|
Lisa Varga writes: “The federal government shutdown, which begins today, will have cascading effects across the nation and our economy.
For one, it will pause federal programs and slow support for services that many Americans rely on every day.
This morning, ALA members and other library workers at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office and other federal agencies have been pulled away from their work.
Their income and employment have been put at risk, and the libraries and users who use their services are missing access to them.”...
AL: The Scoop, Oct. 1
| |
|
“Dan Montgomery will start his role as the ALA’s new executive director on November 10. He will become the first nonlibrarian to serve in that position in the Association’s nearly 150-year history, overseeing a membership of 45,000 people and 180 staffers. Montgomery comes to ALA from the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), where he served as president of the 103,000-member organization for the past 15 years, advocating on behalf of public education and the rights of workers.
He spoke with American Libraries about his goals for the Association, his union activism, and how library spaces can build lifelong memories.”...
American Libraries Online, Sept.
25
| |
|
The following libraries are winners of the 2025 Library Building Awards, sponsored by Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures (a division of ALA) and the American Institute of Architects. The awards recognize the best in library architecture and design and are open to any architect licensed in the US. Projects may be located anywhere in the world....
American Libraries feature, Sept./Oct.
| |
|
|
|
Jasmine Simmons and Sophia Medina write: “Many academic librarians wonder how to get more students into campus libraries.
At the University of Florida’s (UF) George A. Smathers Libraries in Gainesville, we’ve had success by bringing the library to students.
In 2021, we created the peer-to-peer Undergraduate Library Advisors program, where four students help to spread awareness of library resources and services among UF’s nearly 40,000 undergrads. Our goal was to make sure students knew that our six vibrant campus libraries offer myriad academic resources—as well as student wellness resources and opportunities to discover, explore, and create.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.
| |
|
Daniel Pfeiffer writes that after OpenAI’s
‘disappointing’ launch of ChatGPT 5, “We are due for a reevaluation of our assumptions about AI use, development, and prospects.
A new economic report created by OpenAI, Harvard, and Duke researchers uses a large set of granular data to ask the critical question ‘How are people actually using ChatGPT?’ Only 19.5% of all messages asked ChatGPT to ‘do’ things in a work context—that is, create new outputs.
People are using ChatGPT less as a replacement worker and more as an advisor and research assistant.”...
Choice 360: LibTech Insights, Sept.
24; Marcus on AI, Aug. 9
| |
|
Raven Smith writes: “Once the degree is in hand, the next step is applying for library jobs.
Let’s talk about what comes next and how to navigate the job search with confidence and realism.
Landing your first post-MLIS job is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with complexity.
By approaching the process with curiosity, honesty, and preparation, you can find a role that aligns with your goals and values.
Trust yourself, do your research, and remember: You’ve earned this.”...
Public Libraries Online, Sept.
29
| |
|
|
|
ALA and partners in the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition expressed disappointment with the September 30 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote to end E-Rate support for library and school hotspot lending programs and school bus Wi-Fi. The FCC’s action overturns its 2024 order establishing hotspot lending programs for schools and libraries.
These initiatives provided critical connectivity to millions of students and library patrons who lack reliable internet access at home.
Although disappointed by the outcome, ALA, SHLB, and its partners will continue to advocate for policies that expand broadband access and support libraries and other community anchor institutions....
ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Sept.
30
| |
|
Jim Milliot writes: “In a joint statement issued September 26, ReaderLink and Baker & Taylor (B&T) announced they have ‘mutually’ agreed to call off the proposed acquisition of B&T by ReaderLink announced
earlier in September. While publishers, suppliers, and others in the industry were relieved the troubled wholesaler would stay in business,
many were concerned about how much of the outstanding obligations B&T owed publishers they would be able to pay following completion of the deal.”...
Publishers Weekly, Sept.
26, Sept. 24, Sept. 11
| |
|
Jennifer H. Svan writes: “Two Democrats on Capitol Hill are trying to add some legislative branch clout alongside an ongoing court battle over the removal of hundreds of books from Defense Department schools.
US Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) introduced the
Stop Censoring Military Families Act
September 19. It seeks to restore nearly
600 books pulled from the library shelves and classrooms at Department of Defense Education Activity schools for a Pentagon-directed content review.
The bill was referred to the Armed Services Committee and the Education and Workforce Committee for consideration.”...
Stars and Stripes, Sept.
23; Military.com, July 14
| |
|
|
|
Annelise Levy writes: “A California federal judge granted preliminary approval of Anthropic’s
$1.5 billion settlement to resolve authors’ copyright class action over the artificial intelligence company’s downloading of millions of pirated books.
Anthropic will pay about $3,000 for each of the 482,460 books it downloaded from pirate libraries Library Genesis and Pirate Library Mirror, and destroy the original and copied files.
The decision comes weeks after Judge William Alsup on September 8
postponed approval of the deal and slammed class lawyers over concerns they were striking a deal behind the scenes.”...
Bloomberg Law, Sept. 25; Sept. 8; Words & Money, Sept. 5
| |
|
Dan Kois and Rebecca Onion write: “On October 7, 2010, The New York Times ran a story on its front page: ‘Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children.’ The next year, a group of 21 creators issued a
picture-book manifesto. Picture books have undergone a revolution in the past 25 years—one that was already underway before that Times obit, but which that manifesto helped spur along.
The art form is now remarkably different from what it was when we were little.
To make this guide, we surveyed more than a hundred authors, illustrators, librarians, booksellers, academics, and publishing pros.”...
Slate, Sept. 22; New York Times, Oct.
7, 2010
| |
|
Vanessa Armstrong writes: “Reading Rainbow is the touchstone for many people’s childhoods, a beloved show hosted by LeVar Burton that imbued its young audience a love of reading and telling stories. The PBS show has sadly been off the air since 2009. September 29, however, we found out the amazing news that the show is coming back, with social media treasure Mychal Threets—Mychal the Librarian—hosting. The trailer shows Mychal hanging out with kids as well as famous people, some of whom read cool stories.
Craft-making will also be part of the series.”...
Reactor, Sept. 29
| | |
|
|
|
American Libraries Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Wednesday to personal members of ALA.
Editor, AL Direct: Greg Landgraf
Direct ad inquiries to: Melissa Carr
Send news and feedback: AL Direct
All links outside the ALA website are provided for informational purposes only. Questions about the content of any external site should be addressed to the administrator of that site. AL Direct FAQ.
American Libraries will not sell your email to outside parties, but your email may be shared with advertisers in this newsletter should you express interest in their products by clicking on their ads or content. If advertisers choose to communicate with you by email, they are obligated to provide you with an opportunity to opt-out from future emails in compliance with the CAN-SPAM act of 2003 and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation of 2018. Read the ALA privacy policy.
To manage your American Libraries email preferences, click here.
To unsubscribe from all ALA emails, click here.
American Library Association | 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300 | Chicago, IL 60601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg){kind=spacer}
