It’s not hard to find interesting or useful facts when you crack open a book in the library.  Let’s see what fun facts Kit found when she browsed through the reference related materials.

The Digital Public Library of America created a bot to copy open-license resources from the DPLA to Wikimedia Commons, simplifying the process of linking digital assets to Wikipedia articles. The migration exposes these resources to a wider audience, increasing their access and usage.  FROM: Using DPLA and the Wikimedia Foundation to Increase Usage of Digitized Resources, (2022), p. 1-18. EBSCOhost.

Building an antiracist workplace requires more than simply hiring employees of color—developing an equitable package of salary and benefits, an honest and detailed job listing, relationships with a variety of potential community recruiters, an extensive onboarding process, and being open with candidates about your antiracist company culture are all part of creating inclusivity.  FROM: The Antiracist Business Book, (2022) p. 151-167.

In 1987, 48 percent of the NATO agreed on two new technological measures at a meeting of defense ministers in late 2021. The first, the Defense Innovator Accelerator (DIANA), will encourage the rapid development of technology and artificial intelligence. The second, the NATO Innovation Fund, will invest €1 billion into companies and academic institutions which work on emerging and disruptive technology. Both launched this year.  FROM: U.S. National Debate Topic: 2022-2023, (2022),  p. 67-70.

Mental health is closely tied to relational health, or connectedness; the decline of multigenerational homes and close-knit neighborhood communities has a negative effect on everything from resilience to conversational skills.  FROM: What Happened to You?, (2021), p. 258-259.

During the War of 1812, free businessman and civic leader James Forsten rallied thousands of Black American volunteers to the defense of Philadelphia. He dedicated his life to promoting ethnic peace during a time of growing racial tensions.  FROM: African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals, (2022), p. 257-260.

Originally posted in the Freeman/Lozier Library’s quarterly newsletter, More Than Books, V. 26 No. 1, Winter 2022.