Image by whoalice-moore via Pixabay.

 

Looking at this list, I think I might spend too much time reading online/listening to podcasts. But I love it, and it’s holidays. 😊

Some of these are old, but I only found them this month, so new to me.

 

Podcasts

Teaching about algorithms via The Librarian’s Guide to Teaching

I didn’t get time to listen to this pre-assignment. Skip the first five minutes or so. Pointed me to some other interesting bits & pieces.

 

Biased algorithms, biased world via On the Media (WNYC)

Mentioned in above. Short and interesting, but mostly sociological. Takeaway quote: “an algorithm is an opinion embedded in math”.

 

Organising chaos: bias in the library via On the Media (WNYC)

Saw this when I was looking for the above! (I love podcasts…) The library bit starts about 35 minutes in, but the first part is also very interesting (taxonomy). Looks at the bias inherent in the organising systems of Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress. Fits well with the idea of bias inherent in algorithm design.

 

Alphabetical order via Word of Mouth (BBC Radio 4)

Historian Judith Flanders talks about the invention of alphabetical order, alternatives to it, and its diminishing importance in a search engine world. She wrote a really interesting looking book on this topic, which I can’t wait to read.

 

The library of Alexandria via In Our Time (BBC Radio 4)

Melvyn Bragg leads a panel of historians and classicists talking about this most famous of libraries. Love this podcast.

 

 

Blogs & blog posts

Headteachers… what is education’s best-kept secret?… bah humbug! by Elizabeth Hutchinson on her blog

Uses A Christmas Carol ghosts of Christmas past/present/future conceit to show the value of school libraries to literacy and student achievement.

 

Reel Librarians: Librarians + Movies = Reel Love – a blog by Jennifer Snoek-Brown

This is so much fun! A blog all about cinematic depictions of librarians. Highly recommend.

 

5 poems about libraries by Shawna Lemay on her blog Transactions with Beauty

Lovely poems, not by the blogger: a little anthology. (Did you know that anthology comes from the Greek for flower collection [anthos = flower]? I learnt that from the Judith Flanders alphabetical order podcast. Lifelong learning at work!)

 

RRRevolution! Girl style! Now! by Emma Eriksson, New York Public Library blog

An article about zines in 1990s third wave feminism, inspired by the Netflix film Moxie.

 

Articles

Library audio and ebook loans in 2021 reveal unexpected stars by Alison Flood (The Guardian)

Comfort reading and bibliotherapy in a time of Covid.

 

How TikTok reads your mind (no paywall) by Ben Smith (The New York Times)

More on Algorithms!

 

One for the books: the unlikely renaissance of libraries in the digital age by Jane Cadzow (Sydney Morning Herald)

A gorgeous article about the continuing importance of libraries in the community.

 

The librarian war against QAnon by Barbara Fister (The Atlantic)

About the vital importance of digital citizenship and the role of librarians, adapted from Fister’s brilliant article Lizard people in the library (Project Information Literacy).

 

From quoits to quinine and tonics: Library bar opens to public by Julie Power (Sydney Morning Herald)

An article about the new bar on the roof of the State Library of NSW. The journalist thinks it’s good that it hasn’t got cheesy cocktail names, but I love cheesy literary puns, so must disagree.

 

Literary mocktails by State Library NSW

Cheesy literary puns and non-alcoholic drinks!

 

How many books does it take to make a place feel like home? (no paywall) by Julie Lasky (The New York Times)

An article about home libraries.

 

Searching for my ideal number of library books by Connie Pan (Book Riot)

Borrowing out too many/too few library books… finding the sweet spot.