New Shelves Books

09/05/2025

Big news in the AI world!

🤖✨ OpenAI is opening up and sharing two of its powerful AI models for free—a major move to level the playing field in AI tech. While these models aren’t quite their top-tier ones, they’re still among the best out there.

As OpenAI’s president Greg Brockman says, “They are dependent on us providing the next breakthrough.”

This shift sparks big debates about safety, innovation, and who controls the future of AI.

Read more via The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/technology/openai-artificial-intelligence-chatgpt.html

In a major shift, the company is “open sourcing” two A.I. systems, freely sharing the technology with outside researchers and businesses.

09/04/2025

📚✨ Long Beach is opening its digital doors wide!

Teens across the U.S. will soon be able to access banned books through Long Beach Public Library’s e-book collection—helping young readers everywhere fight censorship and keep the freedom to read alive.

As Fritzi Bodenheimer from Brooklyn Public Library puts it, “We just didn’t feel like, as a public library, we could just sit back and watch this happen.”

This inspiring move joins a nationwide effort to make sure no teen is denied a story that matters. 💪❤️

Dive into the details here: https://lbpost.com/news/education/long-beach-will-open-up-its-e-book-library-so-teens-from-other-states-can-read-banned-books

It's part of a nationwide push to let young people access reading material that may have been thrown out of their local libraries and schools.

09/03/2025

🤖📚 AI is changing the game for publishers, but where do you start?

Thad McIlroy, publishing technology analyst and author, breaks it down in a clear playbook for companies ready to embrace AI: from auditing digital workflows and training staff to running pilot projects and establishing ethical AI policies.

As he puts it, “There’s no point in moving tepidly…the only useful approach is to go all in.”

📖 An interesting playbook for publishers to consider when incorporating AI into their workflow.

What role do you see AI playing in the future of publishing?

Drop your thoughts below! 👇

🗞🔗Read more: https://thefutureofpublishing.com/2025/08/ai-strategies-for-book-publishing-companies/

(First published January 26, 2025. 1st revision, February 3, 2025; 2nd revision, April 14, 2025) Third revision, August 18, 2025 (with corrections and add’l links, August 28, 2025) Also available as a PDF. This short document is intended for companies who have independently decided that they want ...

09/02/2025

🎤 📚 Want to find your ideal readers and connect face-to-face? Attending a genre convention might just be your secret weapon! From sitting on panels to chatting with fans, it’s all about building real connections with readers who love your genre.

As Nichelle Seely, an Author Accelerator-certified book coach, shares, “I discovered that a genre convention is my audience on steroids, readers who are spending time and treasure, crossing the country to hang with their peeps.”

Ready to level up your author journey and make meaningful connections? Your next fan might be waiting in the front row! 🎉

Read the full article from Jane Friedman ’s blog: https://janefriedman.com/find-your-ideal-readers-by-attending-a-genre-con/

After attending a convention in order to connect with readers, one author examines what went well and what she’ll do differently next time.

09/01/2025

🤖💬 ChatGPT isn’t just changing how we write—it’s reshaping how we speak! Words like “delve” and “meticulous” are popping up more in everyday conversations, thanks to AI’s influence.

“The patterns that are stored in AI technology seem to be transmitting back to the human mind,” says one researcher.

Discover how AI is creating a new cultural feedback loop between humans and technology by reading more via Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chatgpt-is-changing-the-words-we-use-in-conversation/

Words frequently used by ChatGPT, including “delve” and “meticulous,” are getting more common in spoken language, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 hours of videos and podcasts

08/30/2025

📚💔 When public libraries tighten their belts, the whole book world feels it—from big publishers to indie presses. Cuts to federal funding mean fewer new books on shelves, fewer discoveries, and a tougher road for authors, especially newcomers and marginalized voices.

As Vida Engstrand from Kensington Publishing puts it: “Without libraries, the ecosystem falls apart. The center won’t hold. And authors and writers are the first to get really hurt.”

Libraries are more than buildings—they’re launchpads for readers of all ages and communities. Let’s keep the pages turning!

🔗 Read the full story here: publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98371-public-libraries-must-further-trim-their-budgets-how-will-it-impact-publishers.html

Collection development is one of the few flexible line items, but time may be even more valuable.

08/30/2025

‼️ KINDLE UNLIMITED AUTHORS ‼️

It looks Amazon is now allowing for Kindle Unlimited books to now be included in library channels. Terms of service at Amazon have not been updated so I strongly encourage you to confirm through email or chat through your KDP account. However, assuming this is correct (and I’m hearing it from very legitimate sources), it means that you could use Draft2Digital to upload your KU exclusivesve books and ONLY SELECT LIBRARY DISTRIBUTION (this part is critical) to reach a whole new set of readers and add an avenue of income.

08/28/2025

🚀 Exciting news! Kwame Alexander launches One Word at a Time, a nonprofit inspiring middle graders to read, write, and dream big!

“Every word counts,” Alexander reminds us—and this new initiative aims to give kids the tools to change the world one word at a time.

From virtual author visits to interactive writing sessions, it’s all about sparking creativity and making literacy accessible to all. 📚❤️

Check out the full story here: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/98313-kwame-alexander-s-new-nonprofit-fosters-literacy-word-by-word.html

Author Kwame Alexander has launched a national literacy nonprofit called One Word at a Time, which aims to inspire middle graders to read and try their hand at creative writing, while connecting them with authors.

08/27/2025

✨Today, on Podcasts Episodes We Loved, we’re featuring the Pro Audio Voices episode "The Copyright Detective – Music and Lyrics Issues" with copyright expert Dr. C. Daniel Miller and host Becky Parker Geist. 🎙️

From AI-generated content to the tricky business of music rights, this episode dives deep into how authors and narrators can protect their work.

🎧 Listen here: https://proaudiovoices.com/ac-i-273-the-copyright-detective-music-and-lyrics-issues/

Host Becky Parker Geist sits down with Dr. C. Daniel Miller, a copyright specialist and publishing consultant, to tackle the complex world of copyright law, AI-generated content, and audiobook production. In this episode, we dive into: Copyright basics—what authors and producers need to know about...

08/26/2025

📚✨ NPR’s book coverage is a game changer for readers and authors alike! From in-depth author interviews to their beloved Books We Love guide, NPR is helping readers discover their next favorite read—all with a thoughtful, reader-first approach.

As Allison K Hill from the American Booksellers Association says, "NPR book coverage drives discovery and subsequent sales and is contributing to a culture of reading by discussing books."

Want to know how NPR’s multi-team approach creates this vibrant book culture? Read the full article here via NPR: npr.org/sections/npr-public-editor/2025/07/31/g-s1-80416/npr-does-a-lot-of-stories-about-books-authors-and-publishing-does-this-approach-meet-the-needs-of-people-in-the-audience

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There's a little of everything — author interviews, recommendations, a podcast, social media videos.