#lending libraries

[rikaklassen]

There's a Google Maps crowdsourcing mutual aid networks, mask blocs, air filtration donation organizations, air purifier lending libraries and other resource groups. There are over 250 groups and continuously being updated. Please contact them to submit a pin.

Here is the URL for ease of memory recalls: covidactionmap.org

For updates you can follow COVID Action Map here:

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Apologies for excessive tagging, but wanted to make sure the post is easily discoverable by anyone on Tumblr.

[destielmemenews]

"Publishers accused the nonprofit of infringing copyrights in 127 books from authors like Malcolm Gladwell, C.S. Lewis, Toni Morrison, J.D. Salinger and Elie Wiesel, by making the books freely available through its Free Digital Library.

The archive, which hosts more than 3.2 million copies of copyrighted books on its website, contended that the library was transformative because it made lending more convenient and served the public interest by promoting "access to knowledge.""

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[macmanx]

Big Media’s lobbyists have been running a smear campaign trying to paint the Internet Archive as a greedy big tech operation bent on stealing books—which is totally absurd. If you’ve ever used the WayBack Machine, listened to their wonderful archives of live music, or checked out one of their 37 million texts, it’s time to speak up. On March 20, everyone is showing their support for the Internet Archive during oral arguments.

Here's how you can help:

The Internet Archive is our library, a massive collection of knowledge and culture accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Don't let greedy publishers burn down the next Library of Alexandria!

And if you're absolutely certain you don't use or need the Internet Archive, take a look at their projects first, you might be surprised. Those are all at risk too.

[thefugitivesaint]

If you've been a frequent, repeat visitor to this tumblr and you actually follow my "source" links, you'll know that many (if not most) of those links refer you back to the Internet Archive. I spend many hours combing through the archive for images I find interesting and aesthetically pleasing from artist's whose work I enjoy. I then transfer that labor, freely, into "content" for your viewing pleasure (or so I hope). If you were not aware of this, the book industry (which is basically controlled by 5 companies) brought a suit against the Internet Archive in 2020 that claimed that the Open Library program offered by the IA was financially damaging to the publishers themselves through "copyright infringement." During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the IA created the 'National Emergency Library' which removed lending restrictions on lent digital material allowing for expanded access to books at a time when public libraries were, in many cases, not operating (or operating at a very limited capacity). In response to the NEL, four book publishers sued the Internet Archive claiming that CDL (controlled digital lending) was not an example of fair use and that offering books without wait restrictions was a violation of their copyrights. The argument made by the publisher's was only partially aimed at the NEL, the ACTUAL target of their lawsuit was with the process of CDL itself. A lower court agreed and the Internet Archive appealed. The case was taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit only to have that court affirm the lower court rulings on a unanimous decision (with some seriously questionable reasoning involved).

What does this mean for the Internet Archive? What about public libraries in general? Read the piece and the links provided in the piece. I don't do in-depth analysis here. I just refer you (dear reader) to smarter people who are putting in the work. I really just dig pictures. Pretty pictures. *Homer Simpson drooling* Seriously though, if the topic interests you, follow the links and do yourself some learning.

[gerudoe]

PLEASE BUY MORE PHYSICAL VIDEOGAMES PLEASE I DONT WANT THEM TO GO AWAY

AND THE NEW PS5 DOESNT EVEN COME WITH A DISC DRIVE

[idiopathicsmile]

my mom: hey, you should give one of your advance copies of your novel to the neighborhood library so that you'll know they have at least one copy once the book's out

me: hang on, let me look it up just in case they already ordered one, wouldn't that be cool, haha

they, uh.

they preordered 21 copies.

granted, it's the entire library system for a large city area (ETA: and for towns kind of vaguely surrounding that), but still!

[pixierainbows]

“Did you know that the Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP) offers individuals the chance to borrow an assistive technology device to help them decide what device will work best for them before purchasing. WATAP will ship devices anywhere in Washington state for a 21-day borrow period.

