“Librarians are the original search engines.” Those are the words of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress and the featured guest on this episode of Broadband Conversations.

This year’s Public Library Association (PLA) Conference will be held in Nashville, from February 25–29—the first time PLA has been held in the Southeast in 20 years. Nashville Public Library (NPL) was LJ’s 2017 Library of the Year; the library—and city—have continued to grow and evolve.

Anxiety around the coronavirus is high, stoked by media coverage, making authoritative information on health and infectious diseases more important than ever.

Watching libraryland organizations in action over my eight years at LJ, I’ve been struck by the wisdom in structures that ensure the president-elect and immediate past president have roles in governance as well as the current leader. Getting insight into the decision process before you take over imparts invaluable training. Staying involved in a new capacity after your term is up creates continuity—and institutional memory can help prevent beginners’ mistakes.

During the week of March 19–23 MIT Libraries convened experts from across disciplines and domains to identify and address grand challenges in the scholarly communication and information science landscape.

Suppose a librarian receives an email from a man named Greg Walsh, wanting to become a cardholder or simply inquiring about the open hours. Would the librarian reply? And, if so, would the reply be polite, including for instance some form of salutation, such as “Hello” or “Good morning”? Does your answer change if the guy is called Tyrone Washington? Is a librarian treating Jake Mueller differently from DeShawn Jackson?

A detailed look at pain management implementing the use of medical cannabis rather than opioids; A complex look at the issue of opioid abuse backed up with research and first hand stories; A valuable addition to the conversation about addiction filled with case studies illustrating the complexities of the disease

Editor Sarah Janssen discusses editing The World Almanac in an age where being attuned to "fake news" is especially vital.

From NBC Connecticut: Connecticut librarians can find themselves on the front lines of a community’s biggest challenges. From mental illness and drug use to poverty and crime, the life of a librarian may not be as easy – or as safe – as some might think. NBC Connecticut Investigates obtained records from police departments across […]

From WCBS Radio: A Connecticut lawmaker is leading the charge against a Trump administration budget proposal that would slash federal funding for local museums and libraries. As President Donald Trump attempts to tackle to federal budget deficit, one of the many items are on the chopping block, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services. […]

From ALA: The Boards of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), Library Information Technology Association (LITA) and the Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA) have all voted unanimously to send to members their recommendation that the divisions form a new division, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. ALCTS, LITA and LLAMA will vote on […]

From Mississippi State University: Mississippi State University Libraries is helping create the state’s first institutionally supported digital database intended to give greater access to legal records identifying victims of slavery. The Lantern Project is one of only a few in the South and is funded by a $340,424 grant from the National Historic Publications and […]

Reagan Arthur named EVP and Publisher of Knopf, Pantheon, Shocken; Janet Carleton appointed to Ohio State Library Board; Polly Thistlethwaite to serve as CUNY Interim University Dean for Library Services; and more library people news.

Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber by Susan Fowler makes noise. So does Brandon Taylor's Real Life. Reading lists are out for books by African American writers, thrillers and mysteries, and addiction memoirs. Charles Portis, the author of True Grit, has died.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica (Park Row: Harper) leads holds this week. Coverage of My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell begins to rise and it tops the March Indie Next List. EarlyWord’s February GalleyChat Roundup is now online. The 2020 Summer Scares Reading List is announced. The March issue of Entertainment Weekly is out and is full of book and adaptation news.

I want to live to be 100 years old. Yes, that is a bold statement, and I’ll admit this goal may be a bit unrealistic and potentially impossible, but my curiosity pushes me to beat the laws of nature. As a 22-year-old avid reader working for a publishing company, I can’t help but wonder: what will be the future of the printed book?