Digital Commons Network^™

News From Live Oak Public Library, Elizabeth Mccullare

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

University System Of Georgia Names Angela Stanley As State Librarian, Deborah Hakes

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Leading The Change: Staff-Driven Ai Transformation In Smu Libraries’ Collection Team, Siew Khim Lim, Fion Goh

Research Collection Library

No abstract provided.

Ai-Ready Libraries Require Ai-Ready Librarians: Building Organisational Capability For Digital Transformation, Salihin Mohammed Ali

Research Collection Library

Academic libraries worldwide are rapidly experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance research, learning, discovery, operations, and user engagement. However, many institutions continue to approach AI adoption primarily through isolated pilots, individual experimentation, or technology-centric initiatives. While these efforts generate innovation, they often struggle to scale sustainably without corresponding organisational capability development. This presentation argues that AI-ready libraries require AI-ready librarians and proposes an organisational capability approach for sustainable AI transformation in academic libraries. Drawing from the development of a library-wide AI strategy plans at Singapore Management University, the presentation explores how AI capability-building can be operationalised across diverse functional …

Friends Of The Library Newsletter, Summer/Fall 2026, Hillary Richardson

Fant Library News and Reports

No abstract provided.

Paperless Society, Paperless Future And Borderless Libraries, Ukoha O. Igwe

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Purpose: This study explores the indispensability of books and physical libraries despite the digital technologies and digital transformation engulfing our lives, work and society.

Design/Methodology: This study used qualitative design and methodology utilizing a systematic review and synthesis of empirical research, institutional reports and documents published between 1978 and 2025 to achieve its objectives. An extensive review of the pertinent literature was undertaken to underscore the journey and permutations of the death of books and libraries. This conceptual review synthesizes the interplay between digital technologies, digital transformation,and libraries in information dissemination. This provided a basis for inferences and extrapolation of …

Acquisitions Unit Annual Report 2025-2026, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Annual Report of the Acquisitions Unit, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island for FY2026. Covers personnel, work flow, special projects, and serial, monograph, and e-resource acquisitions. Supplemental files include data on library materials expenditures by a number of variables as well as important working documents from the year.

Demographic Context Of Media And Information Literacy (Mil) Skills Among Senior High School Students In Ghana, Patience Emefa Dzandza Ocloo, Aurelia Ayisi, Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, Annie Oye

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This paper explores the media and information literacy (MIL) competencies of young Ghanaians in senior high schools. It is premised on the rising spate of misinformation, online security breaches, and the avalanche of content young people must navigate. Together, these factors demand young persons to be new media savvy in order to use the affordances of the current media ecology to their benefit. To advocate for comprehensive MIL education in senior high schools in Ghana, the study adopts a comparative analysis logic to examine demographic differences that attend young people’s media and information literacy. A nationwide survey of 1200 senior …

Using Handwriting Text Recognition (Htr) Technology To Create A Language Learning Model (Llm) For Blythe Owen’S Handwriting, Aiko J. Ayala Rios, Marianne Y. Kordas

Journal of Adventist Libraries and Archives

Handwriting Recognition Technology (HTR) has proven to be a valuable support for the fields of digital humanities and archival resources, as more scholars strive to make documents machine-readable and accessible. With this in mind, the newest phase of the Blythe Owen letter transcription project commenced in the summer of 2025, utilizing Transkribus, a software that aids in transcription and the creation of Language Learning Models (LLMs) tailored to specific writing styles. This report outlines the progress made in learning to use the program, the various issues that arose, and provides suggestions for the project's future as well as for similar …

Mississippi Libraries Volume 88, Number 1 And 2

Mississippi Libraries

No abstract provided.

The Generative Turn: What Ai Doesn't Do And A Framework For Responsible Use, Deborah Lee

Mississippi Libraries

This column examines the limitations of generative AI as a foundation for responsible and informed use.  While much attention has been given to what AI can do, effective and responsible use depends on understanding what it does not do well.  For librarians as professionals grounded in information literacy, these limitations underscore the importance of critical evaluation and contextual understanding.  By recognizing both the capabilities and constraints of AI, librarians can better guide their communities in using these tools thoughtfully and effectively.

