Category: Media

Obama’s Letter to Librarians

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This past week former President Barak Obama surprised librarians across the country by releasing a letter of support. In it he spoke openly about the free expression of ideas and the importance of libraries.

Below is the opening of the letter:

To the dedicated and hardworking librarians of America: 

In any democracy, the free exchange of ideas is an important part of making sure that citizens are informed, engaged and feel like their perspectives matter.  

It’s so important, in fact, that here in America, the First Amendment of our Constitution states that freedom begins with our capacity to share and access ideas – even, and maybe especially, the ones we disagree with.  

More often than not, someone decides to write those ideas down in a book.  

Later in the letter he expresses deep appreciation for librarians and their work.

Nobody understands that more than you, our nation’s librarians. In a very real sense, you’re on the front lines – fighting every day to make the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas available to everyone. Your dedication and professional expertise allow us to freely read and consider information and ideas, and decide for ourselves which ones we agree with.  

That’s why I want to take a moment to thank all of you for the work you do every day — work that is helping us understand each other and embrace our shared humanity.  

Read the rest of the letter on the Penguin Random House website.

Building a Second Brain: A Conversation with Tiago Forte

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Last year I had the honor of interviewing Tiago Forte, creator of Building a Second Brain. We spoke for almost an hour on how he became interested in the power of digital notes, discussed PARA as an organizing tool, and learned best practices for capturing information across mediums.

I’m glad to share that the written transcript of the interview is now posted on Public Libraries Online. Below is opening question and response.

PL: Please define what you mean by a Second Brain?

TF: Think of a diary or notebook. It is a creative, timeless practice to save your thoughts. Now make a few changes. You’re going to journal not just your own thoughts and reflections, but external sources of information. You hear a quote that resonates with you, write that down. You hear an interesting fact, write that down. You discover some research of interest, write that down. Next, make it digital so that it is on your smartphone and sync to the Cloud and all your devices. Now you can access it from anywhere, anytime.

With all the capabilities of technology, you can save, not just text, but images, links, web bookmarks, photographs, drawings, and sketches. Because it’s digital, it can be annotated, organized, and re-sorted. It can change with your needs and goals. Your Second Brain is a trusted place outside of your head where you save all of the ideas, insights reflections and realizations that are most important to you. It contains information that is personally relevant and meaningful. It contains moving and powerful life experiences, memories, and unique ways of seeing the world.

To learn more about other aspects of Building a Second Brain, such as the CORE approach, understanding the difference between projects and areas, and much more, please read the full interview on Public Libraries Online.

Good News for Library Funding In Florida

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Is your community long overdue for a new public library? After many years of effort, it is welcome news to see a major funding increase for public libraries in the 2023-24 Florida Budget. This is due to a dramatic increase in the amount of money allocated for public library construction grants.

The Public Library Construction Grants program has been largely overlooked for most of its existence. However, this year the Florida Legislature allocated over $9 million dollars to the fund. This appropriation triples the past largest amount for construction grants and will allow 19 projects across the state to receive between $300,000 to $500,000 each towards construction costs.

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Appreciation for this increase goes to the Legislative leadership in the Florida House and Florida Senate, along with the appropriation chairs on both sides. Further appreciation goes to the Governor for approving this significant increase, along with support from the Florida Secretary of State.

As well, this effort would not have happened without the determined lobbying of the Florida Library Association and their contracted lobbying team at GrayRobinson.

Building more public libraries will enhance our communities, support local education, enhance access to voting, and demonstrate without a doubt that Florida Libraries are Fundamental to Freedom.

Florida Libraries are Fundamental to Freedom

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On May 19, 2023, I became President of the Florida Library Association. At the conference in Dayton Beach, I unveiled the Presidential theme: Florida Libraries are Fundamental to Freedom. Below is the opening portion of the speech explaining the theme and how it is important to the work that libraries are doing today.

Florida libraries are fundamental to freedom.

The drafters of the Declaration of Independence believed in the essential rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since 1776, our nation has struggled to apply these principles equally across all its residents in order to create that elusive more perfect union. At its core, the freedoms that Americans seek are the same freedoms supported by our libraries. Of these aspects of liberty, three specific freedoms stand out for me.

Florida libraries support the freedom to participate. In an increasingly fractious society, our buildings remain the one space where everyone is welcome. Through our libraries, residents can find all the tools and resources needed to live their lives. Whether it is using public computers to apply for benefits, meeting neighbors at a children’s story hour, or to register to vote and actually vote, libraries remain central to our communities. Eric Klinenberg in his book, Palaces for the People, states that a founding principle of libraries is, “that all people deserve free, open access to our shared culture and heritage, which they can use to any end they see fit.”

