# public libraries — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 12 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover public libraries. Page: Feed: --- ## [Time Off For Rest, Reflection, and Regrounding](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/08/17/time-off-for-rest-reflection-and-regrounding/) _2026-08-17 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ I’ve written before about taking breaks like this, it’s practically a tradition here at this point.\* But this one feels a little different. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I spend my time, and where my energy goes. tl;dr I need time to rest, reflect, and reground. So, I’m stepping back from social \[…\] ## [Five Years of Data is a Gift](https://rogerrenteria.substack.com/p/five-years-of-data-is-a-gift) _2026-08-17 · Roger Renteria · Roger Renteria_ And we have the ability to change for the better! ## [Principles, not parties](https://garymcgath.com/principles-not-parties/) _2026-08-17 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ It’s easy to get depressed as the elections come closer. Some of us hoped the Democrats would recognize a golden opportunity to unite the country against a corrupt, dishonest, and brutal administration. Instead, they seem to think voters are desperate enough to vote against Republicans no matter how outrageous their opponents’ policies are. This will \[…\] ## [Roll Over and Die is a Roll Down a Rocky Hill](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/roll-over-and-die) _2026-08-16 · Chris · Japan Powered_ Roll Over and Die caught my attention at least initially with its 1980s fantasy feel. It s a straight pulpy dark fantasy dealing with a female protagonist chasing after the tormented scarred damsel in distress instead of the usual male savior doing the deed. I like pulpy fantasy slock. Slock, by the way, means drench or gulp. Slock stories are designed to gulp down and to quench boredom. If you… ## [Burnout and Psychological Safety: Intertwined Challenges in Library Management in Librarianship Beyond the Textbook](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/08/14/burnout-and-psychological-safety-intertwined-challenges-in-library-management-in-librarianship-beyond-the-textbook/) _2026-08-14 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ I m thrilled to share that I contributed a chapter, Burnout and Psychological Safety: Intertwined Challenges in Library Management: in Librarianship Beyond the Textbook: A Practical Guide for Real-World Challenges, edited by Nay Keppler. Libraries are multifaceted and constantly changing. Every public, academic, school, and special library has its own unique needs in addition to the \[ \] ## [Visiting America’s first public library](https://garymcgath.com/visiting-first-public-library/) _2026-08-14 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ I always enjoy visiting a library I haven t seen before. The one I visited on August 13 says it s the oldest public library in the USA, and it doesn t seem to have any serious challengers. Its story has interesting parallels to the founding of Harvard College s library. The town in one case and the college \[ \] ## [Book discussion: Taking Funny Music Seriously](https://garymcgath.com/taking-funny-music-seriously/) _2026-08-12 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ An earlier version of this review is posted on my LibraryThing account. I came across Taking Funny Music Seriously on Hoopla while doing research on P.D.Q. Bach. Half of a chapter is about P.D.Q., and it told me some things I hadn t known, so it was worth it right there. It also has a lot \[ \] ## [Rest, Resilience, and Regrounding: Reflections from the COSLA CE Coordinators Workshop](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/08/10/rest-resilience-and-regrounding-reflections-from-the-cosla-ce-coordinators-workshop/) _2026-08-10 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ Last week I had the privilege of facilitating Rest, Resilience, and Regrounding for the Continuing Education Coordinators of COSLA (the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies). I m still riding the good energy from it, so I wanted to share a few reflections here. I forgot how much I enjoy doing this work in person. Since \[ \] ## [Music discussion on Leaflet](https://garymcgath.com/music-discussion-on-leaflet/) _2026-08-10 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ I ve started a new publication on Leaflet, focused on music in all the ways it interests me. Leaflet is part of the Atmosphere network, about which I have mixed thoughts. It puts a bunch of different services under one account, sort of like Google. For now I m treating this publication as an extension of my \[ \] ## [A Librarian’s