Jane Cowell

Do you have a new library built and opened between 1 January and 31 December of 2025? Then why not apply for @ifla.org Public #Library of the Year Award - applications open! www.ifla.org/g/public-lib...

Iowa libraries have become legislative lighting rods. Here's how they're reacting Libraries across the state are turning to individual and collective action to advocate for continued materials access.

“It used to be a given that libraries are good,” said Jacobs, who also serves as director of the Burlington Public Library. “So to see the legislature turn around and introduce bills that call us out and demonize libraries was shocking to say the least.”

www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Why Does AI Keep Recommending Nike? What your AI chatbot learned from the internet's loudest voices.

AI doesnt think about your question. It’s not evaluating products. It’s not even really “recommending” in the way a human expert would. It’s doing something simpler & more problematic: it’s generating an answer from learned statistical patterns in its training data open.substack.com/pub/cardcata...

The great computer science exodus (and where students are going instead) | TechCrunch Students are losing some interest in computer science broadly but gaining interest in AI-specific majors and courses.

"The great computer science exodus. Something strange happened at University of California campuses this fall. For the first time since the dot-com crash, computer science enrollment dropped." techcrunch.com/2026/02/15/t...

Are librarians the key for teaching AI literacy? | CBC News Librarians teach students about research, media literacy, copyright and technology. This makes them perfect for teaching about the power and pitfalls of AI. Yet students — from kindergarteners to post...

Are #librarians the key for teaching AI literacy? Armed with media literacy and other critical skills, these educators want to spark deeper thinking about #AI via @katelomax.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

"Pizza Parties Don't Fix Burnout": The State of Librarian Mental Health Library workers are feeling increased pressures to be everything to everyone, and the impact on their mental health matters.

US based survey and statistics but some issues seem universal bookriot.com/the-state-of...

When Your AI Asks How You're Feeling: A Field Guide to Engagement Manipulation AI systems use dark patterns to keep conversations going longer than necessary. Learning to spot them protects your time and attention.

Great article on #AI engagement manipulation open.substack.com/pub/cardcata...

The Four Layers of Information Reality A framework for understanding how information becomes belief.

The four layers of information reality - open.substack.com/pub/cardcata...

The Problem is Epistemic. The Solution is Not. | Blog of the APA Doubts about the wisdom of the masses are as old as philosophy itself. Yet interest in democracy’s “epistemic” merits has surged in the last decade—and it is no mystery why. Democracy is collapsing ar...

Democracy is collapsing around us in large part for epistemic reasons: because so many people have become so profoundly detached from reality. blog.apaonline.org/2025/11/12/t...

Deep reading can boost your critical thinking and help you resist misinformation – here’s how to build the skill Reading comprehension scores are tanking, and fewer Americans are picking up books. But practicing deep reading can help you process content more carefully and keep you from falling for misinformation...

Deep reading can boost your critical thinking and help you resist misinformation – here’s how to build the skill theconversation.com/deep-reading...

Many schools don’t think students can read full novels any more. That’s a tragedy | Margaret Sullivan Increasingly, teens are given only parts of books, and they often read not in print but on school-issued laptops

Many schools don’t think students can read full novels any more. That’s a tragedy:Margare t Sullivan www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

‘It’s not too late to fix it’: web inventor Tim Berners-Lee says he is in a ‘battle for the soul’ of the internet Founder of the world wide web says commercialisation means the net has been ‘optimised for nastiness’, but collaboration and compassion can prevail

‘It’s not too late to fix it’: web inventor Tim Berners-Lee says he is in a ‘battle for the soul’ of the internet www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Spotify Adds Physical Books to Audiobook Offering The tech platform will allow readers to move between physical and audiobooks and offer the sale of books from independent bookstores.

Spotifyl blends physical and digital offerings www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...

DRI is sharing metadata with OpenAIRE - Digital Repository of Ireland DRI is pleased to announce that Repository metadata is now being shared with OpenAIRE, enhancing the discoverability of publications and datasets across Europe and Ireland. The Digital Repository of Ireland is a national repository for Ireland’s social and cultural data. To date, our members have published 227 collections containing thousands of digital objects and that […]

Digital Repository of Ireland is sharing metadata with OpenAIRE - Digital Repository of Ireland https://dri.ie/news/dri-is-sharing-metadata-with-openaire/

Announcement of James Bennett as the new sponsor for the IFLA Public Library of the Year Award 2026 on a blue gradient background.

