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![Louisiana: “Supreme Court Says Livingston Librarian [Amanda Jones] Can Keep Pursuing Defamation Case Over ‘Pornography’ Claim”](https://s3.amazonaws.com/WebVault/logos/infodocketStacked.jpg)
From WBRZ: The Louisiana Supreme Court says a Livingston Parish librarian who claims she was defamed by an organization that accused her of promoting pornography to kids should have her day in court. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal had ended Amanda Jones’ lawsuit against the Citizens for a New Louisiana and its leaders last […]
The full text article linked below was recently published by SLIS Connecting, the journal of The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Library and Information Science (SLIS). Title Mental Health and Well-Being in Academic Libraries: A Bibliometric Survey of Scholarly Publications, 1994-2024 Author Rebecca Arthur, MLIS Source SLIS Connecting Vol. 12: Iss. 2, Article 4. […]
From The Globe and Mail: The Calgary Public Library first flagged suspicious activity on its servers on Oct. 10. Less than 24 hours later, it confirmed the library was the target of a full-fledged cyberattack. Security teams chose to pro-actively shut down the servers rather than leave systems vulnerable, a decision that chief executive officer Sarah […]
AI ChatGPT Search Tool Vulnerable to Manipulation and Deception, Tests Show (via The Guardian) British Library AI (and Machine Learning, Etc) with British Library Collections (via BL) Films Preserving a Legacy: Inside the Walt Disney Studios Film Archive (via WDC) Wikipedia Wikipedia Searches Reveal Differing Styles of Curiosity (via SciAm)
From the Arkansas Times: A federal judge on Monday ruled the two most contentious parts of Arkansas’s book-censorship law unconstitutional and permanently blocked them from taking effect. An appeal is planned. Judge Timothy Brooks of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas struck down Sections 1 and 5 of Act 372, which the Legislature passed last year. […]
ProPublica’s “Nonprofit Explorer Adds Powerful Tools to Help You Research Organizations’ Financials”
From ProPublica: ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer already allows users to thoroughly research charities, and now we’re adding more features to help you understand the financial health of organizations. Starting Monday, you can search for organizations that have reported a significant theft, as well as those that have had auditors flag serious financial issues. [Clip] With this […]
The research paper (preprint) linked below was recently shared on arXiv. Title LLMs for Literature Review: Are We There Yet? Authors Shubham Agarwal ServiceNow Research, Mila – Quebec AI Institute, HEC Montreal Gaurav Sahu ServiceNow Research, University of Waterloo Abhay Puri ServiceNow Research Issam H. Laradji ServiceNow Research, University of British Columbia Krishnamurthy DJ Dvijotham […]
On December 3, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem released the state budget for FY26, which includes devastating news for the State Library in Pierre, the state capital. The institution will have its budget cut by 12.5 FTE in staff, $1,030,267 in general funds, and $1,399,443 in federal fund expenditure authority. The library currently has 21 staff members, but if the measure passes, seven remaining staff members will work in accessibility services for disabled users, leaving two employees to cover everything else.
The article linked below was recently published by The Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science. Title Lack of Collections as Data: Making Meaning Out of the Films We Cannot See Author Christine Smith Concordia University Source The Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science Vol. 47 No. 3 (2024) DOI: 10.5206/cjils-rcsib.v47i3.18988 Abstract Streaming media […]
The theme of the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2025 LibLearnX, “Reimagine, Refocus, Reset: Charting a Path for the Future,” has particular resonance, as this will be the final LibLearnX. The event, which replaced ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in 2022, had seen low attendance—just over 2,000 at last year’s conference in Baltimore—and ALA has opted to stop hosting the conference.
From the David Rubenstein Show/Bloomberg: Carla Hayden is the first female and only the 14th Librarian of Congress in history since the Library of Congress was established in 1800. In an episode of “The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations,” she talks about the library’s history; how it’s evolved into the largest library in […]
The Student Research Journal (SRJ) is published by the San Jose State University School of information. In This Issue (Vol. 14 Iss. 2) Editorial by Odin Halvorson San Jose State University Academic Librarians with Invisible Disabilities Carry an Invisible Workload that Limits their Career Potential by Katrina Heiderich Williams San Jose State University Redefining Reference […]
The article linked below was published today by the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication. Title Planet of the APCs: A Decade of Progress and Setbacks in Open Access Authors Josh Bolick University of Kansas Ada Emmett University of Kansas Marc L Greenberg University of Kansas A. Townsend Peterson University of Kansas Brian Rosenblum University […]
PREMIUM
Help Wanted
Though Waldman’s portrayal of working at a big-box store is devastatingly accurate, those seeking a humorous listen may be better served by lighter fare.
