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The article features Mychal Threets, a librarian at Solano County Library in California and one of the honorees of the journal's Movers & Shakers 2024 Award. Topics discussed include his habit of sharing stories to inspire people to visit their library, his concern on the safety of library workers and of library users, and his effort to advocate for mental health in the workplace and promote programs like the Afro Library Revolution.

The article reports on the recovery of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) from a ransomware attack on October 28, 2023 that shut down the library's internal network, website, and public computers. Topics discussed include the inability of patrons to access their library accounts online or use the library's computers for more than two months, comments from Toronto's City Library Vickery Bowles, and findings of the "2023 Palo Alto Networks Canada Ransomware Barometer" report.

The article discusses the need of library leaders, staff, and boards to be prepared for attacks on readers' rights. Topics include a library's strongest and probably most-used defense when it comes to facing challenges, the need of library administrators to familiarize themselves with First Amendment legal decisions at the national and state level, and importance of freedom of information and library policy training for trustees.

The article discusses the results of the yearly material survey which highlights the demands of readers for a range of formats and the need to ensure that library collections reflect voices previously ignored due to racism and other structural biases. Topics include physical books as the core of library collections in 2021, a change in patron usage seen by librarians, and percent change in spending for certain materials between 2020 and 2021.

The article reports on the launch of a job training program by Georgia's Clayton County Library System (CCLS) that enables patrons to use virtual reality (VR) headsets to simulate hands-on experiences in various trades. Topics include the Interplay Learning as the recommended software by Assistant Library Director Marquita Gooch-Voyd, demand for the job training program, and advice of Director Rosalind Lett for other library systems that consider purchasing Interplay or other similar software.

The article discusses the survey and report "Gen Z and Millennials: How They Use Public Libraries and Identify Through Media Use" which found that people 40 and younger are using public libraries, often at higher rates, compared with older generations, even when they do not define themselves as readers. Other findings include the percentage of people 40 and under who visited a library branch within a 12-month period and the challenges libraries and publishers face with Gen Z and millennials.

The article reports on the partnership of Hiveclass, a startup company building a digital encyclopedia of youth sports training, with libraries throughout the U.S. to offer teens and youth access to its mobile-friendly database of instructional videos on sports in both English and Spanish. Topics include consortia and library systems that made the platform available to member libraries and patrons and people with disabilities that can enable a variety of accessibility features on the platform.

The article offers information on creating accessible spaces/programs/services in libraries. Topics discussed include the most important thing a library can do, especially when creating or redeveloping a facility, service or program, importance of getting input from patrons with disabilities on digital initiatives, and factor that should be considered for a library to be truly accessible.

The article focuses on the new library design in the U.S., as of November 2021. Topics discussed examples of how the modern public library is much more than a place to borrow books, significance of the furnishings that libraries can play in enhancing the patron experience, and the adoption by many libraries of best practices from retail stores to highlight their collections.

The article discusses the work of public libraries to find employment and secure better jobs and promotions for library users in the U.S. Topics include increase seen by libraries across the country in the use of virtual career and business resources during the pandemic, initiatives that seek to address the needs of patrons who lack the reliable internet access to apply, interview and train for new jobs, and programs that target specific career paths created by some libraries.

The article discusses the results of the "Library Journal's" 2021 survey on readers' advisory (RA) services in U.S. public libraries. Topics include the challenges reported by RA librarians, the necessity for multilingual RA resources, and the most useful question one asks patron when conducting one-to-one RA.

The article discusses a variety of training options and practical tips offered by vendors to ensure librarians and patrons get the most out of their databases. Topics include the importance of training according to Allyson Zellner, manager of Customer Training Services for EBSCO, courses being offered by EBSCO Academy, and training offered by ProQuest.

The article discusses the changes in public libraries as of June 2021. Topics covered include ways libraries are engaging with patrons, critical role of both public libraries and their higher education counterparts in helping their communities have access to technology throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and automated solution offered by LaptopsAnytime to the challenge faced by librarians during the pandemic.

