Category «Libraries»

Z-Library Releases Tor-Enabled Desktop Launcher to Improve ‘Accessibility

TF: “Pirate ebook repository Z-Library has released a dedicated desktop application that should make it easier to access the site going forward. The service is at the center of a criminal crackdown and has lost hundreds of domain names, which in part triggered the development of this new software. Over the years, Z-Library established itself …

Subjects: Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries

Everyone Likes Reading. Why Are We So Afraid of It?

The New York Times: Book bans, chatbots, pedagogical warfare: What it means to read has become a minefield. “Everyone loves reading. In principle, anyway. Nobody is against it, right? Surely, in the midst of our many quarrels, we can agree that people should learn to read, should learn to enjoy it and should do a …

Subjects: AI, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries, Privacy

These ten books are considered pornography in Ron DeSantis’ Florida

Popular Information: “On March 8, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) conducted a press conference in which he purported to debunk the “book ban hoax.” During the event, DeSantis claimed that Florida schools, under his leadership, were not banning educational materials. Rather, they were simply removing “pornography” from school libraries and classrooms. DeSantis claimed the notion …

Subjects: Censorship, Education, Free Speech, Government Documents, Libraries

The Nation’s Report Card

2023 Long-Term Trend (LTT) Age 13 Reading and Mathematics Highlights: “The nation’s 13-year-olds showed the largest declines ever recorded on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend assessment (LTT) in mathematics, according to results released today by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The average mathematics score for 13-year-olds declined 9 points …

Subjects: Education, Libraries

1,626 Books Were Banned in America Last Year…We Reviewed All of Them

Statecraft: What do these books have in common? By Arman Madani – “The non-profits PEN America and the American Library Association keep a catalog of banned books in the United States up to the 2021-22 academic year. In this 1 academic year alone, 1600+ books were irregularly banned from 138 school districts across America; 3.8 …

Subjects: Censorship, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries

Women’s Prize for Fiction winners

Abe Books: “Discover all the winning novels since 1996 – Since 1996, the Women’s Prize for Fiction has recognized and celebrated the best fiction by women writers around the world. Bestselling novelist and playwright Kate Mosse founded the UK-based award to champion women in the male-dominated awards scene. Despite writing 60% of books published, by …

Subjects: Education, Libraries

21st-century editors should keep their hands off 20th-century books

Washington Post Opinion & alt free link: “A number of beloved novels, for both children and adults, are being “retouched” — updated to remove overtly racist, sexist or otherwise offensive language. Publishers and literary estates — including those of best-selling mystery writer Agatha Christie, children’s author Roald Dahl and James Bond creator Ian Fleming — …

Subjects: Censorship, Free Speech, Libraries

Drive Thru Data: Using NLM APIs to Access Information Fast

Drive Thru Data: Using NLM APIs to Access Information Fast, Recorded: June 13, 2023. 58 min. Speaker – Mike Davidson, Librarian, Office of Engagement and Training, National Library of Medicine (NLM) The NLM provides millions of people access to health information via its portfolio of products and services. But some people may need to access …

Subjects: AI, Education, Government Documents, Health Care, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries

Illinois first US state to prohibit banning books in public libraries

Quartz: “Illinois has become the first US state to prohibit banning books in public libraries. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed HB 2789 into law in a public library in Chicago, amid a dramatic nationwide increase in book bans. The governor, a Democrat, called them an affront to free speech. “Young people shouldn’t be kept from learning …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Education, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries

ISOO Publishes its FY 2022 Annual Report to the President

“Today, ISOO published its FY 2022 Annual Report to the President. Each year, ISOO reports to the President on the implementation of the Classified National Security Information (CNSI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) programs, following requirements in Executive Orders 13526 and 13556. These Reports summarize ISOO’s oversight activities and make key recommendations that seek to …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Defense, E-Government, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries

Free Webinars from GPO

Webinar: Drive Thru Data: Using NLM APIs to Access Information Fast Register to attend the live training webinar, “Drive Thru Data: Using NLM APIs to Access Information Fast.” Tuesday, June 13, 2023; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EDT): The NLM provides millions of people access to health information via its portfolio of products and services. But …

Subjects: AI, E-Government, Government Documents, Health Care, Internet, Legal Research, Libraries

I just bought the only physical encyclopedia still in print, and I regret nothing

Ars Technica: The still-updated World Book Encyclopedia is my antidote to the information apocalypse. “These days, many of us live online, where machine-generated content has begun to pollute the Internet with misinformation and noise. At a time when it’s hard to know what information to trust, I felt delight when I recently learned that World …

Subjects: Education, Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries