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Tuesday, October 19, 2021
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We're Going Virtual NEXT WEEK!

Global crises create a sense of urgency for change and innovation, and libraries definitely stepped up to the call for action in their various communities. Join your peers from across the globe as they come together online for Internet Librarian Connect 2021, where we'll highlight some of the exciting changes that will likely become standard, those that were great experiments from which we learned much, as well as creative new insights and plans for the future.
 

NewsLink Spotlight

Hitting the Books: A Pro Baseball Player Promotes Reading and Media Literacy
by Lauree Padgett
At 6 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing 255 pounds, the Washington Nationals' switch-hitting first baseman Josh Bell is an imposing figure. When he steps up to the plate, it isn't hard to imagine that he can hit the ball a loooong way. And in the 2021 MLB season, Bell sent balls flying out of the ballpark more than 25 times. What isn't apparent when looking at this 29-year-old native of Irving, Texas, is how much he is committed to sharing his love of reading and libraries and helping people recognize the importance of literacy—especially media literacy.

Weekly News Digests

Bibliotheca Unveils the biblio+ Streaming Service
Bibliotheca "unveiled biblio+, a new streaming service for libraries and their patrons. … biblio+ is turning the library streaming model on its head by offering unlimited, ad-free streaming for one affordable subscription price."
APA Shares Study on How Memes Are Helping People Cope With the Pandemic
This may seem obvious, but it's nice to have a study to confirm it: "Funny memes may help people cope with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, making viewers feel calmer and more content," the American Psychological Association (APA) reports.
Amazon Is in Hot Water With Congress Again
Manish Singh writes the following in "Amazon May Have Lied to Congress About Its Business Practices, Lawmakers Say" for TechCrunch: "Five members of the House Judiciary Committee have accused … Amazon's top executives of either misleading or blatantly lying to it about its business practices and said they are considering an investigation following publication of two damning reports. ..."
Publishers Weekly Reports on the Indie Bookstore Boom
Judith Rosen writes the following in "Another Pandemic Surprise: A Mini Indie Bookstore Boom" for Publishers Weekly: "Though the pandemic caused financial hardship for many independent bookstores, particularly those in cities and states that forced retailers to close their doors for months, it has also paved the way for a mini-boom of bookstore openings."
OverDrive Education Updates Sora App With Magazine Content
OverDrive Education made magazines available via its Sora student reading app for ebooks and audiobooks. Schools can buy bundles of 50 always-available magazines (focusing on both education and enjoyment) for their students, including National Geographic KidsTIME for Kids, and The Week Junior.

NewsBreaks

Librarians and Professional Labeling: What's in a Name?
by Dave Shumaker
At a recent professional meeting, I was dismayed to find myself witnessing yet another discussion on whether those present should call themselves "librarians." The program that hosted this discussion opened with the observation that library spaces are shrinking in the post-pandemic world and the question of whether the participants might stop calling themselves librarians if they no longer work "in a [physical] library." Everything I heard was a repetition of arguments I've heard over and over. ... The conversations usually generate more heat than light. Moreover, they distract us from the important questions we should be discussing and tasks we should be working on. With the hope of helping the profession move on, I offer the following brief historical survey and some fundamental premises for librarians who are making decisions about what professional label to adopt.

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ITI Conferences

Upcoming conferences include the following:

Visit the Conference Schedule for more information. For other industry events, visit the Events Calendar.

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This newsletter is published by Information Today, Inc.
Editor: Brandi Scardilli
Website: https://www.infotoday.com/NewsLink
Email: bscardilli@infotoday.com