This new library-in-a-shipping-container plans on using growing Internet access in Africa to create a new model for making available both electronic information and physical books. It’s a conundrum that library advocates have struggled with for years: in many areas in the developing world, libraries run on donations, which means they often end up with irrelevant books that never even get removed from their boxes. People still come to libraries in these places for a quiet place to read and study, but certainly not because of the resources they provide. Recently, a crop of initiatives have launched that aim to make libraries more relevant again. Librii, a project from Libraries Across Africa that’s seeking $50,000 in funding from Kickstarter, is one of them. The project, which began as Librii director David Dewane’s thesis idea at the Rice School of Architecture, bills itself as "a digitally enhanced, community-based, revenue-generating library on the frontiers of broadband connectivity." In simple terms, the founders envision low-cost libraries (a single library in Ghana to start) that take advantage of the burgeoning fiber optic infrastructure in Africa to provide Internet access, curated content, educational programs, and of course, physical books.Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'
[ Fast Company | 2013-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Among the week's headlines: a new report reinforces the value of school libraries; PEN America finds school book bans still surging; and an epic battle over the public library in Superman's hometown of Metropolis (...Illinois). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Among the headlines this week: ALA releases the 2024 State of America's Libraries Report; PLA reports strong attendance at its annual conference; and Idaho passes a "harmful to minors" bill. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The genre has departed from classic themes, with new books dealing with war, politics and powerlessness – and sales have risen 54% year-on-yearHorror fiction is having a moment, according to data showing 2023 was a record-breaking year for book sales in the genre.Between 2022 and 2023, sales of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-04-04 13:22:32 UTC ]
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Nonprofit library technology cooperative OCLC, the company behind WorldCat, has acquired CloudLibrary, a technology platform offering patrons access to digital content through libraries, from library e-book vendor Bibliotheca. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Among the week's headlines: PLA 2024 is on deck for next week in Columbus and with a new opening speaker; Washington passes a bill to protect libraries; and federal library funding will remain stable for 2024, but next year's budget battle is already heating up. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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I was balancing a plate of honeydew in the green room of a book festival when I walked by a white man bemoaning the state of the publishing industry. The man wore a suit, and he spoke to a white woman; both of them looked to be in their 40s. As the man speared a […] The post I Don’t Have To... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-03-27 11:05:00 UTC ]
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Hearst's Sheel Shah took the stage at the Digiday Publishing Summit to speak about why its marketplace business is focusing on authority. Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2024-03-27 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Among the week's headlines: ALA is honored by the National Book Critics Circle; the political attacks on libraries in Alabama continue to escalate; and a report on how libraries are bridging the mental health divide in Texas. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A deep dive into what Carnegie libraries are, what they aren't, and how they attain historic significance. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-03-19 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Among the week's headlines: ALA reports that book bans are still surging; the end has come for ALA's LibLearnX; a shocking escalation in a battle over the freedom to read at an Alabama library; and a handy roundup of state legislation designed to protect libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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