AI books? In my library? They could be sneaking on the shelves or digital catalogues. I wrote a feature for @amlibraries.bsky.social on how librarians are navigating a flood of AI-generated books in vendor catalogues and the murkiness of navigating it. americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/09/02/b...

Swimmers returned to the Chicago River for the first time in a century today, marking the river's transformation from a formerly polluted and hazardous waterway. blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/21/s...

With items from @jstor.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social @policypress.bsky.social @scholarlykitchen.bsky.social @wcet.bsky.social @arl.org @hannahshelley.bsky.social @richove.bsky.social @theguardian.com @reemasabrina.bsky.social @amlibraries.bsky.social

Unlike the current Irish weather our link-out is always reliable, bringing you the latest library & info news each month! Get up to date on the wicked scholarly publishing system, the endurance of libraries & the war on knowledge, AI & Open Access, the Google Graveyard and more at www.libfocus.com

First open swim on the Chicago River in nearly 100 years! On assignment for @blockclubchi.bsky.social 🗞️

In "Books by Bots," Reema Saleh examines the challenges that the surge of #AI-generated books create for libraries—and how librarians are responding. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/09/02/books-by-bots/

Our September/October issue is now up, featuring the annual Library Design Showcase, an interview with R.F. Kuang, ALA Awards, and how librarians grapple with AI-written books. Read the full issue at bit.ly/AL-SO25issue or by article at bit.ly/AL-SO25stories

Hi world, I'm working on a story looking back at Hurricane Katrina's impact on Chicago and local relief efforts. If you are/know someone who was displaced and came here — or if you were involved in relief efforts at the time — feel free to shoot me a DM or email. maxwell[at]blockclubchi.org

Over at @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social, writer @reemasabrina.bsky.social reviews one of the most anticipated books of the year, RF Kuang's Katabasis. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/26/k... #books #booksky

I loved R.F. Kuang's latest novel, Katabasis! More words from me in @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social 🖊️

"The fun of Katabasis’ underworld mythos is in deciding everything is true, cobbling together details in a way that is sketchy and imprecise." @reemasabrina.bsky.social's review of "Katabasis" by R.F. Kuang (@wmmorrowbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/26/k...

"Think of the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on buses and trains every day to get to work, school, doctor visits, and other essential destinations. Without intervention, their ability to move freely and reliably will collapse—along with thousands of transit jobs."

Wonderful review and interview over at CRB. Thank you, and thank you, @reemasabrina.bsky.social!

What a week, and what a great set of photos from the @blockclubchi.bsky.social team! Check them out here: This Week In Photos: Damen Silos Demolition Begins, Bees At O'Hare And More blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/25/t...

"Stories are important, but great stories are everything. If you understand the value of story and what it’s doing, it’s all worth it." Out now: @reemasabrina.bsky.social's interview with @tvayyyy.bsky.social on his new book "The El" (@vintagebooks.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/12/t...

"If you think one guy working on a 2019 MacBook Air can’t give weather updates to the entire country, think again."

The famous j-school adage, if your own mother says she loves you, find a second source, unless Chris Rufo tells you to run a story promoting white supremacists, in which case, shove your own mother in front of a bus so that you can publish that story ASAP.

1/3: The first time I got paid for journalism was in 2023. I often avoided calling myself a reporter because I thought there was a secret thing I had to do to earn it. But writing is a thing you do—every day, even when you don't feel like it—because there's a story that deserves to be told.

i haven't missed a single article deadline this year and unfortunately the answer was just start earlier smh

new ETOD slogan just dropped

I will say, the idea of RTA creating two budgets (one for the doomsday scenario and one that is normal) is sending me. Like, will both go through the whole transit agency public approval process? lol www.rtachicago.org/uploads/file... abc7chicago.com/post/public-...

At the 'We Walk For Her' march, neighbors call on the city to create a new office dedicated to missing Black women and girls. blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/08/a...

A Pizza Pie is now open inUptown from the owner of the award-winning Ragadan Restaurant. The pizzeria’s signature pies are thicker than tavern-style and priced under $20. blockclubchi.co/3HzucAI

At We Walk For Her march, activists called for a new city office dedicated to missing Black women and girls. blockclubchi.co/3SIGLvK

What a week it’s been in Chicago. I’m so proud of the @blockclubchi.bsky.social team’s images. Take a look here! This Week In Photos: Thousands Protest ICE, Graceland Cemetery's Coyote Pups And More blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/13/t...

