K|N Consultants
@knconsultants.org
K|N is a nonprofit that provides consultation services to academic libraries, learned societies, university presses, and other mission-driven organizations constantly adapting to rapid changes in higher education.
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K|N Consultants
@knconsultants.org
· Dec 23
📣 We're excited to announce CELJ has been awarded a grant of $555,000 from the @mellonfoundation.bsky.social to advance equitable and inclusive practices in peer review and scholarly journal publishing within the humanities.
Read more about the grant and subscribe to updates about the project ⬇️
Read more about the grant and subscribe to updates about the project ⬇️
Mellon Project — Council of Editors of Learned Journals
www.celj.org
K|N is thrilled to be the fiscal sponsor for this project, working with CELJ and @mellonfoundation.bsky.social to help change the way peer review is done!
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Suspect this might yield disastrous results in many humanities contexts, where referencing doesn't follow the precise pattern as the sciences on which it has undoubtedly been trained.
www.thebookseller.com/news/springe...
www.thebookseller.com/news/springe...
Springer Nature develops AI tool to find irrelevant references in manuscripts
Springer Nature has developed a new AI tool to identify irrelevant references in submitted manuscripts across its journals and books. The company described it as 'the latest AI-driven tool that has be...
www.thebookseller.com
April 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Suspect this might yield disastrous results in many humanities contexts, where referencing doesn't follow the precise pattern as the sciences on which it has undoubtedly been trained.
www.thebookseller.com/news/springe...
www.thebookseller.com/news/springe...
Reposted by K|N Consultants
We've aggregated relevant @modernlanguage.bsky.social resources, including tips for NEH awardees, links to webinar recordings on threats to higher ed, MLA statements, & links to other resources. Share resources w/ us through the google form, and sign up for the first Strategy Session (April 22).
We've put together a list of resources on legislative threats to higher ed. Visit the site for tips for NEH grantees, webinar recordings, tool kits, MLA statements, and more. www.mla.org/Resources/Ad...
Resources on Legislative Threats to Higher Education
The MLA is collaborating with other organizations, including PEN America’s Freedom to Learn Network, the ACLS, and the AAUP, to speak out against state and local encroachment on higher education and g...
www.mla.org
April 8, 2025 at 6:20 PM
We've aggregated relevant @modernlanguage.bsky.social resources, including tips for NEH awardees, links to webinar recordings on threats to higher ed, MLA statements, & links to other resources. Share resources w/ us through the google form, and sign up for the first Strategy Session (April 22).
Reposted by K|N Consultants
It's hard to really wrap your head around the scale of it, but Trump has now cancelled almost all NEH funding programs. Such terrible times. Thinking of the many dedicated staff members at the NEH who are losing their jobs and seeing programs they've worked so hard to build and maintain being cut.
Trump's NEH has, it seems, just cancelled a bunch of fellowship programs with deadlines in the next couple of weeks. A brief thread:
1/ Awards for Faculty at Tribal Colleges and Universities has been cancelled for FY 2026 www.neh.gov/grants/resea...
1/ Awards for Faculty at Tribal Colleges and Universities has been cancelled for FY 2026 www.neh.gov/grants/resea...
Awards for Faculty at Tribal Colleges and Universities
Supports individual faculty or staff members at Tribal Colleges and Universities pursuing research of value to humanities scholars, students, or general audiences.
www.neh.gov
April 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
It's hard to really wrap your head around the scale of it, but Trump has now cancelled almost all NEH funding programs. Such terrible times. Thinking of the many dedicated staff members at the NEH who are losing their jobs and seeing programs they've worked so hard to build and maintain being cut.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
NEW: ALA is going to court to stop the President’s attempts to illegally dismantle the Institute of Museum & Library Services.
The President does not have the authority to destroy a federal agency. That's why we're taking action with our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social. #ForOurLibraries (1/3)
The President does not have the authority to destroy a federal agency. That's why we're taking action with our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social. #ForOurLibraries (1/3)
April 8, 2025 at 1:57 AM
NEW: ALA is going to court to stop the President’s attempts to illegally dismantle the Institute of Museum & Library Services.
