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On October 21, ALA released a statement regarding a recent “series of difficult but necessary workforce changes as part of its ongoing
ALA Forward initiative—a comprehensive effort to align the organization’s structure and programs with its strategic priorities, sustainability, and mission impact.
The workforce changes reflect the outcomes of extensive organizational and program assessments conducted over the past year.
Among those affected by the workforce changes is Deborah Caldwell-Stone, longtime director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and a leading national voice in the fight against censorship.”...
AL: The Scoop, Oct. 21; American Libraries column, June
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Megan Bennett writes: “London, Milan, New York, and Paris are hosting their Fashion Weeks throughout September and October.” American Libraries’ By the Numbers column highlights statistics related to the intersection of libraries and fashion, including the number of 20th-century vintage sewing and knitting patterns held by Arizona State University’s California Center Library in Los Angeles, the number of shoes held in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s library in New York City, and the year the International Library of Fashion Research opened in Oslo, Norway....
American Libraries Trend, Sept./Oct.
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American Libraries shares library news from around the world, including the long-awaited reopening of the Johannesburg City Library in South Africa, the Taliban’s censorship of books and academic subjects from Afghan universities, and the opening of a pop-up Star Wars library at Singapore’s Changi Airport....
American Libraries Online, Oct. 16
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We are looking for libraries across the country to host satellite events that will livestream TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures,
a daylong symposium showcasing ideas designed to inform and inspire.
TED Democracy LIVE will bring these crucial conversations to every state and territory in the US and increase access to groundbreaking TED Talks to amplify community involvement, foster engagement, and inspire conversation around democracy.
Visit Philadelphia is collaborating with the American Library Association to find libraries to host TED Democracy LIVE.
Learn more. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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Elizabeth Szkirpan writes: “There are dozens of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) platforms that we must measure against our library’s tried-and-true resources to gauge which tools truly bring a new perspective or added value to our collections.
It’s an overwhelming time to vet and license library resources.
To cut through the noise, I’ve narrowed down the many things I want to ask vendors to five questions to better understand how a new AI tool might bring new depth or insight to my library’s user experience.”...
Choice 360: LibTech Insights, Oct.
20
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On October 21, Penguin Random House and United for Libraries announced a 2026 grant program for rural and small libraries across the country.
Grants of $500 and $1,000 (totaling $25,000), will be awarded to support libraries in need.
Specifically, grant funds will assist Friends groups, or nonprofit groups that support and fundraise for libraries in their communities, with priority projects.
Applications for the program will be open from December 17 to January 21, 2026; learn more in
free information sessions
December 18 and January 6....
United for Libraries, Oct.
21
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Marie Langevin writes: “There’s nothing quite like the energy of the American Association of School Librarians National Conference: the sessions that spark new ideas, the hallway conversations that lead to unexpected collaborations, the keynotes that reminded you of the importance of your work, and the reminder that we’re part of a vibrant community of learners.
But once the excitement fades and you’re back in your library, it’s easy for all that inspiration to get lost in the day-to-day. Here are practical ways to keep that momentum going and make sure you truly maximize your conference experience.”...
Knowledge Quest, Oct.
21
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Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos writes: “When Bonnie and Barry Augustine moved to the Nashville, Tennessee, suburb of Donelson in 1980, they found a quiet neighborhood—too quiet. But Donelson has boomed since then, along with Nashville itself.
One major sign of its transformation is the opening of the new Donelson branch of Nashville Public Library in June 2024. Sited in the middle of a once-sleepy 1960s strip mall, the 25,000-square-foot facility has an ambitious goal: to serve as a vibrant community anchor for an older first-suburb that has long lacked a traditional downtown.”...
Bloomberg, Oct. 14
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Benjamin Fincher writes: “Role-playing games are powerful tools for building interpersonal and teaching skills.
Running a game requires preparation, organization, communication, adaptability, and empathy—all qualities that translate directly to teaching, leadership, and outreach.
Games act like sandboxes.
They allow us to experiment with ideas and methods without fear of failure or lasting consequences.
Preparing for and leading a Dungeons & Dragons session mirrors many elements of instruction: developing clear notes, creating a welcoming environment, managing time, and gathering feedback to improve.”...
RIPS Law Librarian Blog, Oct.
20
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Daniel E. Feinberg and Tamara Druash write: “Mentoring has been a part of every career in the modern era.
It has been practiced so that a seasoned veteran in a career will give guidance to a protégé or a person new at a job.
However, what happens when a mentoring system is not in place at an institution, or if there are not enough tenured mentors available? In this article, two academic librarians tackled teaming up to work towards promotion, creating an informal peer-to-peer mentoring partnership.”...
Journal of Creative Library Practice, Oct.
16
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Shan Abdul writes: “Google Drive offers 15 GB of free storage, but that space can run out faster than you might think.
But you don’t have to rush to buy extra storage.
With a few simple cleanup steps, you can quickly reclaim space and make room for what really matters.
Many people overlook that Drive’s 15 GB of free storage is also shared across Gmail and Google Photos.
This means that the real culprit behind your full storage might not even be the Drive itself.”...
How-To Geek, Oct. 18
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Rachael Robison writes: “Villain protagonist books explore the dark side of literature.
By framing the villain as protagonist, you get to see their side of the story.
Is their villain origin story justified or are they just using excuses to live out their baser nature? From disturbing stories of serial killers to charming bands of thieves who just get a bad rap, villain protagonist books run the gamut of the literary genres.
With a little something for everyone, these books with a villain as protagonist will turn the tables on the normal hero story.”...
Booklist Queen, Oct. 20
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Annie Reneau writes: “The librarians at New Berlin (Wis.) Public Library created and shared a hilariously unhinged
promotional video [featuring a trust fall gone wrong] that has been viewed by millions.
It was so unexpectedly dark, but in the most delightful way, and it had people howling.
But New Berlin isn’t the only library to post a cheeky promo video.
Check out North Little Rock (Ark.) Public Library System’s
video about people ‘literally knocking down’ their door to get a library card, or watch a librarian
swipe a water bottle out of someone’s hand at Marysville (Ohio) Public Library.”...
Upworthy, Oct. 13; New Berlin (Wis.) Public Library, Oct.
3; North Little Rock (Ark.) Public Library System, Sept.
16; Marysville (Ohio) Public Library, Sept.
14
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