If you love hanging out with books, people may describe you as a bookworm. Previously, however, bookworms were a real headache for librarians. This prompted Thomas Marion Iiams to lead a preservation effort at the Huntington Library to save the books. Known as bread beetles, the worms had been feasting on book pages, covers and the binding glue inside. Although America held a nationwide fumigation drive in libraries to reduce the spread of contagious diseases during the early 20th century, bookworm problems remained unsolved until Iiams found the right formula. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