The President does not have the authority to destroy a federal agency. That's why we're taking action with our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social. #ForOurLibraries (1/3)
The President does not have the authority to destroy a federal agency. That's why we're taking action with our co-plaintiff @afscme.bsky.social. #ForOurLibraries (1/3)
Reposted by K|N Consultants
@theblochian.bsky.social launching the @ojcollective.bsky.social at #UKSG2025, building on a decade of @openlibhums.bsky.social experience supporting AHSS journals via a diamond model 👏
March 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
@theblochian.bsky.social launching the @ojcollective.bsky.social at #UKSG2025, building on a decade of @openlibhums.bsky.social experience supporting AHSS journals via a diamond model 👏
Reposted by K|N Consultants
The recent executive order, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History “egregiously misrepresents the work of the Smithsonian Institution” and “completely misconstrues the nature of historical work.”
PEN America signs on to @historians.org statement
www.historians.org/news/histori...
PEN America signs on to @historians.org statement
www.historians.org/news/histori...
Historians Defend the Smithsonian - AHA
The American Historical Association has released a statement in support of the Smithsonian Institution, the target of the recent executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” This...
www.historians.org
March 31, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The recent executive order, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History “egregiously misrepresents the work of the Smithsonian Institution” and “completely misconstrues the nature of historical work.”
PEN America signs on to @historians.org statement
www.historians.org/news/histori...
PEN America signs on to @historians.org statement
www.historians.org/news/histori...
Reposted by K|N Consultants
In better LIS news:
Here's a banger from Sandy Berman about the #lcsh changes from Mount Denali to Mount McKinley and Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America (and The Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division of the Library of Congress being "handmaidens to chauvinism, ethnocentrism and fascism."). 📚
![Scan of a letter from Sandy Berman to The Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division of the Library of Congress. It reads:
3-22-25
Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4305
Dear Colleagues,
BRAVO! Your recent conversion of DENALI, MOUNT (ALASKA) and
MEXICO, GULF OF to MCKINLEY, MOUNT (ALASKA) and AMERICA, GULF OF, respectively, as both primary and subheadings was breathtakingly thorough and detailed. You are masters of your craft.
Alas, you are also willful handmaidens of chauvinism, ethnocentrism
and fascism. Also: Trumpism.
Many weeks ago I expressed the hope that LC would resist the
temptation to implement this palpably capricious, arbitrary, and
baseless name-charging. That admonition appears to have gone unheeded.
Our President has no authority to wantonly replace the name for
international waters that abut more countries than our own.
Beyond that, the Gulf of Mexico has been so known since about
the 16th Century. Its renaming, totally rejected by neighboring
Mexico, smacks of arrogant linguistic imperialism.
It seems the whole state of Alaska prefers the Athabascan place-
name, Denali, to McKinley, a U.S. President associated with American
expansion who never set foot in Alaska. The widely-unwanted name change is an affront to Alaska's indigenous population, as well as
its state legislature and two Republican senators.
Although LC has now fully demonstrated its lock-step deference to
bigoted, unjustified authority, I hope American librarians will muster the moral and intellectual strength. to ignore its dismal example.
Sorrowfully,
[large, sprawling, angry signature]
Sanford Berman
Margaret Mann Citation Recipient
Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award Recipient
ALA Equality Award Recipient
Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice & Equality Recipient
4400 Morningside Road
Edina, MN 55416](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:apw5oj2sravjfhmubeeiepb3/bafkreighpizqnty3utahwbozvvzj4lw7jxfq2i6nzzw5z5u2dlcf5p4b7m@jpeg)
March 31, 2025 at 6:04 PM
In better LIS news:
Reposted by K|N Consultants
This is the email just received by IMLS staffers placing them on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days.
“Please understand that this action is not punitive but rather is taken to facilitate the work and operations of the agency.”
“Please understand that this action is not punitive but rather is taken to facilitate the work and operations of the agency.”
March 31, 2025 at 6:56 PM
This is the email just received by IMLS staffers placing them on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days.
“Please understand that this action is not punitive but rather is taken to facilitate the work and operations of the agency.”
“Please understand that this action is not punitive but rather is taken to facilitate the work and operations of the agency.”
Reposted by K|N Consultants
JUST IN: The staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave this morning, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and DOGE staff.
Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
The staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave this morning, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and DOGE staff.
www.npr.org
March 31, 2025 at 8:40 PM
JUST IN: The staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave this morning, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and DOGE staff.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
From @lseimpactblog.bsky.social the UK uni funding crisis (and the effect on #AcademicLibraries) and the Open Journals Collective as an alternative model for scaling open access to journal publications - I would argue for this type of initiative in Australia also 💡
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
March 31, 2025 at 9:12 PM
From @lseimpactblog.bsky.social the UK uni funding crisis (and the effect on #AcademicLibraries) and the Open Journals Collective as an alternative model for scaling open access to journal publications - I would argue for this type of initiative in Australia also 💡
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Reposted by K|N Consultants
IMLS staff were placed on administrative leave following an Executive Order that eliminated federal funding for libraries. More details and ways to take action here: www.everylibrary.org/statement_im... via @everylibrary.bsky.social
Statement on IMLS Staff Administrative Leave
IMLS is responsible for distributing Federal Funding for libraries.