The article offers a guide for libraries to serve their Generation Z users who want to read at low or no cost. Topics covered include some of the cheap online platforms available such as Scribd, Wattpad and fanfiction repositories, tips for libraries on developing a methodology for providing access to materials outside mainstream publishing like zines and need for librarians to be familiar with popular podcasts and podcasting platforms to be able to recommend audio for Generation Z patrons.

The article focuses on the 2019 "Library Journal" Index of Public Library Service based on the most recent findings from the Institute of Museum and Library Services Public Library Survey, Fiscal Year 2017. It discusses the addition of Wireless Fidelity sessions to the measures used to determine the Star Libraries in the U.S. It presents the number of libraries that retained their Star status and of those that lost theirs. It also describes the factors that affect the Star status of libraries.

The article reports on the launch of the status of Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut as the first sanctuary library in the state. Ferguson followed Chicago Public Library's lead to become the second sanctuary library in the U.S., a place where patrons are promised access to books banned or challenged elsewhere. The Senate Bill 2, An Act Concerning the Mental, Physical and Emotional Wellness of Children" drafted by the Connecticut General Assembly's Committee on Children is discussed.

The article discusses the efforts by libraries in the U.S. to support patrons and library staff who are experiencing mental health challenges. Topics covered include proportion of U.S. adults who live with a mental illness as of 2017 according to the National Institute of Mental Health, best practices for library staff on dealing with patrons with mental illness, and information on Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, a course developed by the National Council on Behavioral Health.

The article discusses how library vendors are meeting the needs of customers in the wake of COVID-19. Topics include factors that led Cambridge University Press (CUP) to conclude that the direct-to-student print textbook model is not viable in the long term, the agreement by all of the vendors that most of their academic library customers were anticipating budget cuts, and the discount being offered by EBSCO for libraries to convert print books from participating publishers into ebooks.

The article discusses how passive programming, described as temporary, self-directed activities or exhibits that users interact with in their own time, can solve a library's need to encourage library patrons with less funding and fewer human resources. Topics discussed include examples of self-directed activities or exhibits, move taken by Princeton Public Library in New Jersey and the interactive exhibit at the Lakewood Public Library.

The article focuses on shared and consortial collections by which libraries join together to deliver materials to their patrons efficiently and cost-effectively. Topics discussed include sharing physical space as perhaps the most straightforward method of bringing collections together, academic libraries of the Ivy Plus Libraries Confederation (IPLC) that share an interlibrary loan network, and information on the Hathi Trust Shared Print Program.

The article discusses the rising popularity of graphic novels as of June 2018, which was attributed to libraries and their patrons. Topics covered include the performance of libraries above the traditional retail channels in 2017, increase in graphic novel circulation and increase in unique comic book users since 2016 according to hoopla digital owner and cofounder Jeff Jankowski, and comic titles from across the literary and entertainment industries.

The article discusses the "Library Journal's" survey on College Student Library Usage, sponsored by ProQuest which looked at how students in U.S. colleges and universities use their institutions' libraries and whether those libraries are meeting students' needs. Findings of the survey include the positive view of college students of their institutions' libraries, average time of visit of students on the library in person during the fall 2021 semester, and barriers to in-person use of libraries.

The article discusses the efforts by Pioneer Library System (PLS) to innovate services to meet customers where they are. Topics discussed include the interaction of customers with the library through StoryWalks, 24-Hour Libraries, book lockers, virtual programs and more; action taken by PLS to combat the digital divide, reduce barriers to service, and add more ways to engage with the library; and comments from Library Board Trustee and Newcastle Assistant City Manager Jeanette McNally.

