Policy Roundup
Monthly briefing on AI policy, vendor news, and library tech trends. Delivered before public publication.
Every month, I analyze what's happening in library policy, regulation, and technology. The vendor moves that matter. The legislative changes coming your way. The industry trends that will shape your strategy. This is what I send to subscribers first.
These aren't the mainstream media roundups. This is the view from inside: what library administrators need to know before anyone else does.
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Subscribe for Future IssuesJanuary 2026 Policy Roundup
This is what a Policy Roundup looks like. Click below to read the full January 2026 issue, or scroll down to see past months.
Read the Full January 2026 Roundup →
What's Included
- Regulatory Updates – New laws, deadlines, compliance shifts affecting libraries
- Vendor News – Acquisitions, product changes, pricing updates, contract traps
- Library Tech Trends – What's working in the field, what's failing, what librarians are actually doing
- Resources & Research – New studies, reports, data that changes strategy
- What We're Watching – Emerging issues to monitor for next month
Excerpt · Vendor Escalations
"Two major e-content vendors quietly inserted Colorado AI Act language that shifts liability to libraries. If you accept their default clause, your board is responsible for documenting the vendor's bias testing. Push back: request impact assessments, log their refusal, and cite SB 24‑205 6-1-1704 to keep the liability where it belongs."
Board note: Pair this with a one-slide budget request: $12K for third-party bias testing and 20 staff hours for data inventories.
Board-Friendly Briefing Language
This is the sanitized summary you can drop into board packets, city manager reports, or trustee updates without the \"unhinged\" tone. It includes the compliance checkpoints, dollar figures, and vendor questions that boards keep asking for.
Copy/paste text
- "Two AI-related regulations (Colorado SB 24-205, EU AI Act) now require bias testing and written vendor assurances."
- "Our vendor contracts must include deletion rights, audit clauses, and opt-out text before FY27 renewals."
- "Estimated staff time: 20 hours per quarter to maintain the AI inventory and board report."
Numbers to keep handy
- $12K: projected spend on third-party bias testing (shared across consortium).
- 120 days: notice period we now require in AI clauses for any model retraining touching patron data.
- 3 systems: discovery, chatbot, and analytics flagged as \"high-risk\" in 2026.
Questions for counsel
- Does our privacy policy already cover AI-driven recommendations?
- Do we have indemnity coverage if a vendor's AI hallucinates defamation?
- What documentation do we need to retain for public-record requests about AI use?
Archive
2026
January 2026 Policy Roundup
Regulatory landscape post-Colorado AI Act, vendor consolidation moves, library tech adoption trends, AI training data concerns, and what's emerging in Q1 policy.
2025
December 2025 Policy Roundup (Excerpt)
Playbooks for stopping AI scraping of digital collections, statewide broadband wins, and E-rate AI guidance.
November 2025 Policy Roundup
Deep dive on vendor indemnity fights, Canadian AI rules, and how to brief trustees. Request access if you missed it.
Future Issues
New roundups published monthly for subscribers. Each issue covers the month's key policy developments, vendor announcements, and strategic trends. Subscribe to receive them in your inbox.