Preservation Tips for Physical Media Collectors](https://www.japanpowered.com/otaku-culture/manga-video-games-preservation-tips) _2026-08-09 · Chris · Japan Powered_ Have you always wondered why public libraries leave so much space behind books? Or why everything is vertically stored instead of horizontally stored? Or maybe why archives are chilly? In a word: preservation. Books and Manga If you have a large physical collection of manga, anime, movies, or video game, I ve got tips for you from my experience as a librarian! Let s start with how you display your… ## [Pirate.io on Google Play (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/TyqSdwaYBLil) _2026-08-09 · **Sponsored**_ Open the Pirate.io listing on Google Play to view the app’s details. ## [It's official: the '90s are vintage](https://neenotchka.substack.com/p/its-official-the-90s-are-vintage) _2026-08-06 · Nina Kentsis · Nina Writes Novels :: Nina Kentsis_ As if. ## [A P.D.Q. Bach discovery](https://garymcgath.com/p-d-q-bach-discovery/) _2026-08-06 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ I ve put up a video on YouTube of a P.D.Q. Bach piece which perhaps no one had heard in years. It s Two and a Half Variations on In Dulce Jubilo. Peter Schickele s website lists the piece and says it was performed on the December 23, 2000 episode of A Prairie Home Companion. I couldn t find \[ \] ## [ThriveLib 2026 is One Week Away; Get Your Ticket!](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/08/04/thrivelib-2026-is-one-week-away-get-your-ticket/) _2026-08-04 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ I didn t post a lot about ThriveLib here this year in an effort to keep it separate from the rest of my work, but we re one week away, and I don t think I ve shared it at all, so here it goes! ThriveLib 2026 runs August 11-13, all virtual, and this year s theme is Reimagining Library \[ \] ## [The hidden secret of digital music](https://garymcgath.com/hidden-secret-digital-music/) _2026-08-03 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ Last weekend I came across a YouTube video on a resurgence in CD sales. It made me realize how many people are unaware of any part of the music business outside streaming. The commentator talks about CDs as having the appeal of no subscription, no registration, buy it one time, play it forever. There s a \[ \] ## [Akane-banashi Brings Cultural Enrichment to Anime Watchers](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/akane-banashi) _2026-08-02 · Chris · Japan Powered_ My first introduction to rakugo was through Katsura Sunshine, a Canadian rakugoka who performs in English. Rakugo is a form of Japanese comedy where a single performer plays all the characters, relying only on a paper fan and a small cloth for props. The storyteller remains seated in the seiza position (legs folded under under the thighs with the butt resting on the heels). Rakugo has a repertoire… ## [Where do atheists in America stand?](https://garymcgath.com/where-atheists-america-stand/) _2026-07-31 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ Atheists in modern America enjoy a high level of religious freedom. In New England, where I live, we also enjoy a good level of acceptance. I don t encounter hostility for being an atheist. Once the Eagle Tribune in Massachusetts mentioned on its front page that I am one; no one minded. But conditions can change, \[ \] ## [Announcing: The Public Librarian’s Guide to Answering Health Questions](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/07/29/announcing-the-public-librarians-guide-to-answering-health-questions/) _2026-07-29 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ I m thrilled to share that the new book, The Public Librarian s Guide to Answering Health Questions, co-written with Carolyn Martin, is here! It usually starts small. A patron walks up to the desk with a simple question. Maybe they just got a diagnosis and want to understand it better. Maybe they re trying to make sense \[ \] ## [Good news on FedEx dispute](https://garymcgath.com/good-news-fedex/) _2026-07-28 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ FedEx has cancelled the bizarre customs charge for a book that I purchased. I ve updated my earlier post. ## [The special nastiness of the left](https://garymcgath.com/special-nastiness-left/) _2026-07-27 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ There s no shortage of nastiness from either the left or the right these days, but it s always seemed to me that the flavor coming from the left has something special, which is especially good at driving people away. This is separate from whether their aims are a greater threat. What I see a kind of \[ \] ## [What Does Sony’s Ending of PlayStation Physical Media Mean for Public