Leon is alternately serious and comical as he tears down stereotypes of Black masculinity. Listeners won’t want to miss this engagingly narrated and deeply perceptive memoir.
A vital study of retributive, rather than rehabilitative, justice that should reach a wide audience across all formats. An essential purchase.
A poignant and impactful memoir that boldly invites listeners into Aijazuddin’s engaging story of identity, culture, religion, and race at a time when “visas, hope, and cake” aren’t as readily accessible to people who live on the margins.
PREMIUM
A Dream in the Dark
Fans of courtroom dramas will enjoy this well-performed series that’s based on real-life cases.
This superb audiobook concisely outlines the steps taken by ambitious individuals who were instrumental to the Nazi cause. The riveting biographies invite listeners to consider the human toll that is exacted when an allegedly civilized nation self-destructs.
PREMIUM
The River View
While listeners may be glad they don’t live in Blue Deer, they will surely enjoy this twisty, precisely engineered tale.
PREMIUM
Signal to Noise
While Moreno-Garcia’s debut is somewhat uneven, it is well executed in audio. Expect this to be warmly received by the author’s many fans and those seeking a fantasy-laced historical fiction hearkening back to the days of LPs.
PREMIUM
Hip-Hop Is History
A fascinating and exuberant account of hip-hop’s music and poetry, dances, storytelling, breakbeats, and the skills of turntablists. In audio form, Questlove’s sharply observant and vital music history lets listeners tap into the genre’s rhythms and beats and consider what the next decades of hip-hop music and entertainment may hold.
A candid exploration of beauty, sexuality, illness, and aging viewed through the lens of one who has struggled to be good to her own body following crisis. This moving account of Gordon’s insights and commitment to treating Black trauma rings with intimacy, authenticity, and compassion.
PREMIUM
Dogs and Monsters: Stories
A wonderfully entertaining assortment of grim and dystopic tales that demonstrate Haddon’s tremendous skills and versatility as a storyteller. (The novelist, poet, screenwriter, and children’s book author and illustrator is best known for his award-winning novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.)
PREMIUM
Shred Sisters
Lerner’s fiction debut, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, exceeds at depicting the damage that one family member’s mental illness can wreak on others, but some readers may want even more coverage of the sisters’ relationship with each other.
PREMIUM
Exposure
Dellaira’s novel will appeal to Sally Rooney fans for its emotional depth and to Danzy Senna readers for its exploration of the complex intersections between and interpretations of race, class, gender, and power in relationships.
PREMIUM
Don’t Be a Stranger
The novel’s structure is a bit unbalanced, but it showcases best Minot’s characteristically elegant and sparse prose. For most readers, this work won’t hold up to the standard that Minot set with earlier works, such as her first novel, Monkeys.
Rooney’s at her best between the acts, as in the intermezzo moments or pauses between bold movements. Readers will find themselves tearfully applauding for the small victories, the little defeats, and the silences between characters in this lovely story of complicated people finding, and often losing, each other in times of pain.
PREMIUM
Save Me, Stranger: Stories
Sometimes unexpected and often quiet in their delivery of characters who are reckoning about various themes and searching for salvation, these short stories fully embrace the format and further show Krouse as one who pushes readers to do some reckoning of their own.
PREMIUM
Isola
This beautifully written account sheds light on an obscure but fascinating tale of resilience.
PREMIUM
The Kennedy Girl
A fast-paced foray into the exciting world of haute couture fashion and duplicitous Cold War espionage. Historical fiction fans will devour this tasty page-turner and hope for a sequel.
This recommended novel, set in a slightly dystopian future, leads readers to more questions than answers, but that’s to their benefit. Give to fans of Annie Ernaux and Ocean Vuong. Readers of poetry and works about philosophy and self-examination will enjoy this too.
The authors assert that humans must immediately form a position to properly integrate AI into their lives, and they argue that humanity has no other option. Some readers, however, may find that the book never quite moves beyond the realm of hypothesis.
