Libfocus Link-out for July 2026

Welcome to the July edition of the Libfocus link-out, an assemblage of library-related things we have found informative, educational, thought-provoking and insightful on the Web over the past while.

‘Open season’ on scholars’ rights if Elsevier loses Meta fight.
Jack Grove reports in the Times Higher Education that if Meta wins its AI scraping case, academics could lose control over how their work is used - leading to the surprising sight of many researchers siding with Elsevier to defend author rights.

If the Library Is the Heart of the University, Then Treat It Like One.
In his blog post, the Librarian, Educator, and Consultant Trevor A. Dawes argues that the success of academic libraries in achieving seamless access to information is also a problem when they become invisible.

Human Books, Real Stories: Creating Space for Empathy at the Human Library in DCU.
This practice-based article by Eilís O'Neill and Gwendolyn O'Connor looks at two Human Library events held in DCU in 2024 and 2026. Teams across the university came together to deliver the events, where volunteers took part as human 'Books'. They shared their experiences of prejudice or stigma with community members or 'Readers' who borrowed them for open conversations, with the aim of breaking down stereotypes and encouraging empathy.

Cut, Paste, Print: How UBC Library is making space for zine culture across both campuses.
Anna Moorhouse from the University of British Columbia describes how the teams in UBC's libraries are using zines to promote the library, connect with students and highlight their collections. The annual UBCO Library zine promotes library services, collaboration with faculty on zine projects aids discovery of their special collections, and staff have delivered workshops on incorporating zine-making into undergraduate courses.

University Libraries are essential in the age of AI.
Interesting response from the Ontario Council of University Libraries to a recent AI task force report, affirming the critical role libraries can play in preparing students and researchers for the age of AI.

Taking the Pulse: a National Survey on Generative AI in Libraries.
Western Region Section of the Library Association of Ireland in partnership with the UCD iSchool have launched a national survey exploring the use, perception, and impact of Gen AI across the Irish library sector.

Archiving with AI.
Matt Enis discusses how Special Collections and Archives grapple with how to manage projects involving AI responsibly, as AI companies offer libraries funding for digitisation projects.

Not just books - how renting a sewing machine from the library can improve democracy.
Erike Benke for the BBC looks at how Finland's libraries are increasingly being valued not by how many books they lend, but how they help societies function.

Refusal as Instruction: Equipping Patrons to Resist AI, Data Brokers, Big Tech, & More.
Hannah Cyrus explores how library workers can align technology use and instruction in library settings with library values, through championing the refusal of technologies that conflict with values like privacy and intellectual freedom.

AI makes foundational knowledge more important than ever.
Manu Kapur argues that "employers will need those who can reason – not only with AI but, more importantly, against it".