Library News For 12/20/2021
Academic Libraries
Libraries Sign Agreement to Eliminate Fees for PLOS Authors - “Syracuse University Libraries has signed an agreement with PLOS that will take effect in 2022 eliminating author fees for individual corresponding Syracuse University authors. This transformative agreement is on the heels of the first one signed with the American Chemical Society in spring 2021. These agreements expand University researchers’ scientific contributions by allowing authors to make their article open access at no cost to the author. Open access provides students, faculty and researchers with scholarly work that is published, online, free of charge and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.”
Public Libraries
Push to ban books in Texas schools spreads to public libraries - “When the Llano County Library shuts down for three days this week, starting Tuesday, it won't be for the holidays. Instead, a group of six librarians in this small Central Texas county will be conducting a "thorough review" of every children's book in the library, at the behest of the Llano County Commissioners Court. Their mission will be to make sure all of the reading material for younger readers includes subjects that are age-appropriate.”
A year after Indianapolis library waives late fees, thousands potentially regain access - “Thousands of Indianapolis Public Library patrons were able to regain access to physical library materials following the systemwide decision to eliminate late fines, a permanent policy shift that was spurred by the pandemic.
The library is wrapping up its first full year under the new policy, which waived existing late fines for 89,589 accounts. The total amount waived: roughly $2 million.”
Blog Posts
Drive social media success that connects on a personal level - “How can you engage purposefully on social media with the different communities your library serves while also addressing larger, system-wide goals and policies? The concept of “social care” offers a clue. Social care differs from traditional customer care in that the purpose isn’t to address one issue, answer one question, or solve one problem. It’s also different than public relations in that it’s not about “one size fits all” for every audience. For social care, the goal is to nurture a more inclusive, longer-term dialogue.”
The Struggle: Getting and Staying Organized - “It’s slightly embarrassing to admit but staying organized is something I’ve had issues with since I was very little. From losing my homework in middle school to cramming all of my papers into a single binder in high school, it seems like every new stage in my life has been accompanied by a new stab getting and staying organized. My transition from graduate student to full-time academic librarian has been no different.”