This action will interrupt IMLS's vital, congressionally funded work. We cannot allow IMLS to be dismantled by executive action.
www.everylibrary.org
March 31, 2025 at 9:17 PM
IMLS staff were placed on administrative leave following an Executive Order that eliminated federal funding for libraries. More details and ways to take action here: www.everylibrary.org/statement_im... via @everylibrary.bsky.social
Reposted by K|N Consultants
FYI, I collected links to what the IMLS funds in most of each of the US states and they're in here so you can know on a state and sometimes even local level what is going to be severely impacted very very soon.
DOGE has just completely gutted the IMLS, firing all staff, closing down their email addresses, and leaving any funding for 2025 in question.
bookriot.com/imls-gutted/
bookriot.com/imls-gutted/
The Institute for Museum and Library Services Was Just Gutted
DOGE fired all IMLS employees and closed down their emails. It is assumed all funding for 2025 coming from the federal agency will not be happening.
bookriot.com
March 31, 2025 at 9:22 PM
FYI, I collected links to what the IMLS funds in most of each of the US states and they're in here so you can know on a state and sometimes even local level what is going to be severely impacted very very soon.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Update on the situation at IMLS -> “Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave”
March 31, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Update on the situation at IMLS -> “Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave”
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Can we please keep reminding everyone that impoundment is unconstitutional? At some point we just stopped remarking on this when listing all the agencies being shut down and defunded
March 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Can we please keep reminding everyone that impoundment is unconstitutional? At some point we just stopped remarking on this when listing all the agencies being shut down and defunded
Reposted by K|N Consultants
ALA President Cindy Hohl: “Congress created I.M.L.S. by law, with bipartisan support, and Republican and Democratic Presidents signed those laws, including President Trump in 2018...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/a...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/a...
Trump Administration Moves to Shutter Library Agency (Gift Article)
The staff of the independent Institute of Museum and Library Services, the largest source of federal funding for museums and libraries, were put on leave.
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 9:30 PM
ALA President Cindy Hohl: “Congress created I.M.L.S. by law, with bipartisan support, and Republican and Democratic Presidents signed those laws, including President Trump in 2018...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/a...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/a...
Reposted by K|N Consultants
If the rumored gutting of the NEH is indeed happening (and I wouldn’t be surprised- it felt inevitable in the last few weeks) it will mean that an already deeply inadequate funding situation for the humanities will become reduced to almost nothing
March 31, 2025 at 9:21 PM
If the rumored gutting of the NEH is indeed happening (and I wouldn’t be surprised- it felt inevitable in the last few weeks) it will mean that an already deeply inadequate funding situation for the humanities will become reduced to almost nothing
Reposted by K|N Consultants
If Eur. universities, charitable funders &/or governments get around to including humanities & social science researchers in their programmes to 'save' US 'science', they should devise schemes to supplement lost NEH funding w/ collaborative awards that unite UK/Eur & 'global' researchers. 1/2
If the rumored gutting of the NEH is indeed happening (and I wouldn’t be surprised- it felt inevitable in the last few weeks) it will mean that an already deeply inadequate funding situation for the humanities will become reduced to almost nothing
March 31, 2025 at 9:39 PM
If Eur. universities, charitable funders &/or governments get around to including humanities & social science researchers in their programmes to 'save' US 'science', they should devise schemes to supplement lost NEH funding w/ collaborative awards that unite UK/Eur & 'global' researchers. 1/2
Reposted by K|N Consultants
I cannot overstate how important both IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services) NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) are for studying and sharing our vast cultural heritage. Just furious and devastated. See you all at the protests. And much love to my IMLS and NEH friends!
March 31, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I cannot overstate how important both IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services) NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) are for studying and sharing our vast cultural heritage. Just furious and devastated. See you all at the protests. And much love to my IMLS and NEH friends!
Reposted by K|N Consultants
A number of things wouldn’t exist without the NEH. Other people can list the important ones, but selfishly, I know that “digital humanities” and my career
are among them. Urging my representatives to resist this illegal and arbitrary thuggery.
are among them. Urging my representatives to resist this illegal and arbitrary thuggery.