Beautifully written, well researched, and unusual in breadth, Stein’s book ensures that these custom keepers will not be forgotten.
An absorbing study of how the body is viewed in U.S. culture. Recommended for readers interested in body image, religions, and the intersection of the two.
Highly recommended for readers concerned about public policy issues. Pair with Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, whosesixth lesson is especially relevant to German’s work.
Voeten’s meticulous research has made for easily the most comprehensive work ever done on this subject. A must for collections, this highly recommended book expertly describes and shows with evidence-based research and powerful accounts the terrifying reality of this global issue.
A deeply unsettling book that is well suited to readers of books about social injustices and history.
Dezenhall’s perceptive analyses of each president are laced with a wry sense of humor, which makes this work accessible to a wide audience.
Roper’s close reading of the texts presents a rich, multidirectional history of an important historical period. And she writes like a dream. An exciting history book that’s likely to be the go-to study for years to come.
Meticulously researched with new material from Russian archives, this book engagingly and expertly explores the many facets of the Smolensk Archive. Will appeal to a broad audience but especially readers interested in the history of Russia, World War II, Nazism, the Russian Communist Party, and Stalinism.
PREMIUM
Good Time Girl
Lacking humor, self-awareness, or any revelatory Bravo gossip, Gay misses the mark this time.
A fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Dissent’s discourse around labor and an excellent addition to collections.
This engaging and informative model of accessible scholarly synthesis, with noteworthy instructive illustrations and explanatory sidebars, deserves attention from policy makers and publics worldwide. Advanced secondary and college students and general readers can use it as a world history primer.
This essential title expertly educates readers about the early development of the AME church, Quinn, and his efforts to preach literacy and to ensure that people were safe from enslavement.
Shenk’s sobering but unsurprising conclusions will appeal to readers looking for answers after the 2024 U.S. elections.
Funny, hopeful, and helpful. With a perfect mix of real stories, hard-won knowledge from the world of finance, quick tidbits of practical advice, and larger psychological insights, this book humanizes finances without pandering so that people will discover their potential to assert control over and confidence about their cash.
A captivating blend of historical depth and personal narrative that explores themes of courage, patriotism, betrayal, and the complexities of life during a war. This insightful, moving work spotlights the often overlooked contributions of young women during World War II.
This book might seem relevant only to residents of places with legislation similar to Mitchell-Lama, but it expertly offers deeper insights into what drives the concept of community and how people view their personal interests in relation to the interests of their neighborhood.
This book offers a valuable lesson about the street protests and organizational efforts between rural and urban groups to fight the Monsanto law, which was overturned soon after the protests. That’s one of the many factors that make this book a powerful, hopeful work.
PREMIUM
elseship: an unrequited affair
A surprising and at times lyrical meditation that strives to grasp the meaning of a relationship that is not quite a friendship nor a love affair but something else. Confessional and ambitious, this memoir will engage readers with its visceral recreation of the experience of unrequited love.
Fascinating and thought-provoking, Tompkins’s book will benefit academic or research libraries, along with readers who enjoy works about cultural or food studies.
This thoughtful conversation on consciousness prompts questions as much as answers. A great recommendation for readers who enjoy works about applied philosophy or nonfiction that challenges them to ponder.
An excellent resource on natural gardening that will circulate well in communities interested in cultivating and maintaining eco-conscious gardens.
This essential biography holds valuable lessons for teams and leaders working for change in their communities.
For readers short on time and eager to garden, this essential resource offers a realistic and sustainable solution for creating a productive, low-maintenance garden that fits into any lifestyle. CaliKim’s emphasis on efficiency means that even the busiest people can reap the rewards of growing vegetables and enjoying other gardening approaches.
A valuable resource for readers interested in the sociology of contemporary, global, noncorporate computing and electronics culture.
Cooks who enjoy their recipes served up with a generous portion of personal narrative will savor Roustaei’s earnest introduction to the fragrant and flavor-filled cuisine of Iran.
A sweet meditation and call to action that’s enhanced by Kimmerer’s characteristically clear and evocative prose. For good neighbors and gift givers everywhere.
With Carney and McCandless’s breezy style, this enthusiastic and accessible history will engage the curiosity of both general readers and seasoned space enthusiasts alike.
