Patrons and Users Archives
Association of American Publishers (AAP) and The Authors Guild Release New Study Analyzing the Impact of Library E-Lending on Commercial Book Markets
From a Joint Release: Today, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and the Authors Guild announced the release of a landmark independent study by leading economists at Secretariat Advisors, titled An Empirical Study of the Impact of Library E-Lending on the Book Economy. The study, commissioned jointly by AAP and the Authors Guild, but independently […]
San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) Launches New Platform For DigitalSF Digital Archive, Access to Online Resource is Free to Public
From SF Gate: The San Francisco Public Library announced this week that it has launched a new platform [powered by TIND) for its digital archive featuring more than 80,000 pieces of historical items that are free to access for the public. The archive, called DigitalSF, includes historical photographs dating back to before the city was […]
Washington: King County Library (KCLS) System Debuts North America’s Largest Materials Sorter Hub in Renton
From KOMO News: The King County Library System (KCLS) has opened a new central materials sorting facility in Renton, featuring what is believed to be the largest library materials sorting system in North America, an upgrade designed to speed delivery of books and other materials to library users across King County, officials said. [Clip] The […]
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AI Chatbots as Companions: Overview, Uses, and Considerations for Congress (New Report From the Congressional Research Service)
From the Introduction to the Report (R49189): A chatbot is an application or a program that simulates human conversation by generating responses to user prompts. While chatbots1 have existed for approximately 60 years, technical advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have expanded their uses over the last 10 years from customer service to emotional support. This has […]
Statement: Governor Maura Healey Signs Freedom to Read Law Keeping Book Bans Out of Massachusetts Schools and Libraries
Here’s the Full Text of the Announcement From the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Franklin — Governor Maura Healey today signed a new law protecting students’ freedom to read and keeping book bans out of Massachusetts schools and public libraries. Signed at the Franklin Public Library, the oldest public library in the United States, the law establishes a fair, transparent process for reviewing […]
Report: Arkansas Librarians Grapple With Enforcing Book Restriction Law After Court Ruling
From the Arkansas Advocate: Arkansas library directors said they have several unanswered questions about how a 2023 state law restricting access to library materials will be enforced after a federal appeals court ruled that it can go into effect. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction on two sections of Act 372 on July 30 but the formal […]
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Arkansas: Federal Judge Rules That Library Book ‘Obscenity’ Law Can Be Enforced, Reversing Previous Decision
From 5newsonline.com: A judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that a 2023 Arkansas law aiming to restrict access to “obscene” books can be enforced. Act 372, as summarized by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, aims to “protect children from obscenity and increase accountability for public-library curation decisions.” Learn More, Read the Complete […]
TechCrunch: “Librarians are Hosting Viral ‘Avoiding AI’ Workshops For People Who are Fed Up With Big Tech”
From TechCrunch: [Charlie] Bailey [a librarian in South Philadelphia, PA] stands at the front of a library classroom that’s outfitted for children – the focal point is the vibrant rug he’s standing on, which reminds us that M is for “moon” and Z is for “zebra.” But the 20-odd adults in the room aren’t here […]
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Journal Article: “Understanding Generative AI-Mediated User Engagement with Academic Library Resources”
The article linked below is a preprint (accepted manuscript) of a paper that will be published in the May 2027 issue of College & Research Libraries. Title Understanding Generative AI-Mediated User Engagement with Academic Library Resources Authors Hae Min Kim Drexel University Stacy Stanislaw Drexel University Source via arXiv Forthcoming: College & Research Libraries DOI: […]
Report: “Indiana Librarians to Get Mental Health Training”
From the Indiana Capital Chronicle: Hoosiers suffering mental health crises are visiting public libraries for help — transforming the role of librarians who act simultaneously as researchers, archivists and quasi-social workers. Mental Health America of Indiana is stepping in to train librarians in how to respond to these crises and direct patrons to reliable information on […]