Read the full speech found on the Efficient Librarian website.

Right to Read Day

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It is a sad but true fact that some people consider reading to be a dangerous activity. Of course, history is full of examples where repressive regimes have sought to prevent their citizens from reading certain books, even going as far as burning them! (The books usually, but sometimes the reader as well.) When this takes place, it is essential that all who value learning and literature fight for the freedom to read.

The American Library Association has been America’s leading champion in the fight against censorship. This year for National Library Week, they have declared today to be the Right to Read Day. As they explain on their website:

The Monday of National Library Week – April 24, 2023 – will mark one year since the launch of the Unite Against Book Bans campaign. To honor the occasion, we’re calling on readers, advocates, and library lovers to fight back against censorship in a national day of action to defend, protect, and celebrate your right to read freely. We’re calling it Right to Read Day.

On the same day, the American Library Association will release its list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2022. The list follows ALA’s recent unveiling of data showing record-shattering attempts to remove books from school and public libraries, and it shows us what types of books are being challenged the most and why.

It’s also a call to action.

Join us on #RightToReadDay and beyond by participating in the actions below to support your library and defend the freedom to read in your community.

Do you want to help protect the freedom to read as an essential human right? Learn the five steps that you can do today or any day to fight for the right to read.

ChatGPT Guest Post – How to Reduce Stress at Work

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Today I decided once more to test the ChatGPT AI to see how it reacts to writing a blog post with references to recent articles. The topic I gave it was to: write a blog post using recent article references on the topic of how to reduce stress at work

Below is what it generated. I’ll provide my thoughts at the end of the post.

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Start of Blog Post:

Stress at work is a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide. From deadlines to heavy workloads, it can be challenging to manage stress levels when working. The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to reduce stress at work and improve your overall well-being. In this blog post, we’ll explore some recent article references on how to reduce stress at work.

  1. Take breaks regularly

One of the most effective ways to reduce stress at work is to take breaks regularly. According to a recent article by Harvard Business Review, taking short breaks throughout the day can help to reduce stress levels and increase productivity. Research has shown that taking a 15-minute break every 90 minutes can be highly beneficial for both mental and physical health. So, make sure to schedule regular breaks throughout your workday.

  1. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for a good reason. According to a recent article by Forbes, practicing mindfulness can help to reduce stress and anxiety. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. There are various mindfulness practices you can try, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga. These practices can help you to stay calm and centered when faced with stressful situations at work.

  1. Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is essential for reducing stress levels. According to a recent article by Sleep Foundation, lack of sleep can lead to increased stress levels, decreased productivity, and impaired cognitive function. To improve your sleep quality, try to establish a regular sleep routine, avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and create a comfortable sleep environment.

  1. Communicate with your colleagues

Effective communication is crucial for reducing stress at work. According to a recent article by Psychology Today, communicating with your colleagues can help to reduce misunderstandings, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships. When you feel stressed, don’t hesitate to reach out to your colleagues for support. Discussing your concerns and sharing your workload can help you to feel less overwhelmed.

  1. Prioritize self-care

Finally, prioritizing self-care is essential for reducing stress at work. According to a recent article by Harvard Business Review, practicing self-care can help to improve your overall well-being and reduce stress levels. Self-care involves taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Some self-care practices you can try include exercise, healthy eating, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing a hobby you enjoy.

In conclusion, reducing stress at work is crucial for maintaining good mental and physical health. By taking regular breaks, practicing mindfulness, getting enough sleep, communicating effectively with colleagues, and prioritizing self-care, you can reduce stress levels and improve your overall well-being. Remember to make these practices a regular part of your routine, and you’ll soon feel more relaxed, focused, and productive at work.

End of Blog Post

My Thoughts:

The post did indeed generate a simple blog post focusing on stress reduction techniques, which was created in under ten seconds. Along with the quick turnaround, a few things caught my eye.

First of all, while it made references to recent articles, it did not provide a link or notation about the date the articles were published. Therefore, the reader has to do the legwork to track them down.

Second, three of the five tips were not specifically work related. “Taking breaks” and “Communicating with Colleagues” were the only two workplace specific items. The other three were broad suggestions, that while useful, did not exactly match my initial prompt.

Third and final, none of the stress reduction tips had in-depth steps on how to do them. For example, the section on self-care provided basic ideas, but was entirely generic. This could be a function of my initial prompt. Experimenting with the instructions to the AI could guide it to fix the problems encountered above.

Go over to ChatGPT to give it a try for free.

