Day archives: April 21st, 2025

Classification as Colonization: The Hidden Politics of Library Catalogs

Via LLRX: Classification as Colonization: The Hidden Politics of Library Catalogs – Assistant Professor and Cataloging & Discovery Librarian at Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Mike Olson’s research focuses on the intersection of information systems and social critique. In this timely and insightful article Olson discusses why and how library catalogs have always been battlegrounds …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Education, Knowledge Management, Libraries

These Are the Lawsuits Against Trump’s Executive Orders

“President Donald Trump unleashed a flurry of executive orders when he returned to the Oval Office, ranging from withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate to ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government. The steps represented many of the Day One promises he made during his reelection campaign. “You’re going …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

Librarians and teachers amongst the heaviest users of AI

The Distant Librarian: “OK, that’s a clickbait title, but only a little. They’re actually amongst the heaviest users of Claude, according to Anthropic (PDF), via the 2025 AI Index Report from Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI. The report itself is a 456-page PDF, so do start with the key takeaways, but then either search for specific …

Subjects: AI, Education, Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries

Tracking the Trump Administration’s Harmful Executive Actions

Congressman Steve Cohen: “The Trump Administration has acted illegally and unconstitutionally in ways that weaken our democratic institutions, slow down our economy, roll back protections for public health and the environment, and put health care and Social Security benefits at risk for millions of Americans. And that’s just the start. I am committed to fighting …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

2025’s Top OSINT Tools: A Fresh Take on Open-Source Intel

“Check out the top OSINT tools of 2025, an updated list featuring the best free and paid open-source intelligence tools for cybersecurity and investigations. At HackRead.com, we have a long-standing tradition of publishing comprehensive lists of the best OSINT tools to help cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts stay ahead in the game. Every year, we research …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Mail, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Privacy, Social Media

How to Protect Yourself From Phone Searches at the US Border

Wired – unpaywalled: “Customs and Border Protection has broad authority to search travelers’ devices when they cross into the United States. Here’s what you can do to protect your digital life while at the US border. Entering the United States has become more precarious since the start of the second Trump administration in January. There …

Subjects: Cybersecurity, E-Mail, E-Records, Internet, Privacy

Trumpism echoes Timothy McVeigh’s right-wing extremism, 30 years after the Oklahoma bombing

Via LLRX – Trumpism echoes Timothy McVeigh’s right-wing extremism, 30 years after the Oklahoma bombing – On the morning of April 19 1995, anti-government right-wing extremist Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder truck loaded with 5,000 pounds of agricultural fertiliser and diesel fuel at the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. At …

Subjects: Defense, Legal Research

An archivist’s job is to ‘keep the receipts.’ What happens when they can’t do their job?

Boston Globe [no paywall]: “Several archivists told the Globe they see the president’s actions as a threat to government transparency. To Katherine Wisser, an archivist who teaches at Simmons College in Boston, the National Archives was always more than a mere government agency. It was a standard bearer, embodying the strict code that her profession …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, E-Government, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research