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ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo introduced “Libraries = Strong Communities,” a national advocacy effort aimed at highlighting the value of academic, public, and school libraries. This initiative is uniquely positioned to ignite public awareness of the value of libraries and library staff and create a groundswell of support at the local, state, national, and global level. Garcia-Febo announced the effort during the ALA Annual Conference Inaugural Banquet in New Orleans....
Communications and Marketing Office, June 26 |
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Reforma, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, has issued a statement on behalf of its members asserting that refugee, asylum-seeking, and immigrant families should be treated humanely, with respect and dignity, by the US government and its agencies. The statement adds that no child should be separated from his or her parents when entering the US without authorization and that incarcerating immigrant families causes harm to the family, especially to the children....
Reforma, June 27 |
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Ohio House Bill 658 proposed by Republican Reps. Tom Brinkman and Paul Zeltwanger, would require that “if a government agent or entity has knowledge that a child … demonstrates a desire to be treated in a manner opposite of the child’s biological sex,” it must “immediately notify, in writing, each of the child’s parents and the child’s guardian or custodian.” The bill would also mandate that no “treatment,” including counseling or educational materials, be provided without written parental consent. If a teacher wanted to direct a transgender or questioning student to a school counselor or books with more information about gender identity, they could face felony charges for doing so....
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, June 28 |
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Kevin Maher writes: “The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday approved level funding for the Library Services and Technology Act and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy programs, rejecting the administration’s call to eliminate funding for these important library programs. The committee approved a $2 million increase for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which administers LSTA, to cover administrative costs. Yesterday’s action comes two days after the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill. The full Senate will take up consideration of the spending bill after the July 4 recess.”...
District Dispatch, June 29
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Carrie Russell writes: “At long last, the US Senate passed the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559) by unanimous consent in a business meeting held June 28. Because the legislation makes modest amendments to Section 121 (“the Chafee Amendment”), the House Judiciary Committee must give its consent to the amended legislation before it goes to the president for his signature. Known officially as the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, it is the first treaty sponsored by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member countries that provides for an exception to international copyright law.”...
District Dispatch, June 29 |
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The American Association of School Librarians announced its 2018 Best Apps and Best Websites for Teaching and Learning at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The annual lists honor 25 apps and 25 websites that provide enhanced learning and curriculum development for school librarians and their teacher collaborators. These technology resources are chosen for their ability to foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration....
AL: The Scoop, June 28 |
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ALA Council has approved the conversion of the Graphic Novel and Comics Member Initiative Group into a round table—the first approved round table in five years. Round table status will allow for organization-wide engagement with professional and collection development, public outreach and advocacy, and internal mentorship. A member-led initiative started eight years ago, the group has been promoting the collection and support of graphic novels through a diverse range of events and sponsorships....
Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table, June 26 |
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The inspiration, guidance, and strategies presented in Maximizing School Librarian Leadership: Building Connections for Learning and Advocacy, published by ALA Editions, will support school librarians as they make connections and advocate for their central role in future-ready learning. Demonstrating the conceptual insights that have made her previous books bestsellers, Judi Moreillon details how school librarians can sustain essential connections that build a culture of learning....
ALA Editions, June 27 |
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Michael Kan writes: “Microsoft’s facial-recognition technology is getting smarter at recognizing people with darker skin tones. On June 26, the company touted its progress, though it comes amid growing worries that these technologies will enable surveillance against people of color. The company merely addressed how its facial-recognition tech could misidentify both men and women with darker skin tones. Microsoft has recently reduced the system’s error rates by up to 20 times.”...
PC Magazine, June 27, April 26 |
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Jessica Avery writes: “When I started searching for dragon shifter romance novels for this list, I figured I’d find a few. After all, shifter romances are popular and dragons easily straddle the Urban Fantasy Romance / Paranormal Romance / Fantasy Romance nexus. I found hundreds of them. I did finally land on 20 titles to include here, but if 20’s not enough to sate your dragon hunger, most of these titles are the first in their respective dragon-related series.”...
Book Riot, June 28
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