Category «Libraries»

Librarians Under Pandemic Duress: Layoffs, Napkin Masks, and Fear of Retaliation

Bookriot: “For institutions ranked among the most trustworthy and beloved, it’s shameful how the individuals who comprise libraries are treated as disposable. As the pandemic lurches forward, more and more libraries are doing something unexpected during a period of time when the digital services they provide are vital: they’re laying off workers or pushing them …

Subjects: Economy, Government Documents, Health Care, Libraries

A Flowchart for Making Impactful Purchases at Your Indie Bookstore

Bookriot: “Looking to support independent bookstores during the pandemic? Here’s a flow chart for how to make your purchases most impactful for your local indie. Order Directly From the Bookstore’s Website – Does your local bookshop have a webstore? If so, shop directly on their website. Purchase branded merch, gift cards, and search for in-stock …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Economy, Internet, Libraries

Happy National Library Week!

“Here at the Internet Archive, we’re always ready to celebrate the important role that libraries play in our schools, communities, and larger society. This year, however, National Library Week comes during a tumultuous time, when thousands of physical libraries are closed or inaccessible… With schools closing around the world, many students have lost access to …

Subjects: Education, Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries

Adding the word “Covid-19” to the dictionary only took six weeks

Coronavirus and the New Words We Added to the Dictionary in March 2020 – “A dictionary’s mission is to give accurate information about the current vocabulary of a language. Providing precise definitions, usage information, dates, etymologies, and pronunciations takes time; typically, additions to our dictionary occur in large batches a few times each year as …

Subjects: Education, Health Care, Knowledge Management, Libraries

When ‘non-essential’ is anything but

The Hill – “Demarcations of “essential” versus “non-essential” services should not prevent the growth of creative efforts to leverage “non-essential” services against the pandemic and its rippling consequences. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most local governments have decided to close their library buildings in order to ensure the safety of library staff and patrons. But libraries …

Subjects: Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries

Celebrate the Library’s 220th Birthday with LOC Collections App

“To celebrate the 220th anniversary of its founding, the Library of Congress today announced the release of the LOC Collections app, the premiere mobile app that puts the national library’s digital collections in the hands of users everywhere. In addition to providing an easy, accessible way to search and explore the Library’s growing digital collections, …

Subjects: Libraries, Marketing

Report – “State of America’s Libraries 2020”

“Today the American Library Association (ALA) released its 2020 State of America’s Libraries report, an annual summary of library trends released during National Library Week, April 19 – 25, that outlines statistics and issues affecting all types of libraries during the previous calendar year. Although the report focuses on 2019, libraries are shown to be …

Subjects: Education, Internet, Libraries

What Historians Will See When They Look Back on the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020

Universities and institutions are inviting the public to share their experiences during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath. “…Universities, archives and historical societies, ranging from the Smithsonian Natural Museum of American History to a tiny college radio station in Pennsylvania, are rushing to collect and curate the personal accounts of how people are experiencing …

Subjects: Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries, Social Media

Demand sharing unleashes the “power of pull” for your science research

Bruce Aron – Medium – PLEASE NOTE: This is a draft of a bit of the Open Scientist Handbook. There are references/links to other parts of this work-in-progress that do not link here in this blog. Sorry. But you can also see what the Handbook will be offering soon. “Why is Demand Sharing so important …

Subjects: Economy, Education, Financial System, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries

Library workers fight for safer working conditions amid coronavirus pandemic

NBC News – Over the last month, the #closethelibraries campaign has called to close library buildings not only to the public but also to library staff. “In Hennepin County, Minnesota, 220 library workers face a dilemma: take unpaid leave or get reassigned to work in hotels housing homeless people, including some with COVID-19 symptoms, with …

Subjects: Education, Health Care, Internet, Libraries