The article discusses the author's claim that the implementation of innovative ideas and programs at U.S. public libraries is helping library patrons find reliable wellness information and health-related aid as of 2016, and it mentions an open access movement and health literacy in America. Library nurses in places such as Arizona are examined, along with health care collaborations involving libraries in Sale Lake County, Utah and South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The article discusses the shift of patron service of libraries toward human-centered design techniques, also known as design thinking, as of September 2016. Topics include the reason behind the adoption of design thinking techniques by Melanie Huggins, executive director of the Richland Library in Columbia, South Carolina, the key features of design thinking, user experience (UX) design as a common assessment tool in academic and public libraries, and libraries that adopted design thinking.

The article reports on the results of the 2019 Budgets and Funding survey by "Library Journal." It includes information on operating budgets and where increases occurred, the small decline in circulation of books and media as well as electronic books, and the numbers of users and outreach programs.

The author discusses a study which examined Facebook relationships of 72 million people. The study found that the biggest determining factor of a neighborhood's less wealthy children obtaining positive economic mobility as adults was how much they connected with people outside their economic strata. The author cites the failure of the analysis to directly measure the role of race and the need of libraries to build programs that appeal to and welcome patrons from a cross-section of demographics.

The article emphasizes the importance of incorporating formats into the collection development approach of libraries. Topics discussed include factors that need to be considered like community demographics, past circulation statistics, current use and patron-driven requests, the issue of availability of titles, use of predictive analytics tools to determine format decisions and employment of venders of card catalogs.

The article reports on the American Library Association (ALA) conference which took place June 25-30, 2015, in San Francisco, California. It discusses conference presentations on topics including the collection and analysis of library patron data, trends in the needs of academic library users, and library technologies. Other topics include book awards and a planned partnership of online research firm EBSCO and library automation firm Ex Libris.

The article discusses the annual State of America's Library Report released by the American Library Association (ALA) on April 15, 2021 which focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and how public, school, and academic libraries worked to meet patrons' and communities' needs. Topics include comments from ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr., ALA's own stories which were included in the report, and critical resources for the report's broad mandate.

The article offers a guide for libraries to selecting the books to keep and the books to discard to maintain the health of their collection. Topics covered include the importance of taking out unwanted books, the impact of discarding outdated titles on the amount of space for new books and the need for libraries to go slowly and carefully when getting rid of outdated books to avoid offending users.

The author considers these stressful times in 2022 as a perfect moment to celebrate the pleasure and comfort of rereading. She talks about ways libraries could further serve patrons, the need of librarians to open reader advisory (RA) tools to patrons' direct use, and the emergence of romance genre as a great place to start rereading.

The article offers tips and suggestions for giving a makeover to library website for creating comfortable user experience. Topics includes views of Indiana University Bloomington Libraries head Courtney Greene McDonald, on establishing clear mission and parameter; views of Virginia Common wealth University head Erin White, on maintaining visions; and views of Stacks president Kristin Delwo, on understanding the requirements of library customers.

The article reports on the addition of VIA Metropolitan Transit by BiblioTech, the digital library of Bexar county, Texas, to BiblioTech's local partners that help patrons discover and access library ebooks and other content outside of the system's two branches. Topics include a background on the creation of BiblioTech, how BiblioTech works to establish partnerships according to Administrator Laura Cole, and the number of patrons registered by BiblioTech throughout Bexar county in three years.

The article discusses best practices for library collection development. Particular focus is given to the responsibility of collection development librarians. Options for selecting library materials include publisher newsletters, the Library Reads recommendation tool, and the Edelweiss discovery tool. Also discussed are the need to interact with library patrons, monitoring authors who visit local bookstores, and budget considerations.

The article reports on the increasing demand for erotic fiction by library patrons, prompted by the popularity of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series by E. L. James. It is noted that erotic books which feature bondage/domination/sadism/masochism (BSDM) sexual practices are particularly fashionable. Other topics include the preference of erotica readers for the electronic book (e-book) format, readers' advisories and genre characteristics, and library collection development issues. INSETS: EROTICA SALES;A STARTER BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The article examines what the author identifies as the popularity of graphic nonfiction works, particularly concerning the use of the literary genre of memoir in graphic nonfiction. The article also discusses graphic nonfiction collection building and maintenance for librarians and offers several graphic nonfiction suggestions including "Ethel & Ernst: A True Story," by Raymond Briggs, "The Complete Persepolis," by Marjane Satrapi, and "Stiches," by David Small.