"We walk for who? We walk for her!" "Black women and girls between the ages of 10 and 20 make up about 30 percent of Chicago's missing person cases, despite being only 2 percent of the city population." #Illinois #USA #Policing

seemingly very indie bookstore in chicago is playing ethiopian jazz, which is like positively triggering for me? like who passed my dad the aux

This likely AI-hallucinated reading list is part of a ~60-page summer supplement, and in an initial spot-check, I'm having trouble confirming any of the quotes. But it's all such transparent filler that I can't help feeling sympathy for the lone freelancer apparently saddled with producing it.

I spoke to the person who AI-generated the Chicago Sun-Times reading list. Says he's very embarrassed. This was part of a generic package inserted into newspapers and other publications, so likely to run elsewhere. He didn't know it'd be in Chicago Sun-Times www.404media.co/chicago-sun-...

rooting for the white sox is kinda a test of faith when you think about it

today we are all catholic

we indie book crawl-ed to the end of the finish line! what made it to my tote bag? 📚 #TEAMINDIE #CHILOVEBOOKS #IBDCHI25

My TikTok feed is full of tongue-in-cheek recession indicators, like Lady Gaga's new return to form album and people postponing getting their roots done. But are we actually in a recession? Spoke to economists and business owners for @Suntimes about it.

My TikTok feed is full of tongue-in-cheek recession indicators, like Lady Gaga's new return to form album and people postponing getting their roots done. But are we actually in a recession? Spoke to economists and business owners for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...

"That’s how life often is, [with a] complicated set of feelings and I think we need more stories like that." Peter Riehl—who is the host of The Chills at Will Podcast—interview with Jason De León is out today. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/14/i...

Last year, I made a podcast episode that's now a finalist for a Lisagor Award! For Change Agents, this story explores how Chicagoans are using the city's quintessential two-flats to build wealth and preserve affordable housing on the South and West Sides. headlineclub.org/2025/03/28/t...

New from me! The hidden costs of CTA's $5.75B Red Line Extension. A story of forgotten finances, risk, and opportunity costs. citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-red-li...

I’ve been raving about a number of these books so excited to see everyone can take a read soon!

Looking for a modern fable? Nonfiction that weaves personal and collective history with literary criticism? What about an emotionally powerful work of fiction? Online now: our best of April book list, written and compiled by our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/01/1...

i can't stop laughing help 😂

having an exceptionally cozy writing day hiding from the rain and/or tornado watch ☕

‘We’re not seen’: Illinois’ incarcerated Muslim community observes Ramadan. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/30/m...

help i'm over word count and also missing critical sections of this draft

got a raise and i'm a finalist for a journalism award what a cool day ‼️

If you're a business owner in Chicago and gone through a past recession (2008, 2020, etc.), I want to talk to you about how you're grappling with fears of a new one for an article in the Chicago Sun-Times. DMs open, email reemaiswriting[at]gmail[dot]com. Thanks! #journorequest

If you're a business owner in Chicago and have gone through a past recession (2008, 2020, etc.), I want to talk to you about how you're grappling with fears of an upcoming recession for an article in the Chicago Sun-Times. DMs open, email is reemaiswriting[at]gmail[dot]com. Thanks! #journorequest

"In this engaging, bewitching, and eminently readable doorstop of a book, Palmer invites us to reconsider the Renaissance...” @kaydaly.bsky.social's review of “Inventing the Renaissance” by Ada Palmer is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/03/25/i...

Fascinating to see how this problem is growing CTA-wide from @sfreishtat.bsky.social in @chicagotribune.com! Slow zones are a surprisingly-fast moving threat to the system after revenue challenges. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/16/c...

CTA slow zones are growing, and that means longer commutes for ‘L’ riders. More good work on the transportation beat from @sfreishtat.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/16/c...

"...a person of means also means that you have the inner fortitude, the grit, and the determination to make life better for yourself, your family, and your community..." @reemasabrina.bsky.social interviews Nancy Johnson about "People of Means" (@wmmorrowbooks.bsky.social)