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 ]
Love books? How about libraries? These libraries that look like books combine two of every readers' favorite things in bookish architecture. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-04-29 10:32:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House senior v-p Skip Dye said the move to unify the publisher's library sales and library marketing groups will foster "even more mutually advantageous and enjoyable relationships with our libraries and librarians nationwide." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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When Book Trust asked Firefly to support the UK Children’s Laureate campaign to increase funding for primary school libraries, I was delighted. Not just because I went to a school with a library, and sneaking off there on a rainy break-time was one of the treats of my school day! I also hoped... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-04-19 21:31:38 UTC ]
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Face masks and social distancing will be enforced. Signs will direct foot traffic, and furniture and bookshelves have been reorganized. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-04-16 15:00:47 UTC ]
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Under the terms of its program, which PRH began more than a year ago, libraries have the option to license e-books and digital audio for one-year terms at a 50% prorated price as an alternative to the existing two-year term (for e-books) or perpetual access (for digital audio). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative names two winners for 2021, both translated from Brazilian Portuguese by Larissa Helena. The post The ‘GLLI’ Translated YA Book Prize Announces 2021 Brazilian Co-Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-07 07:20:38 UTC ]
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The ProQuest-NYU Libraries project is available to thousands of international students and scholars during its pilot until August 31. The post International Students, Scholars Have Access to NYU’s Pilot With ProQuest appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-07 04:12:31 UTC ]
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ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. said that not including libraries in the administration’s plan would be a “missed opportunity” and urged librarians to contact the White House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Organizations today face a major threat in terms of cybersecurity, from malicious URLs to credential reuse, and having robust security systems can make all the difference. With Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Cookbook you'll learn how to use Python libraries such as TensorFlow and... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2021-04-01 11:33:09 UTC ]
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A lot of the web revolves around video content (subscribe to our YouTube channel!) and podcasts these days, but that brings some accessibility challenges you won’t find with the written word. Hundreds of millions of people are deaf or hard of hearing. Other folks have trouble processing... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2021-03-25 21:01:00 UTC ]
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Interviews Born and brought up in Assam, Kaushik Barua is an emerging Indian English author. He completed his degree in economics from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, and then studied political economy at the London School of Economics. In his day... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2021-03-15 20:37:05 UTC ]
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You may know about the stimulus checks, but the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 also includes billions of dollars to support libraries. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-03-11 12:33:15 UTC ]
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The Maryland legislature this week became the first to pass legislation that would ensure libraries can license digital content that is available to consumers. Similar legislation is pending in New York and Rhode Island. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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From antiracism books to Reese's YA book club picks, here are the most uniquely popular books in US libraries from Quarter 4, 2020. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-03-08 11:33:00 UTC ]
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A deep dive into the history of racism in American public libraries, including the effects of Jim Crow laws and racism in libraries today. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-03-08 11:30:00 UTC ]
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I’ll be the first to acknowledge Amazon and I make rather strange bedfellows. Raised on local libraries and used bookstores, I’ve long been a loyal customer to many of the indie bookshops cornered by the world’s largest online retailer, prizing them as community centers and places to find a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-08 09:49:14 UTC ]
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The Build America’s Libraries Act was introduced in the House of Representatives this week by Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Don Young (R-AK) and would provide $5 billion to address decades of needed repairs, updates, as well as the construction of modern library facilities in underserved and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Taking a look at libraries offering services to seniors during the pandemic, with programs for memory care, vaccine roll-out, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-03-03 11:33:00 UTC ]
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"What do libraries do?" You may be surprised by these seven basic services your public library offers for free, including job search help. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-03-01 11:30:00 UTC ]
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The Library Campaign has warned that hundreds of libraries may close not only for the pandemic, but permanently. With councils under financial strain and Walsall’s council leader even asking, “Do we need [them]?”, the future of libraries needs protecting. Libraries are an indispensable service... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-01 00:31:07 UTC ]
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