Libraries?](https://www.japanpowered.com/video-games/sony-end-physical-media-public-libraries) _2026-07-26 · Chris · Japan Powered_ On July 1, 2026, Sony PlayStation announced they will stop producing physical media for the PlayStation video game console in January 2028. This upset the gaming community; this announcement affects public libraries. Public libraries circulate the newest physical video game releases, offering a way for gamers to try games before they buy them for their own collections or play games that they… ## [Ship software peacefully (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/c1zkJiY0yHrm) _2026-07-26 · **Sponsored**_ Connect your repo and deploy instantly — Railway handles config, scaling, and monitoring. ## [Girls and the City](https://neenotchka.substack.com/p/girls-and-the-city) _2026-07-23 · Nina Kentsis · Nina Writes Novels :: Nina Kentsis_ A voice of a generation ## [Flavors of populism](https://garymcgath.com/flavors-of-populism/) _2026-07-22 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ Nailing down populism is difficult. Merriam-Webster says it s a political philosophy or movement that represents or is claimed to represent the interests of ordinary people especially against the Establishment. The idea that the people should rule sounds left-wing, but we tend to think of populism as right-wing. It sounds like another way of saying pro-democracy, \[ \] ## [Why I’m Standing Up for the M.L.S.](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/07/21/why-im-standing-up-for-the-m-l-s/) _2026-07-21 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ You have probably already seen it, but I have a new piece out in Inside Higher Ed, co-written with Sam Helmick (2025–26 ALA president). It s a response to an essay arguing that academic libraries should hire Ph.D.’s rather than credentialed librarians and, more broadly, it s about why credential erosion is a fight our profession needs \[ \] ## [A customs surprise](https://garymcgath.com/a-customs-surprise/) _2026-07-20 · Gary McGath · Gary McGath_ Update, July 30, 2026: I just got a past due notice from FedEx, so I may not be out of the woods yet. Hopefully it s just notifications lagging behind resolutions. Update, July 28, 2026: Happy ending! FedEx cancelled the charge without requiring me to agree to an outrageous processing fee. Back in June, a friend \[ \] ## [Witch Hat Atelier, A Magical Fantasy that Uses Quiet Menace Well](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/witch-hat-atelier) _2026-07-19 · Chris · Japan Powered_ Witch Hat Atelier s first cour grabbed me from the start with its animation and sense of wonder. It has the feel of an old-school fairy tale. Although many wouldn t consider fairy-tale girls empowered by today s standards, many female protagonists show high agency for their time period. They chase their goals, even if it is marriage, and develop their skills often against the standards of their… ## [My Orwellian Public Library](https://arlenequaratiello.substack.com/p/my-orwellian-public-library) _2026-07-15 · Arlene Quaratiello · No Shushing Now: Exposing Today's Woke Libraries_ Struggling with Totalitarian Library Trustees ## [You Paid For It…Use It!](https://rogerrenteria.substack.com/p/you-paid-for-ituse-it) _2026-07-13 · Roger Renteria · Roger Renteria_ Public libraries are some of the best third spaces we have available and they're free. ## [Recent Anime I’ve Dropped, Finished and Forgotten, or Felt Meh About](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/recent-dropped-anime) _2026-07-12 · Chris · Japan Powered_ Each season anime releases in a deluge that all of us have to triage; there s only so much time! I ve dropped, forgotten, or felt meh about many anime more than I write about here. These past few seasons have been particularly full of anime that fall into these categories. Some titles have even surprised me with how I couldn t engage with them. I ve learned timing plays a role. I ve returned to a… ## [Elvis and Billy and Bruce and Paul](https://neenotchka.substack.com/p/elvis-and-billy-and-bruce-and-paul) _2026-07-09 · Nina Kentsis · Nina Writes Novels :: Nina Kentsis_ I love rock and roll ## [My residency at Toronto Public Library was the best thing that’s happened to me recently](https://www.davidsilverberg.ca/my-residency-at-toronto-public-library-was-the-best-thing-thats-happened-to-me-recently/) _2026-07-07 · David Silverberg · David Silverberg_ When I look back at the past two months as the Writer in Residence at Toronto Public Library, with a focus on journalism, I can t help but Joker smile like a silly silly man. Meeting with writers and running weekly programming has been so incredibly fulfilling and nourishing, it feels surreal. Like, did I just meet with 30 writers to advise them