City pushes Albany to loosen bidding rules on capital projects

Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is mounting a push for state lawmakers to pass a set of bills loosening some of the rules that govern the city’s notoriously slow capital process, which city leaders say would allow major projects to get done more quickly and cheaply.The city needs permission from the state to make many changes to how it signs contracts with builders and contractors. The Adams administration wants the ability to use two contracting models that pair designers with builders earlier in the process, allowing for smoother collaboration, rather than handing off a completed design for a contractor to build.“Think of your kitchen — it’s past its prime, it’s got leaks, it’s got flaws. Would you hire someone who’s never seen it to design it?” said Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations, at a City Hall event on Wednesday.Also on the city’s agenda is another bill that would convert the Department of Design and Construction from a city agency to a public authority, akin to the Economic Development Corp. or the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Doing so would give DDC — which handles some $33 billion in capital projects — the ability to procure goods more quickly, the administration says.City officials say the change would be especially useful for huge climate-oriented projects like seawalls, sewers and stormwater infrastructure. But it’s unclear whether state lawmakers, who tend to resist the city’s efforts to take on more autonomy, will have the appetite to let... Continue reading at 'Crains New York'

[ Crains New York | 2024-05-09 10:03:04 UTC ]

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Xbox Game Pass will soon let you stream games you’ve already bought

Microsoft has a lot of news for Xbox owners and Game Pass fans this morning. In an announcement post, the company shared its plans to expand the Xbox app directly to Samsung smart TVs, opening up the streaming platform to players in Argentina and New Zealand. There are also some new... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-06-09 14:47:28 UTC ]
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The New York Public Library is giving 500,000 free books (for keeps!) to kids and families.

We’ve said it many, many times before and we’ll say it many, many times again: libraries represent the best of America. Today’s entry: the New York Public Library will give away 500,000 books this summer to help kids, teens, and families build their at-home libraries. In addition to English,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-09 14:17:10 UTC ]
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Murdering the competition: Richard Osman thriller tops UK library loans

Stats from 2020-21 reveal that the Pointless presenter’s The Thursday Murder Club is the biggest hit in UK librariesRichard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club was the most borrowed book from UK libraries in the year 2020-21, while the prolific bestseller James Patterson was the most borrowed... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-09 13:22:35 UTC ]
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Conservative Group Launches “Hide the Pride” to Remove Books From Library Pride Displays

The movement intends to "empty libraries of LGBTQ content aimed at kids" by checking out and hiding all LGBTQ books on library displays. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-06 13:35:02 UTC ]
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A Group of Louisiana Libraries Block Cultural Displays

A group of Louisiana libraries block cultural displays, including Pride, Black and Woman's History Month, and others. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-02 22:08:33 UTC ]
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The Morning After: Dyson’s secret robot projects

The NFL's rumored streaming service could debut in JulyDyson, the company that’s recently branched out into hair curlers, air-purifying headphones and not cars, has revealed it has an entire division secretly developing robot prototypes for household chores.The company didn't detail any of the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-26 11:15:21 UTC ]
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Tested: Multi-gig fiber internet is too fast for your PC

If you’re about to bite the bullet on a blazing-fast multi-gig internet deal, you might just have to upgrade your PC’s storage drive and CPU too. I know this because besides having to upgrade my networking hardware, which was too slow for my new Sonic 10Gb internet, I discovered that parts... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-05-18 10:45:00 UTC ]
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19 new books to savor this week.

Available at indies bookstores and local libraries everywhere! * Phil Klay, Uncertain Ground (Penguin Press) “An introspective collection of essays … Klay’s reassuring voice offers truth, hope, and ways forward during a challenging, polarized period in America.” –Booklist Maggie Shipstead, You... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-17 13:43:51 UTC ]
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Read Harder: Library Edition

The Read Harder challenge, library style! These books will help you not just Read Harder, but discover more about libraries and librarians. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-05-16 10:30:00 UTC ]
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The Morning After: The Odin is a capable, portable retro console

When it comes to retro portable gaming, even the better handhelds usually only emulate the original PlayStation and N64 era. But if you’re a fan of the GameCube or PS2 libraries (and you should be), the number of handhelds capable enough, well-made enough and reasonably priced enough is... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-13 11:15:33 UTC ]
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The Most Popular In-Demand Books in US Libraries: January-March 2022

These were the most popular, in-demand books in US libraries from January to March 2022. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-05-10 14:19:48 UTC ]
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Librarians Gather in Texas as Book Bans Mount

In Texas, where libraries are a political battleground, the Texas Library Association recently convened its annual convention in person for the first time since 2019—in the district of a state representative Matt Kraus eager to ban books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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IBPA Tackles Book Bans

Last Thursday's Independent Book Publishers Association's “The Battle for Free Expression: Indie Publishers and Libraries in the Fight Against Censorship.” panel offered insights from digital media, public libraries, academic research, and online education on the rise in book banning. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New Kentucky Law Hands Control of Libraries to Local Politicians

In a move that has alarmed library leaders, Kentucky bill SB 167—which came back from the dead last week with a veto override—will empower local politicians to “appoint whomever they want to library boards and block major library spending.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The pandemic showed us that we still need libraries, even with Google

A pandemic might close a library, but it can’t stop librarians. They were still finding new ways to remind us that libraries are about connections and experiences, writes Heidi LM Jacobs. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-04-17 08:00:00 UTC ]
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The New York Public Library makes four banned books free nationwide on its e-reader app

The New York Public Library made four banned books available nationwide on SimplyE, its free-reader app. The titles include Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and Catcher in the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-04-13 23:48:05 UTC ]
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Authors and Booksellers Mobilize for Midterm Voters

Writers for Democratic Action, an organization of some 2,600 authors, is mobilizing its membership in a campaign called Book the Vote. WDA will facilitate nonpartisan voter registration for the 2022 midterm election, working with authors, bookstores, and libraries to educate voters about their... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Blackstone Ends Library Embargo

Nearly three years after it first announced a 90-day embargo to libraries on its newly published audio titles, Blackstone Publishing this week announced that it is changing course. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In California, you can borrow state park passes from your local library.

Because we can never resist adding another line item to the eternal ledger of what we owe libraries: Californians can now use their library cards to get free entry into state parks! The three-year pilot program will give libraries (including mobile libraries) at least three passes to California... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-04-08 15:54:11 UTC ]
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Congress to Hold Hearing on Book Bannings in Schools and Libraries

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, plans to hold a hearing April 7 to examine the wave of attempted book bannings in schools and libraries across the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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