March 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
A number of things wouldn’t exist without the NEH. Other people can list the important ones, but selfishly, I know that “digital humanities” and my career
are among them. Urging my representatives to resist this illegal and arbitrary thuggery.
are among them. Urging my representatives to resist this illegal and arbitrary thuggery.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Two posts this week on the *technical* issues for OA scholarly publishers having their websites absolutely HAMMERED by AI harvesting bots for training:
Eric Hellman (@gluejar.com): go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2025/03/ai-b...
Ian Mulvany (@ianmulvany.bsky.social): world.hey.com/ian.mulvany/...
Eric Hellman (@gluejar.com): go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2025/03/ai-b...
Ian Mulvany (@ianmulvany.bsky.social): world.hey.com/ian.mulvany/...
AI bots are destroying Open Access
There's a war going on on the Internet. AI companies with billions to burn are hard at work destroying the websites of libraries, archives, ...
go-to-hellman.blogspot.com
March 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Two posts this week on the *technical* issues for OA scholarly publishers having their websites absolutely HAMMERED by AI harvesting bots for training:
Eric Hellman (@gluejar.com): go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2025/03/ai-b...
Ian Mulvany (@ianmulvany.bsky.social): world.hey.com/ian.mulvany/...
Eric Hellman (@gluejar.com): go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2025/03/ai-b...
Ian Mulvany (@ianmulvany.bsky.social): world.hey.com/ian.mulvany/...
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Very excited—even grateful—that this panel on the interconnections between OER & AI actually promises to be shaping up to be critical / hesitant / conscious of basic epistemological concerns with LLM tools.
oeweek.oeglobal.org/activity/def...
oeweek.oeglobal.org/activity/def...
Defying Gravity or Flying Monkeys? A Librarian Panel About the Challenges and Opportunities of AI in OER
AI is transforming Open Education, but is it leading us toward progress or chaos? This librarian-led panel will question the opportunities, challenges, and impact AI presents for the Open community…
oeweek.oeglobal.org
March 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Very excited—even grateful—that this panel on the interconnections between OER & AI actually promises to be shaping up to be critical / hesitant / conscious of basic epistemological concerns with LLM tools.
oeweek.oeglobal.org/activity/def...
oeweek.oeglobal.org/activity/def...
Reposted by K|N Consultants
I say this all the time. I want less work and I want more time to reflect. AI cannot ameliorate the structural deficits of our profession.
March 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I say this all the time. I want less work and I want more time to reflect. AI cannot ameliorate the structural deficits of our profession.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
You know what I miss?
Science. Doing it. Thinking about it. Talking about it. Writing about it. Getting excited about it.
Maybe I’ll get to be a scientist again one day. Maybe it will matter.
Science. Doing it. Thinking about it. Talking about it. Writing about it. Getting excited about it.
Maybe I’ll get to be a scientist again one day. Maybe it will matter.
March 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
You know what I miss?
Science. Doing it. Thinking about it. Talking about it. Writing about it. Getting excited about it.
Maybe I’ll get to be a scientist again one day. Maybe it will matter.
Science. Doing it. Thinking about it. Talking about it. Writing about it. Getting excited about it.
Maybe I’ll get to be a scientist again one day. Maybe it will matter.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Love this new initiative by @webrecorder.net: GovArchive.us, mirroring dynamic sites as a static web archive, while preserving the previous URL structure. Could be a really compelling options for digital humanities projects, too.
Introducing GovArchive.us & Mirroring Entire Sites with Web Archives • Webrecorder Blog
Introducing GovArchive.us and tooling to mirror web sites using web archives.
webrecorder.net
March 25, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Love this new initiative by @webrecorder.net: GovArchive.us, mirroring dynamic sites as a static web archive, while preserving the previous URL structure. Could be a really compelling options for digital humanities projects, too.
Reposted by K|N Consultants
Declining trad sales of books + upwardly spiralling costs elsewhere draining library budgets (eg: $1.06bn in APCs to only 5 publishers) mean we *have* to try something different. Not to do so is that definition of madness thing: carrying on as before but expecting a different result 🙃
March 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Declining trad sales of books + upwardly spiralling costs elsewhere draining library budgets (eg: $1.06bn in APCs to only 5 publishers) mean we *have* to try something different. Not to do so is that definition of madness thing: carrying on as before but expecting a different result 🙃