on their careers? Did I run six seminars, workshops… ## [Prime Noise-Cancelling Picks (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/YhAvHdPJK99c) _2026-07-07 · **Sponsored**_ Browse Prime-eligible, 4-star-and-up noise-cancelling earbuds with fast shipping and deals ## [Commodification and the End of Anime](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/commodification-end-of-anime) _2026-07-05 · Chris · Japan Powered_ In an interview at Anime Anime, anime critic Ryota Fujitsu discusses his concerns about commoditization and the end of anime. Ryota sees the popularity of anime leading to its end as an important artistic work and losing its identity to become just another interchangeable form of entertainment: no one will pay attention to its existence. As anime becomes popular, it becomes a daily commodity, a… ## [ALA Council Just Passed a Bill of Rights for Librarians and Library Workers. We Need It.](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/07/02/ala-council-just-passed-a-bill-of-rights-for-librarians-and-library-workers-we-need-it/) _2026-07-02 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ At the Council Meeting I in Chicago, the ALA Council passed a resolution calling for the adoption of the Librarians and Library Workers Bill of Rights. I m thrilled to see this pass. It s six articles covering things we all know librarians and library workers need. In some ways I’m sad to see it come \[ \] ## [The 7 Types of Rest for Librarians at #alaac26](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/06/29/the-7-types-of-rest-for-librarians-at-alaac26/) _2026-06-29 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ Saturday morning, I gave a talk on the 7 types of rest for librarians at ALA to an overflowing room. It s both delightful and disheartening to see this many people attend sessions on well-being. I always hope someday no one shows up. Sort of like Affleck s character at the end of Good Will Hunting. I \[ \] ## [My Gift LVL 9999 Unlimited Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I’m Out for Revenge! Junk Food with References](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/backstabbed-backwater-dungeon) _2026-06-28 · Chris · Japan Powered_ Catharsis forms the centerpiece of some stories. When a story aims in this direction, characters and events are portrayed in binary ways, even when they re both on the evil end of the ethical and moral spectrum. While the story tries to make the audience sympathize with the protagonist, the protagonist isn t good, considering how revenge against their enemies drives them, with that revenge falling… ## [Inspiration and interactions at UXLibs 10](https://www.ned-potter.com/blog/inspiration-and-interactions-at-uxlibs-10) _2026-06-23 · Ned Potter · The Ideas About Communication Blog - Ned Potter_ Pic by Raj Mann Exactly a decade ago I attended my first User Experience in Libraries Conference. It changed everything for me: I’ve said before that I think UX is the most exciting thing to happen to UK librarianship in the twenty years I’ve been involved with it. I now have UX in my email signature (Faculty Engagement Manager: Community + UX) and my favourite projects at work have all been… ## [Find me at ALA Annual #ALAAC26 – The 7 Types of Rest and Doing Less](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/06/22/find-me-at-ala-annual-alaac26/) _2026-06-22 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ I will be at ALA Annual in Chicago later this week. I have a packed schedule, and I will be giving a presentation and hosting a huddle. If you see me ask for a sticker or a pin. See you there! The first in a presentation for the ALA-Allied Professional Association. ALA-APA is a companion \[ \] ## [Quoting from Confucius’s The Analects](https://www.japanpowered.com/book-reviews/quoting-confucius-the-analects) _2026-06-21 · Chris · Japan Powered_ Confucius influenced the development of Japan in many ways, namely in the structure of Japan s early political system and in the idea of ie, or house. Ie became the foundation of Tokugawa Japan s social organization. In Tokugawa Japan, the house, another name for family, formed the smallest economic, political, and spiritual unit. To keep the organization simple: samurai families stood at the top,… ## [Japanese Girl Bands and Men’s Protect and Provide Instinct](https://www.japanpowered.com/otaku-culture/japanese-girl-bands-and-men) _2026-06-14 · Chris · Japan Powered_ The Internet like to box things into binaries. You ll often come across the idea that men have an instinct to protect and provide, particularly toward women. Part of the claim rests on the observations of body dimorphism. Men, on average, are larger and stronger than women. Women, on average, tend to be more nurturing. The