Application Of Assistive Technologies And Rendering Assistive Services To Students With Special Needs By Federal University Libraries: A Survey, Emmanuel Chidiadi Onwubiko

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The world as of today, is being said to be witnessing what one may tagged a technological revolution as never before and is transforming for the better, the future of global education in which case, every learner is considered. These newly created technological tools and plans did place librarians as information managers and digital literacy drivers in better position to come up with environments that are inclusive for all learners to achieve their desired goals. The study therefore is a survey on the application of assistive technologies and rendering assistive services to students with special needs by federal universities libraries …

Apala Best Of The Best Booklist 2025, Apala Best Of The Best Booklist 2023 - 2024 Authors Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, Family Literacy Focus Committee, Jessea Young (Co-Chair), Jennifer Woo, Nicole Fernandez, Erika Fitzpatrick, Alvina Lai, Cathy Lin, Patty Sumire Mcgowan, Kim Nguyen

Librarian Publications & Presentations

The Best of the Best Booklist celebrates stories from across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) diaspora. All APALA members were invited to nominate picture book titles about AANHPI communities and experiences that were published between September 1, 2024–August 31, 2025. The Family Literacy Focus Committee selected books aligned with the Talk Story mission and used the APALA Rubric for Evaluating Asian American and Pacific Islander Youth Literature to guide the curation of the list. Eligible titles that earned a 2025-2026 APALA Literature Award or Honoree designation have been included at the end of this list.

Sharing The Love: Using School Libraries As Support In Inquiry-Based Learning, Katrina Sanville

Information Literacy Collab

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Information Literacy Collab

Information Literacy Collab

No abstract provided.

Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School For Asia-Pacific (Ellssa): Smu Libraries Flagship Leadership Development Program For Librarians, Rajendra Munoo, Sumita Govindan

Research Collection Library

Strong leadership skills are becoming more important for librarians as they deal with rapid digital change in a VUCA world, rising user expectations, and a workforce made up of different generations. The Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) is Singapore Management University (SMU) Libraries’ main leadership development program, created to prepare early‑career librarians and high‑potential staff for future leadership roles across the Asia‑Pacific region and beyond. Recognised by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) as one of only a small number of leadership programs in the region, ELLSSA helps address gaps in leadership development within …

Assessment Of Information Literacy Instruction In Reference: Applying Vanscoy’S Conceptual And Procedural Framework In Practice, Vanessa Arce

Publications and Research

The instructional aspect of reference work has long been acknowledged, especially in academic libraries. The current RUSA guidelines include helping users develop information literacy as a goal of reference. In this context, investigating the presence and nature of information literacy instruction can be used to assess the quality of reference services. This study applied Amy VanScoy’s conceptual/procedural framework for point-of-need instruction to a sample of chat reference transcripts at Lehman College, City University of New York. One of the assessment’s goals was to determine the prevalence of instruction and type of knowledge addressed in reference interactions. Another goal was to …

Nsu Library Link - Summer 2026, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

An American Anniversary In Local Context: Holland And Hope College Celebrate The U.S. Centennial; John Vander Burgh: Artist In The Archives, Sarah Lundy, Charlotte Ulloa

Archives and Special Collections Quarterly

An American Anniversary in Local Context: Holland and Hope College Celebrate the U.S. Centennial

Column: From the Director of Archives and Special Collections

Column: From the Collections Archivist

John Vander Burgh: Artist in the Archives

Full Marc Examples To Accompany Olac Best Practices For Cataloging Dvd-Video And Blu-Ray Discs, Objects, Streaming Media, Video Games, And Digital Media Storage Devices Using The Original Rda Toolkit And Marc 21, Kristi Bergland, Mary Huismann, John Dickson, Autumn Faulkner, Robert B. Freeborn, Jeannette Ho, Sarah Hovde, Kyla Jemison, Yoko Kudo, Junghae Lee, Jack Nighan, Alex Whelan

OLAC Publications and Training Materials

Examples of MARC 21 catalog records to accompany the OLAC Best Practices for Cataloging DVD-Video and Blu-ray Discs, Objects, Streaming Media, and Video Games Using the Original RDA Toolkit and MARC 21.

“We're Just Relics Of A Bygone Era!”: The Portrayal Of Librarians In Short Films, Alessandro Camarra

Staff publications

While on the hunt for examples of "librarian" characters portrayed in popular culture, it can be thrilling when said characters make an appearance in feature length films or Hollywood blockbusters. However, sometimes a higher level of satisfaction can be found when examples come from smaller, more personal, projects.

