We know. "OPLIN Update" does not exactly inspire attendance. Maybe next year we'll outsource the title, because clearly we need something far snappier, especially given the scope of everything we have to tell you. Come see us at the OLC Convention & Expo at 4:00 pm on Thursday, November 20th.

If your Ohio public library is starting security planning from scratch, this webinar is for you. "Starting a Security Plan: ORC 9.64 for Public Libraries" Thursday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. Register: events.library.ohio.gov/calendar/ceo...

Google’s shortened goo.gl links will stop working next month. Links created with Google’s URL shortener will return a 404 error starting August 25th. Google shut down its URL shortener in 2019, so hopefully there's not many of these still hanging around.

We have magically been gifted the desired blue checkmark by Bluesky. So, we're real. We are no longer a figment of your imagination. 😂

Get to Know Your Library: The Complete Checklist What can your local public library do? The answers may surprise even the most frequent library user! action.everylibrary.org/get_to_know_...

“AI is already eating its own,” says Malcolm Frank, CEO of TalentGenius. “Prompt engineering has become something that’s embedded in almost every role, and people know how to do it.” www.fastcompany.com/91327911/pro...

Libraries lead the way! blog.pressreader.com/public-libra...

How Libraries Are Faring Under the Trump Administration Amid Detrimental Funding Cuts time.com/7280715/how-...

Federal Funding for Libraries Helps Prepare for Emergencies and Natural Disasters action.everylibrary.org/imls_helps_i...

North Dakota Lawmakers Pass Bill Restricting Library Books Deemed Obscene The bill, which applies to public and school libraries, is part of a national push by Republicans to crack down on content they consider inappropriate for children. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...

Us, too.

My day begins! First up: meeting with Ohio's Senators' staffers. #protectUSF

Federal Judge Tells Colorado School District To Return ‘Challenged’ Books To Its Libraries www.techdirt.com/2025/04/09/f...

‘Time is of the Essence’: ALA Sues Trump Administration to Save IMLS The ALA suit comes just days after a coalition of state attorneys general filed a similar federal lawsuit in Rhode Island also seeking to stop the dismantling of the IMLS. www.wordsandmoney.com/time-is-of-t...

Cancellation of the Institute of Museum and Library Services Is drastically impacting the delivery of digital inclusion services for millions nationwide www.digitalinclusion.org/blog/cancell...

OPLIN is proud to announce a sweet strategic partnership. Learn more here: www.oplin.ohio.gov/about/jokes/...

It’s official: Research has found that libraries make everything better. A study from the New York Public Library surveyed 1,974 users on how the library makes them feel and how it affects their lives, and the results are overwhelmingly positive. lithub.com/its-official...

Library Futures Releases Digital Censorship Report: The Censors Going After Your Databases www.libraryfutures.net/censorship

What is a book sanctuary and how will they combat censorship? Librarians are staying one step ahead of book challengers www.themarysue.com/what-is-a-bo...

Literary Reference Source contains reliable information on thousands of authors and their works across all literary genres and time periods, including literary criticism, plot summaries, book reviews, author biographies, and more. FREE for Ohio residents! ohioweblibrary.org/literary

Little Free Library celebrates its 200,000th book-sharing box boingboing.net/2025/02/27/l...

Right to Repair Laws have now been introduced in every U.S. state! www.ifixit.com/News/108371/...

AI-Generated Slop Is Already In Your Public Library www.404media.co/ai-generated...

Today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. So now, wehave THIS song in our heads and so should you 🙂 www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRBO...

The Sanborn Maps were originally created for assessing fire insurance liability in urbanized areas in the United States. Our collection includes over 40,000 detailed maps of Ohio cities drawn between 1882 and 1962. ohioweblibrary.org/sanborn

NEW: Meta has quietly dismantled the system that prevented misinformation from spreading in the United States. Machine-learning classifiers that once identified viral hoaxes and limited their reach have now been switched off, Platformer has learned www.platformer.news/meta-ends-mi...

Ok, we inadvertently lied. The new issue of The OPLIN Circuit will probably be released sometime today.

This is why every single public library needs to remove themselves.

The next issue of the OPLIN Circuit is underway and should be released in just a few days. Are you subscribed? We say stuff you should probably know about. oplin.ohio.gov/circuit

OPLIN has made the decision to discontinue participation in all Meta-owned social media platforms. This is our main social media account going forward.

It's here! "Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2024 edition)." Laura's annual list of fun ways not to get your work done. Enjoy. #fun #web #MeanLaura

Residents of Ohio have FREE access to Points of View Resource Center from EBSCO. It has resources that present multiple sides of an issue. Better understand controversial issues like election misinformation, global warming & more. Try it here: ohioweblibrary.org/db/ebsco-vie... #OhioLibraries

Every year on September 25, teachers and parents worldwide read a picture book (or many!) to celebrate National Open the Magic Day. Picture books are for everyone: what's your favorite? #NationalOpenTheMagicDay #oplin #OhioLibraries #PictureBooks #reading

OPLIN is nothing if not about tech, so we asked ourselves which technologies we find intriguing. Jessica, OPLIN's Technology Projects Manager, says: "The reverse cloud migration back to on-premises management." #technology #oplin #OhioLibraries #CloudComputing [Image created with Craiyon.ai]

We know that library staff have even less time to manage their websites. OPLIN's Webkits offer a host of options for little investment of time and funds. You can learn more at oplin.ohio.gov/webkit or chat with us live at support/oplin.org. #oplin #OhioLibraries #WebDesign #PublicLibraries

Ohio public libraries: you get this for FREE. Configuring Cisco Umbrella as your library's public DNS servers improves security by filtering malicious domains. Learn how to get started (www.oplin.ohio.gov/opendns #oplin #ohiolibraries #CiscoUmbrella #FreeStuff

Back-to-school prep also includes having your study and research sources ready. Lucky for you, as an Ohio student, you get *free* access to Explora Primary Schools! What's not to like? (Yeah, okay, maybe school.) ohioweblibrary.org/db/ebsco-exp... #BackToSchool #homework #OhioLibraries #oplin

The OPLIN staff was asked what gadget they missed the most from days of yore. Laura, our Library Services Manager, pines for her original PC. Yes, it really did use a cassette recorder to load programs. When it worked. #OldTechnology (Image from spectrum.ieee.org/the-consumer...)

The OPLIN staff was asked what gadget they missed the most from days of yore. Jessica, OPLIN's Technology Project Manager, said: "Handheld TRON." But is that better than the cool LED-like motorcyles? #OldTechnology #oplin #ohiolibraries

Can't afford to send text notifications to your library's patrons? Or, paying everything but your first-born child to do it? It's hard to beat free. oplin.ohio.gov/sms #sms #FreeStuff #OhioLibraries #oplin #WereCoolThatWay

Do you care about your library's patrons? (Silly question, of course you do.) So, why aren't you doing more to protect their data? OPLIN's Mask helps protect patron information from spying digital eyes (And it's FREE for Ohio public libraries!) oplin.ohio.gov/services/aut...

The OPLIN staff was asked what gadget they missed the most from days of yore. Vince, OPLIN's Network Support Specialist, said: " I'm fond of a candle stick phone with a rotary dial." (This seems a little sus, as Vince is not that old.) (Image from oldphoneworks.com/.../automati...)

Live in Ohio? Then you have free access to Consumer Health Complete, a paid research information source. Browse medical, health-related and drug reference books. Read articles on health and fitness. Find sources for alternative health information. ohioweblibrary.org/db/ebsco-con... #LiveWell