As libraries approach their third month of closure, many institutions that had continued to pay employees—whether or not they were able to engage in active work—are now turning to layoffs or furloughs, often citing concerns about budget cuts.

As the coronavirus makes internet access even more crucial for schooling, many jobs, and applying for unemployment, library staff have been working on creative solutions to bring access to thousands who would otherwise be without, moving beyond Wi-Fi in parking lots and cultivating external partnerships.

As we begin to reopen more and more libraries across the country the pressure you will feel as a leader is going to increase. You are crucial to your organization’s future right now. It’s okay to be nervous; it’s okay to be scared. Those emotions will not stop you from doing what you need to do. We can do this. You can do this.

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 AASL/ALA and StoryCorps: The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is partnering with StoryCorps to launch StoryCorps Connect. The new free platform allows Americans to conduct and record StoryCorps interviews remotely. AASL encourages school librarians to utilize the technology to support learners in connecting with others amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and, in the process, […]

Note: We will update this post with additional coverage, statements, and resources as they become available. Last Updated: May 28, 2020, 7:15pm Eastern Full Text of Executive Order (via White House) From the AP: President Donald Trump escalated his war on social media companies Thursday, signing an executive order challenging the liability protections that have […]

From Pew Research: Most U.S. adults report having seen made-up news about COVID-19, and many have seen various claims about purported treatments. But relatively few Americans have a lot of confidence in their own ability to check the accuracy of the news and information they come across related to the coronavirus. About three-in-ten U.S. adults […]

From ACRL: ACRL’s Publications in Librarianship (PIL) series—a peer-reviewed collection of books that examine emerging theories and research—is launching its second open peer review, for Envisioning the Framework: A Graphic Guide to Information Literacy, edited by Jannette L. Finch. The manuscript is open for comment through Monday, July 13, 2020. It is available for review […]

From a PLA/ALA Release:  As public libraries close their buildings to the public, staff continue to serve their communities in innovative ways. Those are among the chief findings the Public Library Association (PLA) announced today in the broadest survey of public libraries’ response to the pandemic to date.

Members of the book industry are finding that the current pandemic is accelerating changes that were already taking place.

Many libraries, library organizations, and others are offering webinars during the COVID-19 for a variety of reasons including thinking/planning for the future, developing learning new skills, and simply conversing with colleagues. infoDOCKET is organizing a spreadsheet with links to these recordings, along with a submission form for libraries and vendors to add more.

Update from March 16: COVID-19 Reports from the Congressional Research Service; Searchable Video From C-SPAN; and More Added to infoDOCKET Roundup

This year's selections of notable international government documents, from the Address by His Majesty the Emperor Akhito to smallpox eradication, the 75th Anniversary of D-Day to planning for a no-deal Brexit.

This year's selections of notable state and local government documents, from Colorado wildlife to Oregon sea urchins, North Dakota blizzards to North Carolina DWI offenders.

This year's selections of notable Federal government documents, from Artificial Intelligence to the Grand Canyon, Fun with Fruits and Vegetables to the Articles of Impeachment.

The Government Publishing Office (GPO) recently advanced an initiative to modernize the formatting of house committee reports and other documents to make them not only more readable on paper, but more accessible in online formats and through a variety of electronic devices. Now government documents will be available on the Digital Public Library of America's (DPLA) Open Bookshelf platform. This year's selected notable government documents cover topics ranging from artificial intelligence to Alaska's gold stampede, and from family separation at the border to healthy bees to Brexit.