It certainly didn't take long for AI's other shoe to drop, what with the emergent technology already being perverted to commit confidence scams and generate spam content. We can now add censorship to that list as the Globe Gazette reports the school board of Mason City, Iowa has begun leveraging AI technology to cultivate lists of potentially bannable books from the district's libraries ahead of the 2023/24 school year. In May, the Republican-controlled state legislature passed, and Governor Kim Reynolds subsequently signed, Senate File 496 (SF 496), which enacted sweeping changes to the state's education curriculum. Specifically it limits what books can be made available in school libraries and classrooms, requiring titles to be "age appropriate” and without “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act,” per Iowa Code 702.17.But ensuring that every book in the district's archives adhere to these new rules is quickly turning into a mammoth undertaking. "Our classroom and school libraries have vast collections, consisting of texts purchased, donated, and found," Bridgette Exman, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Mason City Community School District, said in a statement. "It is simply not feasible to read every book and filter for these new requirements." As such, the Mason City School District is bringing in AI to parse suspect texts for banned ideas and descriptions since there are simply too many titles for human reviewers to cover on their... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2023-08-14 20:25:41 UTC ]
New Jersey becomes the fourth US state to propose an anti-book ban bill, tying state funding of public schools and libraries to freedom to read statements. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-05-22 14:58:49 UTC ]
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The U.S. Book Show kicked off with lively discussions of the recent wave of book bans across the country, how citizens can successfully fight against those who would restrict our freedom to read, and how libraries and publishers can be strategic partners in enabling access to digital content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A Connecticut bill would provide funding for sanctuary libraries across the state. That, plus this week's book censorship news. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-05-19 10:40:00 UTC ]
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Kirk Cameron has had a tough year, not unlike poor, pregnant Mary. “We tried to go to libraries across the country and we’ve been turned away,” he told a church gathering this week in Charlotte, N.C., of touring his conservative children’s book As You Grow, about a tree SYMBOLIZING FAITH getting... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-17 13:22:18 UTC ]
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Libraries need our support now more than ever. Here are some of the ways you can volunteer and give back to help your local library. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-05-15 10:30:00 UTC ]
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The highlights from our programming this year include the return of our Libraries Are Essential program, a day-long in-person meeting for literary agents, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A robust slate of programming highlights the crucial work of libraries and librarians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, these 15 firms could be poised for a stock market rally. Ever since ChatGPT’s release, Americans have been wrestling with the idea of generative artificial intelligence automating our existence. Large language models are trained on... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2023-05-08 14:36:00 UTC ]
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Guess who made it out of committee? On Wednesday, the Illinois state legislature passed House Bill 2789, which would ensure libraries or schools that remove books from their shelves do so with the knowledge they shall ~shelve~ the state grant money they would otherwise have received. Governor... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-05 12:07:16 UTC ]
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Voters in Michigan overwhelmingly support their local libraries and oppose book bans; Illinois passes a groundbreaking bill to support the freedom to read; ALA announces its Banned Books Week 2023 theme, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Illinois Senate has passed HB 2789, a bill whose terms dictate that state funding from libraries that remove books will be withheld. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-05-04 16:31:45 UTC ]
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Share the Joy of Giving—and Receiving—Books as Gifts, by The Editors of WLT News and Events [email protected] Mon, 05/01/2023 - 15:39 Isobelle Ouzman, Peace for Ukraine (2022; detail), miniature plain paper journal, ink, color pencils, art knife,... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2023-05-01 20:39:57 UTC ]
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What started last year with a group trying to get a few children's sexual education books pulled from the shelves of a southern Manitoba library has now turned into accusations that its staff are pedophiles and a campaign to defund it, the... Continue reading at CBC
[ CBC | 2023-05-01 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite suffering a significant blow this week in its attempt to take over Activision Blizzard, Microsoft still believes it can get the job done. The company has signed a 10-year agreement with Spain-based cloud gaming provider Nware to make PC games it builds in-house available to stream on... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-04-28 17:25:18 UTC ]
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If the more than 100 bills in state legislatures aiming to ban books fail, lawmakers want to cut library budgets — which could mean cuts to resources for America's most vulnerable. Continue reading at HuffPost
[ HuffPost | 2023-04-28 09:45:11 UTC ]
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Among the week's headlines: a challenging year for libraries recapped in the ALA's 2023 State of America's Libraries report; amid criticism, the College Board will change its AP African American studies course again; the Seattle Public Library will join Brooklyn Public Library in making banned... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This world isn't designed for anyone under 18. Teen spaces in libraries don't just promote literacy: they give teenagers a voice. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-04-27 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Some of the best moments of my life have been spent in libraries, first as a patron, later as a librarian, and I have witnessed firsthand how hard the past few decades have been on libraries. As America has continued to dismantle its social safety net, libraries have been forced to pivot from... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2023-04-21 11:05:00 UTC ]
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The Boston Public Library is the latest in a string of public libraries to plan to incorporate affordable housing into its buildings. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-04-19 18:13:54 UTC ]
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OverDrive Max, which enables libraries to buy bundles of up to 100 loans for specific titles for concurrent use based on library users’ demands and with no expiration dates, has more than 400,000 titles available in the program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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