To learn more about the program and qualifications visit https://watap.org/loan “

[meeedeee]

When is a library not a library? When it’s online, apparently

"If you buy a physical book, you are allowed to sell or lend it because of a legal principle known as the “first sale doctrine,” which gives the owner of a (physical) object the right to dispose of that object in whatever way they wish, regardless of copyright. The Archive argued that the same principle should protect the sale or lending of a legally purchased digital copy, pointing out that all the copies of books it lent out had previously been acquired lawfully by libraries.'...

The Internet Archive’s lawyers also pointed to a Supreme Court decision, from the nineteen eighties, ruling that using a Sony Betamax video-cassette recorder to make a copy of a TV show was fair use. The Archive argued that its digital copies of print books similarly “improved the efficiency of delivering content to one entitled to receive the content” in a way that didn’t “unreasonably encroach on the commercial entitlements of the rights holder.” "

[queer-ragnelle]

hey question for ya-- if you were to rename mordred into something more "normie" (like how percival can become percy), what would you choose and why?

*context: i'm writing an arthur play that's messing with the lines btwn modern theatre and myth, so i'm trying to use names that are reminiscent of the characters' traditional ones but also unique to these newer characters, now*

Hey there! This sounds super cool!

Mordred doesn’t shorten as neatly as Percival does it? Haha. For me, it would depend on the tone of your project.

If Mordred is a serious character, “Mo” works. That’s what I call him for short. It’s simple and doesn’t distract too much/feel forced. Although I didn’t care for the book, The Winter Knight by Jes Battis called him Mo, which was far superior to renaming Gawain “Wayne.”

If it’s a more light hearted/satirical play, “Mordie” would be funny. Sort of in the same vein Galahad is nicknamed “Gally” in The Book of Mordred by Peter Hanratty and in A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1995).

Secret third option—renaming Mordred something completely different from his medieval name to conceal his “true” identity. If you go that route, I’d advise keeping the first letter “M” at the very least. I know Gawain’s name changes drastically between texts, but calling Mordred “Carl” or something would really kill the vibe. You could find something with the same sounds too. Morris. Mordecai. Morley. You get the idea.

Hope that helps! Just my opinion of course. Good luck with your writing! Take care. :^)

[columboscreens]

[thewonderfulwizardofwords]

So glad to finally see some momentum building to push back against ebook pricing models for libraries. I wish it didn't take huge libraries throwing around "we have millions of dollars" to give us any hope of change, but such is life.

I was in charge of ebook and e-audio purchasing for a small library several years ago, and can remember when they started phasing out their "one copy/one user" perpetual licensing model for popular titles. It seems the leasing model has only gotten more predatory since I left that role. Back in my day we could choose to pay a little less (but still a lot, maybe $30) for the metered access licenses, and the OC-OU licenses were the really extortionate ones but hey, as long as they continue to host that title on their platform your patrons can access it.

[walks-the-ages]

The Internet Archive is currently (October 11th 2024) after being hacked.

Once the site is back up and running, please take the time to reset your password if you have an account!

[thebirdandhersong]

I've mentally blocked out most of last year's romantic fiasco, but sometimes things come to mind suddenly and I'm forced to Deal With residual mortification at the very thought of the person I was

[vroomian]

do Reed's people do audiobooks and stuff also

Oh I got another ask about this and yeah! They do! It’s actually how Reed and Val meet up again after the big blowout. By that point vox and Val are a team up (velvet isn’t around yet) so when Reed sets up a meeting as a representative of the Stacks to do some business on Voxs internet it takes place at one of Val’s classier night clubs in the vip suite.

While Reed isn’t an overlord at this point he does have hella connections and the rumors of how safe the stacks are is spreading. So Val and Vox are both inclined to make a deal with the mysterious owner of the stacks.

But then the representative shows up and it’s fucking Reed???? Like to put this into Val’s l perspective: fifteen years ago your sorta boy toy was a hooker who enojoyed nothing so much as hedonism and now he’s somehow the vice president of a very powerful corporation??? Even though you were pretty sure he was dead-dead cause your hacker boyfriend couldn’t find him anywhere!

So for once it’s Val’s turn to blue screen lol.