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Weekly News Digest
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May 8, 2025 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today.
CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.
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EBSCO Information Services Unveils New Mathematics Resource
EBSCO Information Services rolled out Mathematics Source, “a full-text resource offering current trends and relevant topics in the field of mathematics. The in-depth collection of mathematical sciences journals will appeal to students, researchers, educators and industry professionals, as well as anyone looking to deepen their understanding of mathematics and its applications across various fields.” The collection features more than 800 full-text journals and magazines, including international titles, as well as “a unique 4,000-word thesaurus, created by subject matter experts, covering topics in pure and applied mathematics and related fields. This tool significantly improves research capabilities by helping students and researchers easily understand and navigate mathematical terminology.” For more information, read the press release.
Lucidea Conducts an In-Depth Interview With the SLA President
Lucidea published “SLA President Hildy Dworkin Reflects on the Association’s Dissolution, Future, and Legacy.” Lauren Hays writes the following:In early 2025, the Special Libraries Association (SLA), a 116-year-old cornerstone of the information profession, announced it would begin the process of dissolving. Amid this turning point, SLA President Hildy Dworkin continues to champion the organization’s mission, support its members, and lead efforts to preserve its legacy. I had the opportunity to speak with Hildy about the current state of SLA, her own involvement and observations about its role in the lives of special librarians, and its unique professional value. She also shared how this year’s conference—aptly themed Creative Transformation: Shaping the Future of the Information Profession—will celebrate the enduring value of SLA and the strength of its community. For more information, read the blog post.
Trump Administration and Libraries: Federal Budget, IMLS Restraining Order, and Changes to ERIC
EveryLibrary issued a statement on the Trump administration’s FY2026 federal budget proposal. “On page 39, it boldly calls for completely eliminating the budget for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated solely to supporting America’s libraries and museums,” EveryLibrary shares. “His proposal also seeks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), AmeriCorps, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).”The statement continues, “At EveryLibrary, we are both realistic and hopeful. We understand the risks ahead, but we also believe in the power of voters, constituents, and communities to defend what matters.” EveryLibrary urges people to sign its petition, contact Congress, and donate to its cause. In related news, Public Libraries Online reports that “the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order to block the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The decision was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). … The temporary restraining order was issued days before the mass layoff of nearly all IMLS employees was set to take effect on May 4.” EveryLibrary issued a statement on this encouraging news, writing, “It reaffirms that IMLS must continue to operate as directed by Congress, including the resumption of Grants to States and other critical grant programs that libraries, museums, and non-profit organizations across the nation depend on.” The Hechinger Report published the following update on ERIC: The U.S. Department of Education announced … that it would continue to operate its online library, known as ERIC, after allowing it to lapse. … The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had sought significant cuts to the document repository that is used by 14 million people a year, and allowed funding to run out on April 23. That ended the ability of the Education Department to add new research reports and documents to the library that is used by education policymakers, researchers and teachers. … Going forward, ERIC’s $5.5 million annual budget has been cut by 50 percent. That will reduce the number of new papers and reports that can be added to the database and eliminate the helpdesk for the public.
CAS Search Services Debuts to Assist Science Research
CAS announced the following:CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific knowledge management, announces the launch of a new offering, CAS Search Services. The service will provide CAS SciFinder users with dedicated assistance in searching the scientific literature and will deliver fast, high-quality results so that researchers can spend more time progressing their groundbreaking work. Recognizing the capacity constraints many science teams face, CAS designed CAS Search Services to address this challenge and boost these teams’ productivity. By outsourcing the execution of time-consuming search tasks and projects in CAS SciFinder to CAS through CAS Search Services, users can redirect their energy toward their research. For more information, read the press release.
Duke University Press to Join the MIT Press' D2O Program in 2026
The MIT Press shared that “beginning in 2026, Duke University Press will join our Direct to Open (D2O) program. This collaboration marks the first such partnership with another university press for the D2O program, and reaffirms our shared commitment to open access publishing that is ethical, equitable, and sustainable.” D20 is a framework for OA monographs that is collaborative and library-supported instead of based on a purchase model in which individuals and libraries buy single ebooks.Duke University Press is contributing 20 frontlist titles annually along with the MIT Press’ 80 annual books. “Their participation in the D2O program—which will also include free term access to a paywalled collection of 250 key backlist titles—enhances the range of openly available academic content for D2O’s library partners,” the MIT Press states. For more information, read the news item.
Nexbib Introduces the ScienceWiz Platform for Public Libraries
Nexbib added a new tool to its portfolio suite for the North American market. ScienceWiz is a “browser-based platform designed to transform STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education exclusively provided by Nexbib for public libraries and the communities they serve.” The platform allows for unlimited, simultaneous access to what Nexbib calls Beyond eBooks on biomes, electricity, chemistry, and more.“ScienceWiz is more than just a digital resource—it’s a powerful, immersive learning experience that encourages exploration and discovery,” says Regan Dewey, Nexbib’s director of sales for North America. “Public libraries are vital centers of lifelong learning, and with ScienceWiz, we’re equipping them with a robust tool to inspire the next generation of scientists, thinkers, and innovators.” For more information, read the news item.
BiblioCommons Showcases Its Latest Company Accomplishments
BiblioCommons issued its 2024 Year in Review, stating, in part:In 2024, BiblioCommons provided a summary dashboard using the BiblioCommons AnalyticsPlatform. This summary dashboard is available as part of any BiblioCommons subscription and helps each library identify trends in key user events or actions across BiblioCommons products. … In the past year, BiblioEmail’s functionality was expanded to A/B testing, giving library staff the power to experiment, learn, and ultimately increase patron email engagement. … The BiblioCore discovery layer is taking search and discovery to the next level with Browse and Discover, an all-new, library-curated browsing experience. Designed to increase catalog user activity and adoption, Browse and Discover combines powerful library customization with the personalized, intuitive user experiences patrons enjoy from modern streaming services and eCommerce websites and apps. … To create a more personalized and engaging experience for library patrons, BiblioCommons continues to develop tools and options for patrons to customize their library experience. For more information, read the news item.
HighWire Celebrates Its 30th Birthday
HighWire shared the following via its email newsletter:This year marks a significant milestone as HighWire celebrates 30 years of leadership and innovation in the publishing industry. We invite you to visit us at upcoming conferences—including CSE, SSP, ALPSP, and the Frankfurt Book Fair—to catch up on what’s new at HighWire and celebrate our journey since our founding in 1995. Be sure to stop by and celebrate HighWire’s birthday with us!
Getty Provenance Index Relaunches After Redevelopment
Getty announced the following:First launched in the 1980s, the Getty Provenance Index (GPI) has evolved into an unparalleled resource for tracing the ownership history of artworks, serving as a cornerstone for research on provenance, collecting, and art markets. Now, after nearly a decade of redevelopment, Getty has reimagined this essential resource, making it more accessible and valuable than ever before, with its massive repository containing over 12 million records. … The GPI resources are drawn from rare primary source materials such as archival inventories, auction catalogs, and dealer stock books dating as far back as the 16th century, with strong coverage for European and American paintings. By documenting the transfer of ownership of artworks it plays an essential role in understanding the movement of objects across time and geography, offering critical insights into the history of collecting and the art trade. For more information, read the news item.
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Brandi Scardilli
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