It is with great pride we announce that James Bennett has stepped into the role of sponsor of the #IFLA PLOTY, a globally recognised celebration of the world’s most inspiring new public libraries, where design excellence meets genuine community impact

https://tr.ee/fCRhFi

‘Keeps your mind alert’: older Swedes reap the benefits of learning for pleasure Retirees with ‘fantastic hunger for education’ taking part in university organised events in record numbers

‘Keeps your mind alert’: older Swedes reap the benefits of learning for pleasure. Retirees with ‘fantastic hunger for education’ taking part in university organised events in record numbers www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

The Dream of the Universal Library—Asterisk The Internet promised easy access to every book ever written. Why can’t we have nice things?

he Dream of the Universal Library: The Internet promised easy access to every book ever written. Why can’t we have nice things? asteriskmag.com/issues/12-bo...

World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development World Trends Report on Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Journalism: Shaping a World at Peace (2025)

67% of internet users have encountered hate speech online according to @unesco.org ’s World Trends Report

Are Toronto libraries the city’s most underrated third space? - NOW Toronto In a time where finding a third space to unwind has become a rarity, the Toronto Public Library is being celebrated for its underrated perks.

Are Toronto #libraries the city’s most underrated third space?

Library A-List: Kelvin Watson Is LJ’s 2026 Librarian of the Year For his work bringing partners from across the county to drive innovation and change lives, Las Vegas–Clark County Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson is LJ’s 2026 Librarian of the Year.

Congrats to Kelvin Watson, Library Journal's 2026 #LibrarianOfTheYear! 👏 He inspires us through his commitment to libraries and dedication to the profession. We are proud to sponsor this year's award.

➡️ More: libraryjournal.com/story/library-a-list-kelvin-watson-is-ljs-2026-librarian-of-the-year

Wellbeing in the Library Workplace Podcast Episode · Library Land Loves · 22/12/2025 · 37m

#podcast Library Land Loves with guest @bobbinewman.bsky.social on wellbeing in the library

What are algorithms and how do they make social media more harmful? Social media algorithms push highly engaging content to users, including self-harm content and other online harms. Learn how algorithms work and why it matters here.

What are algorithms and how do they make social media more harmful? counterhate.com/blog/what-ar...

New Indigenous metadata best practices published A collection of metadata best practices have been developed to support the discoverability of First Nations books and publishing across the industry supply chain.

New metadata best practices to support the discoverability of #FirstNations books and #publishing across the industry supply chain using ONIX and Thema.

Creating 12 Days of Techmas As the year winds down and everyone shifts into end-of-year mode, December can feel like a strange in-between time. Work slows down in some places, ramps up in others, and life becomes a little festiv...

Fantastic Idea to keep your #Library teams hooked on learning - create a 12 Days of Techmas and here is a guide www.linkedin.com/pulse/creati...

AI Slop Is Spurring Record Requests for Imaginary Journals The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that artificial intelligence models are making up research papers, journals and archives

OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s Copilot and other models are befuddling students, researchers and archivists by generating “incorrect or fabricated archival references,” according to ICRC, which runs some of the world’s most used research archives. #AI #libraries

‘Jaw-dropping’: New Historic Westside library opens doors to community excitement — PHOTOS West Las Vegas’ new library has a brand new recording studio, 3D printers and shelves stocked with fresh books meant to support the historically overlooked community.

Hundreds of residents in Las Vegas’ Historic Westside joined local leaders in government, education and the library district to celebrate the grand opening of a new two-story public library.

New Journal Article: The Importance of Inclusive and Balanced Collections in #Libraries and #Archives
www.infodocket.com/2025/12/07/j... @clockssarchive.bsky.social

Our Best Defence Against Misinformation? Public Libraries. Australia’s most trusted public institutions are already delivering frontline media literacy support. With funding, they could transform…

I have just published a blog about the essential role Public Libraries play in building media literacy skills at the local level in Australia. Would love to hear how you are seeing media literacy needs evolve in your library janecowell8.medium.com/our-best-def...

With the national social media ban coming, how can we encourage children and teens to get back into reading? - Australia Reads Explore top tips on how to support children and teens to bring books and reading back into their daily lives.

Restrictions on social media use for Australian children under 16 provide an opportunity to reengage children and teens with #reading in their leisure time. So how can we support them to bring books back into their daily lives?

Just looked that up and it is now on reservation from my library!! Thanks for the tip @mylee.bsky.social