One person films a three-minute clip of their friend wearing glasses and a fake "bun" wig, then uploads it to YouTube. Another person works all semester on a half-hour documentary of their university library, then submits it as the final project for their Film Studies class. Not to mention examples that go …

“A Place For Every Book, Every Book In Its Place … ”: The Portrayal Of Librarians In Video Games, Alessandro Camarra

Staff publications

The role of "librarian" can follow several well-worn tropes within the world of interactive media. These can be referred to as:

*The All-Knowing Guide (teaches the player how to actually play the game, i.e. accessing the inventory menu or revealing which button combination will unlock the ability to cast spells)

*The Lore Keeper (provides exposition and backstory about the game world to the player)

*The Clueless Collector (begs the player for help recovering lost/overdue books)

*The Secret Sexpot (an object of desire for the player to romance/seduce)

*The Unforgiving Tyrant (demands silence at all costs)

And then we have those …

Christianity, Gender Identity, Parents’ Rights: Book Censorship Discourse In Tennessee Communities, Janet Kesterson Isbell, Shawn Hinkel

The Southeastern Librarian

Hate and hostility toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ (LGBTQ+) community and people of color, inflamed in recent years by political extremism and radical conservatism, have permeated many areas of society. One context where hostilities have emerged in the past decade is public debate surrounding book challenges, which prompted a yearlong investigation into the polarizing phenomenon of book censorship in the United States. After extensive reading of media reports from around the nation, the authors focused on public discourse related to book challenges in Tennessee public and school libraries, where debate was contentious, librarians were threatened, and the state’s …

Haint Country: Dark Folktales From The Hills And Hollers, Samantha Duncan

The Southeastern Librarian

Haint Country: Dark Folktales from the Hills and Hollers
Matthew R. Sparks and Olivia Sizemore
Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2024
ISBN: 9781985900974
216 pp., $24.95 (Pbk)

Using Ai To Enhance Accessibility, April Griess, Jennie Tobler-Gaston

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

This presentation explores a practical look at AI tools for improving accessibility. The first part demonstrates OCR workflows using Adobe Acrobat Pro and free OCR tools. Participants will see how each tool converts scanned PDFs into machine-readable text, how they differ in output quality and layout fidelity, and how each supports accessibility workflows.

The second part features an AI tool for transcribing handwritten text. The session will demonstrate accuracy issues, tool limitations, and ethical considerations when using AI.

The session is designed to help individuals and institutions determine which AI tools best fit their accessibility goals, staffing levels, and budget. …

Charting Queer Visibility: A Content Analysis Of Queer Picture Books, 2000-2024, Amanda Melilli, James W. Rosenzweig, Alicia G. Vaandering

Library Faculty Research

This poster session presents findings from a content analysis of queer picture books published from 2000 to 2024. In an initial review of more than 650 books, the authors analyzed narrative themes and the identities, orientations, and BIPOC and/or disability intersectionality of queer characters in each book. This research built a final book sample of more than 430 unique titles with identifiably queer characters. The findings map queer representation and narratives in picture books published in the U.S. and Canada during the twenty-first century.

Digitize And Discard: A Campaign For Sustainable Av Stewardship, Cory L. Nimer, Ben Harry, Abby Beazer, Miya Jensen, Michael F. Gates

Faculty Publications

Archives and libraries face growing preservation challenges from aging audiovisual collections due to carrier degradation and playback equipment obsolescence. As the media becomes more difficult to access, its archival value decreases, leading to questions about its ongoing storage. One proposed solution has been to digitize and discard the original media, preserving the recordings as digital masters with derivative files for public access. The suggestion to reformat audiovisual materials raises questions for cultural heritage professionals, and each stakeholder group may have its own concerns. Yet as media capture and digital preservation technology improve, to maintain our program’s sustainability, we have begun …

An Unsolved Theft, Tim Pyatt

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This article explores the mysterious theft of Civil War narratives from the libraries of the University of North Carolina and Duke University in the late 1970s while the author was an undergraduate at Duke. Using records preserved in the Duke University Archives and personal accounts, the author pieces together how the theft was discovered and the investigation was conducted. Potential suspects included the notorious thieves James Shinn and Stephen Blumberg as well as individuals identified during the investigation. The secrecy around the investigation as well as the effort to protect institutional reputation may have ultimately led to the theft never …

Sustainable Evidence Synthesis Services: Have We Figured It Out?, John J. Meier, Anne E. Rauh, Amy Van Epps

Librarian Publications

No abstract provided.

From Crip Time To Care Time: How Library Administrators Can Support Professional Development Of Disabled Employees, Leah T. Dudak, Rhys Dreeszen Bowman Dr.

School of Information Studies - Post-doc and Student Scholarship

Building on our 2025 In the Library with the Lead Pipe article "Cripping Conferences", this piece moves from naming the problem to offering solutions to library administrators. Disabled library workers face significant barriers to professional development, including the financial cost of attendance, the physical and mental toll of navigating inaccessible spaces, and the conflict between crip time and the neoliberal clock time that governs academic and library culture. While accommodations are needed, they are not enough; we need to interrogate the systems that exclude disabled employees. Written by two disabled LIS scholars, this piece offers library administrators practical guidance, from …