RT @nycmedialab PwC recently published the results of a large VR study on VR’s impact on diversity and inclusion compared to classroom or e-learning. 40% of v-learners saw an improvement in confidence compared to classroom learners and 35% improvement over e-learners to act on what they learned after training in VR. V-learning is the most cost-effective way of learning when it’s done on a large scale: At 375 learners, VR training achieved cost parity with classroom learning. At 1,950 learners, VR training achieved cost parity with e-learn. At 3,000 learners, VR costs 52% less than classroom. V-learners felt 3.75x more emotionally connected to the content than classroom learners and 2.3x more connected than e-learners.

Facebook researchers describe an AI system that can isolate speech from recordings of multiple speakers on a single microphone.

The @BINCFoundation provides assistance to independent bookstores across the US. Sign up for readings and a Q&A with Jericho Brown, Carmen Maria Machado, Celeste Ng, and Karen Russell.

RT @BookRiot With no city public health department, the City of Phoenix repurposes librarians as public health workers.

HT @BoSacks

RT @BISG Barnes & Noble used lockdowns around the country as a chance to refresh more than 350 of its 614 stores throughout the US

RT @PlumeBooks We’re thrilled to share news of bestselling author @dopequeenpheebs’s new imprint launching in partnership with Plume, called Tiny Reparations Books, which will publish a highly curated list of literary fiction + nonfiction, amplifying diverse voices! #TeamPRH

ICYMI Nan A. Talese is retiring after more than 60 years working in the publishing business. Talese has run her eponymous imprint at Doubleday since 1990, where she published a long roster of award-winning authors. #TeamPRH

Smart.

The company plans to keep Mirror operating, although instructors might end up wearing Lululemon apparel.

HT @LZSundayPaper Easily discover amazing Black-owned businesses near you and beyond, from pharmacies to restaurants, with the Official Black Wall Street app.