How to Talk About Book Bans

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It seems that every day the news reports another school district or public library being inundated with demands to ban books. Looking back in history these moral panic waves hit every couple of decades, but their effects if successful last for a long time. Often it is a vocal minority that powers these attacks on the freedom to read. Yet, when it comes down to the facts, do a majority of people support ban books. The truth is clearly they do not.

According to United Against Book Bans, 71% of voters oppose banning books in public libraries and a similar 67% oppose it in schools. The problem is that most people don’t realize the underlying negative impacts that book bans have on minorities and other targeted groups. How do we reach out to the silent majority who oppose book bans to educate and activate them on this important issue?

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Kelly Jensen writing for Book Riot recently authored an article titled: How to Talk about Book Bans with Friends, Library Patrons, and More. In the piece she provided helpful tips to encourage supports to speak out against book bans. For friends she suggests a few things including:

Share data, statistics, and research as much as you do the terrible and/or click-y stories about the absurdity of certain challenges. It IS ridiculous that books about sports heroes were banned in a Florida school district. But what is also absurd and far more actionable is noting that book bans are extremely unpopular with the public (research) and that when given the choice to opt their kids out of school library materials, it is the smallest minority of parents who do (research).

When talking to library patrons, she suggests many approaches, including sharing widely when a book challenge takes place:

If your library is dealing with a book challenge, make sure your power users know that they need to attend the board meeting and/or submit a letter in support of the book. As noted in the previous section, use the data, research, and statistics to back up the need for the library to include materials for all.

Read the rest of the article on the Book Riot website.

Open AI Chat Post

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Today’s post is being handed over to a special guest writer. However, it is not a human being!

Have you heard of ChatGPT developed by the company, OpenAI? Here’s how they describe it:

We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT, which is trained to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response.

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For fun, I decided to test their open test version to see what would say when asked to write a few paragraphs about productivity. Below is Chat Bot’s response:

Productivity is a topic that is on the minds of many people these days. With so much to do and so little time, it can be overwhelming trying to get everything done. Fortunately, there are a number of techniques and strategies that can help you increase your productivity and get more done in less time.

One of the keys to being more productive is to set clear goals for yourself. This means taking the time to identify what you want to achieve and then working backwards to figure out the specific steps you need to take to get there. By having a clear plan in place, you’ll be able to stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked by distractions.

Another important aspect of productivity is time management. This means being intentional about how you use your time, and prioritizing the tasks that are most important. One effective way to do this is to use the 80/20 rule, which states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. By focusing on the tasks that will have the greatest impact, you’ll be able to make the most of your time.

It’s also crucial to eliminate distractions and create a productive environment for yourself. This means taking steps to minimize interruptions, such as turning off notifications on your phone or closing unnecessary tabs on your computer. It also means creating a workspace that is conducive to productivity, with everything you need within easy reach.

In addition to these techniques, it’s important to take care of yourself and maintain a healthy work-life balance. This means setting aside time for exercise, relaxation, and socializing with friends and family. By taking care of your physical and mental health, you’ll be better able to focus and be more productive.

Overall, being more productive is all about setting goals, managing your time effectively, eliminating distractions, and taking care of yourself. By implementing these strategies, you’ll be able to get more done in less time and achieve your goals more quickly.

What did you think? Was the advice helpful?

Try ChatGPT out for yourself and see what other responses it can provide.

12 Grand Challenges

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What is the future of Local Government?

This past weekend fifty-one delegates from across the country came together in Omaha to shape that future. The event was the Local Government 2030 National Convening. With a purpose to discern the lessons from the future, the group worked over two days to find ways to break down silos and create the groundwork for change. I was honored to serve as a Super Delegate to help guide the work and keep everyone thinking big and bold.

A starting point for the Convening was provided by the National Academy of Public Administration. As a way to set out the problems facing government and inspire answers, they devised the Twelve Grand Challenges in Public Administration. These challenges are part of an agenda for change. As the Academy states on its website:

As the world moves quickly from the industrial age into the information age, new challenges have arisen and demands on government have increased. But the public sector has often been in a reactive mode—struggling to adapt to a rapidly evolving international, economic, social, technological, and cultural environment. Over the next decade, all sectors of society must work together to address the critical issues of protecting and advancing democracy, strengthening social and economic development, ensuring environmental sustainability, and managing technological changes. And governments at all levels must improve their operations so that they can tackle problems in new ways and earn the public’s trust.

Each of the twelve challenges focuses on a specific goal. For example, one of challenges is to “Modernize and Reinvigorate the Public Service.”

Federal, state, and local governments deliver vitally important services to the American people each and every day. If it is an important need, public agencies at one or more levels of government are likely to have an important role in meeting it.

Learn about all the Twelve Grand Challenges in Public Administration and more about the Local Government 2030 National Convening through the links provided.