectrum as shorthand for the silencing of free speech and rise of oppression. And no one seems to love referencing the text, published by George Orwell in 1949, more than the conservative far-right in America—which would be ironic if they’d actually read it or understood how close their own beliefs hew to the totalitarianism Orwell warned of.”

Electric Lit, Jan. 13
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Readers’ advisor Becky Spratford writes: “One of the big problems in 2020 (among many) was rethinking book discovery in a social distant environment. When you provide curbside delivery of requested items, you need to think about more than the transaction in front of you. Think about their next visit. Think about helping them find something else to put on hold. Think about promoting more titles and services. Think about their overall library experience. Or as I like to put it more succinctly, think of your curbside patrons as a captive audience!”

RA for All, Jan. 11
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Diana Panuncial writes: “Sheri Czulno, head library clerk at Chicago Public Library (CPL)’s Vodak–East Side branch, says she doesn’t consider herself much of a reader—but when she was asked to take over the branch’s Masterpiece Book Club in 2012, she knew she had to fulfill Great Expectations. Masterpiece, the longest-running prime-time drama series on television, marks its 50th anniversary this January. Celebrating the series’ ties to literature, libraries across the country have formed book clubs centered on watching the historical dramas and reading the source books in tandem, offering patrons a twofold opportunity to escape to a different world.

American Libraries Trend, Jan./Feb.
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Our collective knowledge of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to evolve as researchers across the world work to understand and combat the virus. In such an uncertain information landscape, establishing best practices isn’t easy; it requires library workers to balance community needs with the best available guidelines for limiting the virus’s spread. Since May, the REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) project—an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)–funded collaboration between OCLC and the research and development organization Battelle—has been studying surface transmission risks of common library and museum materials. Results from the first five rounds of tests, illustrated in this infographic, show that the virus’s survival time varies widely.

American Libraries feature, Jan./Feb.
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Boston Public Library announced its Repairing America initiative on January 11, pledging to use its 2021 programming and services to help bridge gaps that divide America. The library is focusing its institutional priorities on finding ways to help Americans become more resilient and able to face and recover from the challenges of today. The theme and priorities of Repairing America will drive key BPL offerings in 2021, ranging from high-profile speaker series and community services to a yearlong reading challenge and several equity-related initiatives.

Boston Public Library, Jan. 11