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ALA, a premier partner of National Voter Registration Day, encourages libraries to sign up to observe the unofficial holiday on September 24. Libraries that sign up by September 12 will receive a toolkit of free promotional materials: posters and stickers, and opportunities for training. National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan, unofficial holiday celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of September. US libraries provide voter registration forms and information about voting, as well as offer computers that patrons can use to register to vote, update their registrations, or research information about the candidates and the issues.

Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Aug. 23
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Matthew Wood writes: “Librarians are information scientists, researchers, teachers, crusaders. Also, book nerds, but that’s not the story’s end! A Master of Library and Information Science is what makes someone a librarian. As Doctor Who’s Alice Obiefune was fond of reminding The Doctor, without the MLS you’re a library assistant. Here are the librarians as adventurers, fighters, crusaders, weirdos. The people who assist heroes, chronicle truths, and otherwise improve the world. Next time you check out a book, understand that the brilliant mind on the counter’s other side could be one of these . . .”

Comic Book Resources, Aug. 22
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Joshua Goldman writes: “People have strong opinions about laptop bags. I’m used to battles with things like Mac versus Windows or PC gaming versus console. But backpacks versus shoulder or messenger bags? ‘The only acceptable way to wear a backpack is one-strapping it,’ said CNET Senior Managing Editor Dan Ackerman. ‘Backpacks are better for your back health if you’re a commuter,’ said Senior Editor Bridget Carey. Others were willing to split the difference and say shoulder bags are better for work and backpacks are for travel. The only common ground was that there is a special place in hell for people who refuse to take off their backpacks on a crowded subway.”

CNET, Aug. 23
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Chris Hoffman writes: “Windows lets you choose large, medium, or small desktop icons. But did you know many other size options are available? You can fine-tune the size of your desktop icons with a quick shortcut that involves your mouse wheel. The standard desktop icon sizes are available in the desktop’s context menu. For extra size options, position your mouse cursor over the desktop, hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, and scroll the mouse wheel up or down. Stop scrolling and release the CTRL key when you’ve found your preferred size.”

How-To Geek, Aug. 23
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Alex Colon and Sascha Segan write: “4G LTE networks are better than ever, and with 5G on the horizon, wireless web surfing can be faster than your home Wi-Fi connection. While most modern smartphones have a hotspot mode for occasional use, cellular modems and Wi-Fi hotspots are your best and most flexible option if you have many devices you want to share web access with. Here’s what you need to know to pick the right service and hardware, along with the top-rated hotspots we’ve tested, and even an international option.”

PC Magazine, Aug. 22
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Michael Kozlowski writes: “In Canada and the United States the vast majority of public libraries have an ebook collection. OverDrive stated that it powers 95% of all libraries and there are a number of smaller companies that are involved in this field as well, such as Hoopla and Bibliotheca. There are a number of e-readers that have functionality to deliver ebooks right from the library and read them. Today we look at the best ones.”

Good e-Reader, Aug. 22
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The 12-foot-tall statue of Ray Bradbury astride a rocket ship unveiled August 22 (the author’s birthday) outside the Waukegan (Ill.) Public Library honors “a literary icon and a beloved Waukeganite who gifted us his ever-expanding universe of imagination, intellect and optimism for our future,” sculptor Zachary Oxman said. The dedication was the culmination of a years-long effort that began a little more than five years ago over lunch, said Richard Lee, WPL’s former executive director and a cochair of the committee that led the statue’s fundraising effort. The statue tells the story of a man “beaming with unbridled imagination, curiosity, and surprise,” Oxman said.

Lake County (Ill.) News-Sun, Aug. 23