With her 10-plus years of experiences on Shetland and other islands, Huband’s descriptions of her wanderings are healing and vital. Highly recommended for nature and travel readers.
This gardening resource provides excellent information for hobby gardeners of all levels. It will be a popular selection in a variety of communities and collections.
PREMIUM
Doc Watson: A Life in Music
The combination of meticulous research and fluent writing makes this title important for anyone interested in Doc Watson or the evolution of old-time, traditional, and folk music over the past 90 years.
Recommended for scholars possessing the requisite musical background and for sophisticated readers interested in the relationship of the arts to the human condition.
Alford’s smart prose will captivate readers and leave music fans with thoughtful questions about Mitchell and her musical influence.
This title expands discussions and scholarship on Benjamin and will be a wonderful addition to philosophy collections supporting research into Walter Benjamin, Italian philosophy, or the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. It’s a remarkable primary source.
This retrospective of modern dance criticism by one of the field’s trailblazers contextualizes the evolution of the art form and how it has been studied. Recommended for collections specializing in modern dance history and scholarship.
Stewart’s easy-to-follow book is an unfiltered, transparent look at baseball. Written with an unapologetic vigor and reverence for the game from the perspective of hitters, position players, managers, and sports writers, it’s a must-read for anyone who has ever watched, played, or admired the sport.
Gaynor’s recent passing and the lack of other biographies on her should generate some interest in this volume, but it is primarily a surface-level recounting of her life and work.
A provocative, insightful, disturbing, and well-researched indictment of Spotify, the music industry, and streaming platforms, which daily mine billions of data bits from users to maximize profits and churn out musical formulas. Highly recommended.
Miller’s historical thriller provides a good sense of World War II; however, this is undermined by the ease with which Jake and his group plot and carry out escapes, which seem to minimize the danger they would have faced in real life. Includes a synopsis of The Hunt for the Peggy C, chapter notes, a bibliography, and the stories behind the real people who populate the novel.
PREMIUM
Friends Helping Friends
Hoffman’s (Clean Hands) comic crime novel would please the master of such things, Donald Westlake.
From AAP: The Association of American Publishers (AAP) today released its StatShot report for October 2024 reflecting reported revenue for Trade (Consumer Books), Religious Presses, Higher Education Course Materials, and Professional Publishing. Total revenues across all categories for October 2024 were up 8.3% as compared to October 2023, coming in at $1.4 billion. Year-to-date revenues […]
A Research Agenda From the Columbia Convening on AI Openness and Safety (via Mozilla Foundation) Every AI Copyright Lawsuit in the US, Visualized (via WIRED) Generative AI Literacy: Twelve Defining Competencies (preprint) (via arXiv) Industry Bodies Recommend Consistency in AI Audiobook Narration Terminology (via The Bookseller) See Also: Official Statement: New Naming Guidelines for AI-Narrated […]
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Publishing in a journal that isn’t reputable can reduce the credibility of research, hinder one’s career, and lessen the impact of research findings. When choosing a journal, researchers should talk with their colleagues, supervisors, and librarians to find out which publications they read regularly and which they perceive as the most highly respected in their field.
From a Library Publication Coalition (LPC) Post: The Library Publishing Coalition is pleased to announce the publication of the 2024 Library Publishing Directory! This year’s print, PDF, EPUB, online versions and dataset of the Library Publishing Directory highlight the publishing activities of 167 library publishers across the globe. The Directory illustrates the many ways in which libraries are actively transforming […]
Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) is published quarterly by the University of Alberta Library. In This Issue (Vol. 19, No. 4) of EBLIP: Evidence Summary Theme: Open Access by Heather MacDonald Research Articles Using UX Testing to Optimize Discoverability of Non-traditional Resources by Lucy Campbell, Keven Jeffery Evidence Synthesis Instructional Offerings in Library […]
From FDLP.gov/GPO: GPO is pleased to introduce DiscoverGov, our new, web-based search tool. DiscoverGov provides simple, one-stop searching across multiple U.S. Federal Government databases, including GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP) and GovInfo. Come meet DiscoverGov as we release it for public use in this soft launch. Direct link: https://discover.gpo.gov/ PURL: https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo235314 CGP System Number: 001444646 DiscoverGov features: […]
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