claim says this is because men went hunting and to war while women stayed… ## [Is Remote Work as Glamorous as it Sounds?](https://rogerrenteria.substack.com/p/is-remote-work-as-glamorous-as-it) _2026-06-12 · Roger Renteria · Roger Renteria_ The reality is not as great as it seems. ## [Having creative friends is so cool!](https://neenotchka.substack.com/p/having-creative-friends-is-so-cool) _2026-06-10 · Nina Kentsis · Nina Writes Novels :: Nina Kentsis_ And I get to read and watch their work! ## [Elevating voices: UX as a tool for equity](https://www.ned-potter.com/blog/elevating-voices-ux-as-a-tool-for-equity) _2026-06-10 · Ned Potter · The Ideas About Communication Blog - Ned Potter_ Today I am honoured to give a keynote at UXLibs 10, the User Experience in Libraries Conference . Below is a version of my slides, and then I’ve linked to several relevant articles and reports covering things I discussed in the talk, finishing with highlights from my report on the Inclusivity and Belonging UX project at the University of York. The presentation My slides are embedded below and… ## [Ten tiny tips for preparing a talk](https://www.ned-potter.com/blog/ten-tiny-tips-for-preparing-a-talk) _2026-06-09 · Ned Potter · The Ideas About Communication Blog - Ned Potter_ I love prepping a talk, which is what I've spent the last few days doing ahead of my keynote at #UXLibs 10 s today. Here are some things I've found helpful in the process. 1) Get your ideas down first; sort the visuals later . Think of it like building a house - you lay the foundations and see the walls are going before you pick furniture and colours... Sometimes the content can dictate the style,… ## [A New Journey](https://rogerrenteria.substack.com/p/a-new-journey) _2026-06-08 · Roger Renteria · Roger Renteria_ Something new is up. ## [I have redesigned this website and now it is better](https://www.ned-potter.com/blog/i-have-redesigned-this-website-and-now-it-is-better) _2026-06-06 · Ned Potter · The Ideas About Communication Blog - Ned Potter_ If you’re reading this I salute you: I know no one really cares about website redesigns except the owner of the website, so I appreciate you casting your eyes over this! I’ve had a website since 2010 and have re-done or updated it several times over this period. At the same time I’ve done a lot of UX work around updating the website of the Library I work at - and I realised I’d failed to apply… ## [Find the Cracks: That’s How the Light Gets In. on reclaiming joy in library work without losing yourself to it](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/06/04/find-the-cracks-thats-how-the-light-gets-in/) _2026-06-04 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ I get asked a lot to do something that feels contradictory to me, and I’ve been struggling with it for a while. How to reground librarians in their work or help librarians find joy in their work. I think this topic is both incredibly important and it makes me anxious because it feels like it \[ \] ## [From Overwhelm to Action at Virginia Tech Libraries In-Service Day](https://librarianbyday.net/2026/05/29/from-overwhelm-to-action-at-virginia-tech-libraries/) _2026-05-29 · Bobbi L. Newman · Bobbi L. Newman_ Last week, I joined the library in-service day at Virginia Tech to talk to librarians about regrounding and reconnecting with our purpose. The presentation “From Overwhelm to Action: Prioritizing Purpose in a Demanding Library Landscape” explored how librarians and library workers can move from reactive, burnout-driven work cultures toward more intentional, values-aligned decision-making. Drawing… ## [It's not personal, it's strictly business](https://neenotchka.substack.com/p/its-not-personal-its-strictly-business) _2026-05-29 · Nina Kentsis · Nina Writes Novels :: Nina Kentsis_ On rejection ## [Embracing authenticity in a sea of GenAI](https://www.ned-potter.com/blog/embracing-authenticity-in-a-sea-of-genai) _2026-05-06 · Ned Potter · The Ideas About Communication Blog - Ned Potter_ You may have seen the extraordinary statistic that around two-thirds of ebooks released onto Amazon are now GenAI-written . Similarly, a report from Deezer last year showed that over 50,000 GenAI tracks are uploaded every day to the music streaming platform. 50k! Every single day! We’re literally drowning in culture, eh? People use AI to generate entire bands for Spotify , then use bot farms to… ## [The end of an era](https://neenotchka.substack.com/p/the-end-of-an-era) _2026-05-03 · Nina Kentsis · Nina Writes Novels :: Nina Kentsis_ (that I thought was already over) ## [Library Battles Continue](https://arlenequaratiello.substack.com/p/library-battles-continue) _2026-05-03 · Arlene Quaratiello · No Shushing Now: Exposing Today's Woke Libraries_ News from the New Hampshire Front