The article discusses how libraries have become a source for guidance to people who are seeking jobs, and what libraries can do to help workers acquire skills needed for the labor market in the 21st century. A 2010 study from the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) reports increased library use, especially use of library computers and instruction since the economic downturn. Also discussed are the ways libraries meet the educational needs of a workforce which has lifelong learning as a goal. INSETS: Landscape of the 21st-Century Workforce;Project Compass.

The article considers so-called young adult literature, fiction created to be read by teenagers. The increased popularity of such books among older adult readers, particularly library users, is discussed. Librarian Cindy Dobrez states that coming-of-age literature appeals to older adults because of their memories of being teenagers. It is noted authors of young adult literature are increasingly writing books for more general audiences.

The article presents an overview of the impact that a global recession and a challenging economic situation in the United States is having on the services that U.S. libraries are being asked to provide to library patrons, and in particular to unemployed library patrons, in 2009. A discussion of cases in which librarians have gone above and beyond their job descriptions to provide additional assistance to needy patrons is presented.

This article focuses on the need for library systems in the U.S. to enact security policies tailored to their respective communities and resources. It discusses variety in library patrons' behavior and ways for libraries to address this issue, the hiring of professional security guards or off-duty police officers by public libraries, and the need for libraries to establish relationships with their local police force.

The article presents an overview of 13 cultural trends in the U.S. that libraries can use to reach library patrons. A discussion of the benefits that libraries can find from becoming involved with the social networking web site site Twitter, online reputation management tools and 11 other cultural trends is presented.

The article discusses research which investigated how academic librarians feel they are serving their faculty clientele and how faculty members feel they are being served by their libraries. Topics discussed include areas that academic libraries can focus efforts to bring their service to faculty, as well as students, to the next level, the four primary essential library services like instruction of students in information literacy, and emphasis on collaboration and communication.

The article looks at issues related to privacy and electronic surveillance of particular interest to librarians and offers a resource list of books, websites, software applications, and DVDs on these issues. Topics include the privacy rights of library users, an 1890 essay in the "Harvard Law Review" on technology and the right to privacy, and the documentary film "CitizenFour" concerning whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The article discusses future-proof library design. According to the article, building the library for relevance and flexibility will guarantee it will help patrons steer through changing times. The term future-proof builds on sustainable design to include how the building will respond to unpredictable change. Future-proof libraries incorporate design that supports staff, can respond to a changing context, is resource effective and energy renewable.

The author reports on challenges which are often faced by Latinos in the United States and ways in which libraries can help with these challenges. Challenges which are discussed include high suicide rates, poverty and the risk of contracting diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Ways in which libraries can assist Latinos are mentioned, such as informing Latinos of educational opportunities which are available and the benefits which education can bring to a family.

The article examines the use of nonfiction titles as a means for libraries to better serve their patrons. The author suggests that readers can be steered toward nonfiction writing by stressing the same narrative elements that are appealing in fiction. A number of classic nonfiction titles are suggested. INSET: GETTING STARTED.

The article reviews the Web site Gale Engage from publisher Gale located at gale.com/databases/gale-engage, with topics including patron activity at public libraries and marketing strategy for public libraries.

The article discusses ways in which libraries can use the MySpace platform to communicate with users. Social networking sites represent one of the features of the Web 2.0 trend, with which many argue libraries need to be actively involved. The author discusses the benefits of using MySpace in virtual reference; for example, it gives librarians the opportunity to learn more about their patrons by looking over their profiles. INSET: FACEBOOK: THE PLAYGROUND ON CAMPUS.